This guide, in Spanish, notes the value of parent groups for parents of children with disabilities, as they offer parents a place and a means to share information, give and receive emotional support, and work as a team to address common concerns. Typical activities of a parent group are listed, and ways of identifying parent groups that exist…

This guide notes the value of parent groups for parents of children with disabilities, as they offer parents a place and a means to share information, give and receive emotional support, and work as a team to address common concerns. Typical activities of a parent group are listed, and ways of identifying parent groups that exist nationally and…

This manual is designed for individuals, community organizations, and groups that wish to become Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRC). The competition for these grants is issued by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services and the Office of Special Education Programs. The handbook provides…

The report documents the achievements of the Parent Information Center, an information and referral service for parents of handicapped children. Documented are the center's relationships with community agencies, presentations, participation in parent advisory boards at the local level, interagency cooperation, consumer outreach, staff training,…

The Parents' Union of Philadelphia features a special education committee which offers parents of disabled children assistance in understanding and monitoring implementation of federal and state laws. Examples of the union's advocacy in placement, evaluation, and Individual Education Program matters are cited. (CL)

The "Parent Speakers Program" combats misunderstanding about the nature of disabilities, misconceptions regarding the disabled, and stereotypes about disabled persons held by the community. Parents present factual information regarding disability; following the presentation, a discussion time and question/answer period is set aside to…

Intended for the parent/guardian of a disabled child, the article relates the concept of consumer involvement to the attainment of educational, therapeutic, or mental health services for children. The importance of parents' groups is stressed, and steps for the parent to take as a child's advocate are listed. (SBH)

Parents of handicapped children have special needs that can be addressed by the local parent-teacher association. Findings are offered from a study in Dallas which focused on how families cope with disabled children. (DF)

Discusses Parent-to-Parent support programs for parents of children with special needs, focusing on the matched experience of two parents, results of a national survey of Parent-to-Parent programs, guidelines for starting a Parent-to-Parent program, and resources for those interested in Parent-to-Parent support programs. (Author/DB)

A home based project serving special needs children 0 to 5 years old in a rural area developed a mothers' group designed to increase parents' self esteem, decrease their isolation, and provide more information about their child's development. An introductory section outlines general assumptions of the group and describes a sequence of activities…

The author reviews research pertaining to parent behavior in relation to child development, repercussions of disability on family life, and techniques for helping parents of disabled children. Section 1 considers theoretical bases of parenting and normal development; biological, psychological, and social factors in the genesis of handicaps; parent…

The article describes the National Special Education Alliance, a network of parent-led organizations seeking to speed the delivery of computer technology to the disabled. Discussed are program origins, starting a local center, charter members of the alliance, benefits of Alliance membership, and the Alliance's relationship with Apple computer. (DB)

This article reports on the descriptive results of a national survey of statewide parent-to-parent programs. Results are summarized concerning demographics and organizational models; program components, supports, and services; matching referred parents with veteran parents; and technical assistance provided to local program coordinators or…

This directory was produced to help parents of children with special needs and professionals identify one another and form relationships to improve the health care system. The directory contains entries from families throughout the United States and Canada, and is organized alphabetically by state or province, with parents listed alphabetically…

The booklet offers information to help parents find resources for their handicapped children. Following a brief discussion of the difficulties of having a handicapped child is a chapter with tips about diagnosis. Among the suggestions offered are insisting on a clear and complete interpretation of all diagnostic reports and checking the library…