News & Blogs
March 12, 2026
Together We Can
Together We Can “Hope is that thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us if we have the courage to reach for it and to work for it, and to fight for it.” – Barack Obama This year, both personally and… Read More
March 6, 2026
Transitioning Into Adulthood: Avoiding “The Cliff”
Transitioning Into Adulthood: Avoiding “The Cliff” The transition out of high school is a deeply emotional and often an overwhelming time for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and the people who love them. Throughout the school years, families can rely on a familiar network of support, special education… Read More
February 26, 2026
Meeting the Growing Need: Why Behavior Support Services Matter More Than Ever
Meeting the Growing Need: Why Behavior Support Services Matter More Than Ever For years, LBSA’s Behavior Support Services have stepped in to meet a critical and growing need for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The people we serve represent a wide range of strengths and support needs, including… Read More
January 20, 2026
Possibilities in a Fractured System: When Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health Meet in a Fractured System
Possibilities in a Fractured System: When Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health Meet in a Fractured System A year ago, I sat with a mom whose journey raising a son with developmental disabilities had shaped not only her family’s story but also helped inspire real systems change. Her son,… Read More
December 12, 2025
What Generosity Feels Like: Reflections of Celebrating Unity
What Generosity Feels Like: Reflections of Celebrating Unity This past weekend, I attended the Laura Baker Services Association (LBSA) Annual Gala which reminded me how human and tender generosity can be. The theme this year was Celebrating Unity and each year I’ve attended, that feeling of generosity grows stronger. This… Read More
November 24, 2025
Elastic in Our Pants … A Quirky but Fitting Metaphor
Elastic in Our Pants … A Quirky but Fitting Metaphor At a recent Laura Baker Society event, I shared a metaphor that’s both unforgettable and surprisingly apt: elastic in our pants. It may sound quirky, and it beautifully captures the role our community plays in supporting Laura Baker Services Association… Read More
November 17, 2025
Listening Beyond the Labels: The Evolution of Disability Services and the Power of Choice
Listening Beyond the Labels: The Evolution of Disability Services and the Power of Choice Imagine being told where to live, what to do and who gets to speak for you – every day. For much of history, this was the reality for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Their… Read More
September 17, 2025
The Value of Together
The Value of Together Laura Baker Services Association (LBSA) is a place which quietly provides mighty support to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). These services are life-giving and lifesaving for individuals, their families and our entire community. Recently, Behavioral Support Services (BSS) has launched to support individuals and… Read More
August 19, 2025
Back-to-School for Children with IDD: A Guide for Families Seeking Smooth Transitions
Back-to-School for Children with IDD: A Guide for Families Seeking Smooth Transitions As backpacks come out of closets and school calendars fill up, families of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) often find this season layered with excitement and uncertainty. Beyond supplies and lunchboxes, there’s the vital task of… Read More
July 25, 2025
Times Like These, Opportunities Abound.
Times Like These, Opportunities Abound. Written by Sandi Gerdes Executive Director of Laura Baker Services Association. When times are tough, it’s easy to be turtle-like and pull into our shell, waiting for danger to pass and better times to come. That reaction can be seen as safer. Is it? What… Read More