¶ … systems, services, or resources for parents and families of children with special needs? Focus on those of local, state, and federal government. Research privately-run support systems and share those with the class. If you were the parent of a special needs child, what would draw you to any of these and why?
The Parent Teachers Association (PTA) exists on a national level, as well as in the form of local chapters, and provides information for parents of children with special needs. The PTA "recognizes that parents of children with special needs require some resources different from those used by parents of children without special learning needs. In an effort to assist parents of children with special needs, a growing number of Special Education PTAs (or SEPTAs) are being chartered in schools and school districts around the country. Parents of children with special needs are also engaging in existing PTAs and finding a place as a part of the total school community" (Special needs, 2010, PTA).
Most states have organizations devoted to helping parents of children with special needs navigate state-specific bureaucracy. These include, but are not limited to entities such as the Parent Education Network (PEN) "funded by the U.S. Department of Education and the Pennsylvania Department of Education" and Resources for Children with Special Needs (RCSN) in New York State. Statewide organizations provide parents of special needs with state-specific information and resources regarding available services and help explain to parents what students are entitled to within the state, as part of their right to a high-quality education comparable with those of 'mainstream' children.
However, one of the problems for parents with children of special needs is that these organizations may be too generalized to address the specific challenges of their child. For example, a child with impaired vision does not face the same difficulties as a child with autism. Parents might also be well-advised to seek out specific groups geared to their child's needs such as Autism Speaks or the National Federation for the Blind. However, these organizations are not necessarily perfect solutions for support, either, given that they are not specifically child-focused, but address a wide array of issues that pertain to the specifics of the disability.
Perhaps the best solution for parents is to create local support networks to better enable them to work together within the existing school systems. Dealing with the administrative bureaucracy of the educational system can be difficult, particularly for a parent with the additional stresses of coping with a special need child's emotional, educational, and social challenges. Parents can share advice and 'war stories' together in school-specific support groups.
In conclusion, working in conjunction with national and state organizations that specifically address and provide information specific to the child's rights; with private organizations that give information about the child's disability; and soliciting nearby emotional support and information specific to the child's school district may be the most satisfying multi-pronged strategy for a parent coping with a child with special needs.
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