Mission:

We believe by enriching the quality of lives of special needs families, parents are able to have healthier relationships and outcomes for themselves and for their children affected by complex developmental challenges, while reducing the likelihood of abuse and neglect.

SNIMC serves individuals with developmental disabilities including cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, autism, epilepsy and related conditions. We also serve families who may not yet have a medical diagnosis for their children but ask for help.

History of Special Needs In My City (SNIMC):

SNIMC was established in April 2013 by Meena Tadimeti, a special needs parent in Modesto, California. After relocating to Modesto in 2009, Meena quickly realized that raising a child with multiple developmental challenges (Cerebral Palsy and Microcephaly) in a smaller town, with fewer resources was going to be even more difficult on the entire family. Compounding this situation was not having a parent network to rely on for help with  navigating special education, health and community resources. With only minimal community resources and no socialization opportunities or supports for her child, it was increasingly difficult to improve her daughter’s well-being.

The tipping point came when her daughter, Divya, then 7 years old cried and said, ” I want a friend”.  Meena felt frustrated and helpless with not being able to help her daughter have social play with her peers.  She knew she had to act fast not just for her family but for countless of other parents in her community who were also experiencing such disheartening realities with their children. On that day, she decided she was going to change how special needs parents across communities get their information in a much faster and easier way than what existed in her community. Using her personal savings, financial support from her husband, and applying her years of marketing, technology skills and management experience founded Special Needs In My City,  a one-stop online resource for special needs families across Central Valley communities in Northern California.  (snimc.org)

In 2017, after four years and with over five hundred parent members onboard and one volunteer, Meena decided to convert SNIMC from a private-led entity to a 501c3 nonprofit entity to expand and sustain the organization financially.

Today, Special Needs In My City, is a one-stop online resource offering information, peer to peer advocacy support, emotional support and social connections to hundreds of families.  In May 2021, SNIMC was recognized as a special needs parent organization by California Department of Education.

SNIMC (snimc.org) collaborates with various well-respected and highly committed physicians from Kaiser,  UCSF, Stanford Medicine and  Shriners Hospitals for Children of Sacramento, and agencies in Stanislaus County: United Cerebral Palsy of Stanislaus,  Society for Disabilities,  Team Stanislaus Special Olympics,  CASA of Stanislaus County (court appointed special advocates) and Stanislaus SELPA.  SNIMC is grateful to Dr. James Henman (www.cairforyou.com, author and psychologist) for his continued commitment and time to help SNIMC parents deal with the emotional challenges of parenting and as caregivers to their children with special needs. 

Currently, SNIMC serves over twelve hundred special needs families in Stanislaus and San Joaquin Counties.

With roughly fourteen thousand children in special education in Stanislaus County,  SNIMC continues to stay focused with its mission and vision to meet the needs of its special needs families in the benefit of advancing the quality of life for their children and adults. Pursuing this mission is possible through a team of incredible, dedicated volunteers made up of parents, the Board, donors, educators, community leaders, local businesses and physicians  guided by the leadership of Meena and the Board members of SNIMC.

If you are a parent or a caregiver to a individual with special needs, please join our active and loving parent support group to feel supported, belonged and included on this special needs journey. 

Updated: September 10,  2024