WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — A Texas charity is stepping in to help ease the financial burden for families caring for children with disabilities.

After sharing her family’s struggles obtaining Medicaid assistance for her 3-year-old son with level 3 autism, Masonic Children and Family Services of Texas been able to step in and give the Awad family their assistance.

Masonic Children and Family Services of Texas provides financial assistance to families who may not qualify for other forms of aid but still struggle to afford therapies, medical equipment and other essential services.

When Master Mason Dave Yontes reached out to Awad about the organization’s programs, she said she did not realize how quickly she would receive the support she had been searching for since moving to Texas.

“Personally, because if I had had a need, I would want somebody out there to reach out to me,” said Yontes.

“It’s been a blessing to us that somebody reached out and is willing to help because it takes off that financial burden that we don’t have to handle it, that we can just focus on him,” said Awad.

Originally founded as the Masonic Home and School of Texas in 1899, the organization was restructured about 20 years ago into Masonic Children and Family Services of Texas to continue its mission of improving the quality of life for children and their families.

Its Child and Family Program is designed to assist families who are unable to obtain the financial support they need to care for a child with disabilities.

Executive Director Shannon Davis said many of the families they help have been able to make ends meet until the costs associated with their child’s care become overwhelming.

“We hear stories like Jennifer’s a lot where, they may be dual income families or have been able to make ends meet up to this point. Treatment cost, astronomical amounts of money or that needs certain types of devices to help, with their treatment that are unaffordable to most families. We’re an organization that fills in those gaps,” said Davis. “We’ve help we not only help with autism therapy, but we help fund things like speech therapy, occupational therapy. We have helped fund wheelchair lifts and to vans, for disabled children, you name it, we’ve considered it.”

Davis said many families are unaware the charity’s services are available.

“They’re looking for providers to treat their child, the best providers that they can find at reasonable cost. So they don’t think to look out for charity,” said Davis.

Yontes said he plans to continue referring families to the organization whenever he can.

“The way I approach it is if I can help one person, then I’ve done what I needed to do. But the more I can help, the better it is,” said Yontes.

Awad said the assistance from Masonic Children and Family Services of Texas has made a significant difference for her family and believes the organization has done more to help them than the state has. She said she will continue advocating for better care and resources for children with disabilities.

“They are an amazing company. Burden that’s been lifted off my shoulder because when Levi was born, we didn’t think this was going to be our new normal, you figured the lawmakers would want to care about our kids that have disabilities. But I just feel like they don’t and I hope that changes. I hope I can reach out to somebody that I can get in front of to hear my voice,” said Awad.

In addition to its Child and Family Program, Masonic Children and Family Services of Texas also offers scholarships and foster family services. For more information on the organization, click here.

Awad has also created a Facebook page aimed at connecting families experiencing similar challenges while caring for children with disabilities. For the link to Awads Facebook page, click here.

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