Bienvenidos a Holland: Una guía para padres de niños con discapacidades en Arizona

Here at UCP of Central AZ, we know that when you first receive a diagnosis for your child, the journey ahead can feel uncertain. For many families in Arizona, the experience is captured perfectly in Emily Perl Kingsley’s famous, heartfelt essay “Welcome to Holland.”

If you’ve just found yourself on an unexpected path, we share her words to let you know that you are not alone and that a beautiful, joyful life awaits.

You’ve dreamt your whole life of visiting Italy. From the time you were a child, you spent hours watching classic films set on sun-soaked beaches and old cobbled streets. The history, the people, the food, the landscape. You were in love before you even arrived.

And finally, the time comes. You book your ticket, devour the guidebooks, and practice your Italian. Your stomach clenches in anticipation of the Colosseum, gondolas, and limoncello. Even with months of planning, you feel a mix of excitement and anxiousness. It’s really happening at last. You board the plane, snuggle into your window seat, and close your eyes.

Hours later, the plane’s wheels bounce along the tarmac. The pilot’s voice crackles through the speakers: “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Holland.”

Holland?! What do you mean Holland?! I’m supposed to be in Italy! Italy is what I signed up for, Italy is what I wanted! My whole life I’ve dreamt of going to Italy!

You demand answers, but no one has any. It doesn’t matter how it happened. There will be no Italy for you. You’ve landed in Holland, and in Holland you will stay.

At first, you’re in a daze. You did not prepare for Holland. You know nothing about Holland. Everything you learned about Italy is now useless. So you do the only thing you know how to do: you go buy new guidebooks. You learn a whole new language. You meet a group of people you never would have met otherwise.

After your initial shock wears off, you begin to catch your breath. You begin to open your eyes and look around. You realize that Holland has its own unique beauty. The pace of life is a little slower, a little more laid-back, but there is still much to do. It’s not so flashy or brash as Italy.

Holanda tiene molinos de viento.
Holanda tiene Rembrandts.
Holanda tiene tulipanes.
Y al igual que Venecia, Amsterdam incluso tiene canales. Quizás las cosas no son tan diferentes después de todo.

But when you check your phone, you see everyone else is busy on their Italian vacations. Their photos are full of fun and memories they’ll cherish forever. And for every photo you see, there is a sting deep inside you that will never leave. Ahí es donde se suponía que debía ir, ese era mi sueño.

Pero si pasas la vida deseando estar en Italia, nunca serás libre para apreciar las cosas tan especiales y maravillosas de Holanda.

Cómo UCP del centro de Arizona ayuda a las familias a prosperar en Holanda

We know that parenting a child with a disability can feel overwhelming at first. That’s why UCP of Central Arizona offers lifespan services designed to support families from the moment they arrive in “Holland.” Our compassionate team is here to walk beside you, helping you navigate emotional challenges and discover the profound beauty in your new journey.

We help provide the “guidance” and community you need:

Intervención temprana y terapia

Al igual que guías locales expertos, nuestros terapeutas (fisioterapeutas, terapeutas ocupacionales y logopedas) ayudan a su hijo a desarrollar las habilidades necesarias para explorar su mundo con confianza y alcanzar nuevos logros.

Apoyo a la familia y la comunidad

“Holland” is full of wonderful people. We help you find them through support programs that strengthen the parent-child bond and connect you with a community that understands.

Tecnología y recursos de asistencia

Proporcionamos las herramientas y los recursos modernos para ayudar a su hijo a acceder a su educación, comunicar sus necesidades e interactuar plenamente con el mundo que le rodea.

Descubre los tulipanes con UCP

If you’ve found yourself in Holland, you’re not alone. UCP of Central Arizona is here to help you find the tulips—those moments of joy, growth, and connection that make this journey so meaningful.

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Contáctanos hoy para obtener más información. o Descubra nuestros servicios que le cambiarán la vida.

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Emily Perl Kingsley wrote the ‘Welcome to Holland’ parable in 1987 to describe her experience raising her son with Down syndrome. It has since become a source of comfort and inspiration for families worldwide.