This article features The HALI Project and shares experiences that led to the first part of the project--Empowered Parents. This program taught parents how to first come to grips with the reality of their situation, then dream new, appropriate dreams for their children. From there it addressed understanding the ongoing emotional journey and how it affects daily life, balancing care for all family members, and conflict resolution, among other things. Parent Consultants with similar experiences are simply better able to understand the realities and frustrations parenting a child with special needs present and can offer both empathy and practical advice. Simply by their presence, Parent Consultants can help to improve the family-centered and cultural competence qualities of a medical practice. On a small scale to this point, one has seen this program address many of the concerns reported by pediatricians when it comes to serving children with special healthcare needs. Having a Parent Consultant available frees them of the responsibility of searching for resources outside of the medical community. It also allows the pediatrician to connect their patients' parents to another parent who has both the time and the practical experience of being on this journey, as well to support them along the way.