Who Are We?
Margaret Rustici - General Manager.
Margaret joined Coping with CHAOS as General Manager in November 2011 after many years working as Manager of Smithers respite care home.
Tessa Masterman
Play Opportunities Manager
Barbara Prentice
Fundraising Administrator
My first experience of CHAOS was attending a Play Opportunity as a worried parent new to Dorset with my young daughter and disabled son. I remember being made to feel very welcome, I met some parents in a similar situation to mine and I soon came back for more!
A couple of years later I volunteered to help raise funds for CHAOS and I have been employed part time now since 2006 as a fundraiser, where I mainly do statutory and grant fundraising work.
As I can clearly recall how scared and alone I felt when my son was first diagnosed, I think CHAOS’ support services are an integral part of any local family’s caring for a disabled child coping strategy and adjustment process.
I have experienced autism on the severe end of the spectrum, challenging behaviour and speech and sensory impairment. I believe it’s vital to enable communication, whether that’s between parents benefitting from a support network or facilitating young people struggling with impairments to achieve their right to meaningful expression.
Chris Faulder
Face 2 Face Co-Ordinator
Hello, I have been the Face2Face Coordinator since 2002. Initially I worked from home, before joining the CHAOS team in January 2010. In the past I was a volunteer for Contact a Family for 11 years, and I believe passionately that some of the best support available for parents is that given by other parents who have been, or are going through a similar situation.
As well as Face2Face I have just set up the toy/book library and am looking forward to developing a Resource room for CHAOS families.Having access to information and sign-posting can make a big difference to parents when it comes to making the right choices for themselves and their families.
I am Mum to three children, the eldest of whom has a physical and a learning disability.
Helen Rolf
Administrator
I have been involved with Coping with CHAOS since 2005, to begin with as a parent and volunteer before my present position in the office, where I am responsible for providing general admin support.
I feel strongly that the unique services CHAOS provides are vitally important to help relieve the stress and isolation that having a disabled child can bring to all family members.
I have a life time of personal experience as a sibling growing up with an older brother with autism, challenging behaviour and learning difficulties and now with my own son, who has high functioning autism and scoliosis.
