The directory lists approximately 70 parent training and information centers funded via P.L. 98-199 by the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (U.S. Department of Education). Drawn from telephone interviews with directors and/or staff members, the information for each listing includes name, address, telephone, director,…

The Kalamazoo (Michigan) Parent Respite Care Co-op enables parents of handicapped children to take a break from the daily care their child requires. (SW)

The author describes a process through which parents of exceptional children or school personnel in any community can organize a parent group for themselves and their children. (CL)

The directory lists 88 parent-to-parent support programs for parents of children with disabilities mostly in the states of Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Wyoming. (DB)

This article looks at ways the Social Security Administration is changing its image to be more helpful to families with a disabled child. Noted are Supplemental Security Income benefits, the part played by the National Parent Network on Disability, and the recent "Zebley" Supreme Court decision. (DB)

Peer support can be helpful in reducing the stress involved in giving birth to and raising a child with handicaps. A peer support group can help meet the parents' needs for information, emotional support, and ways to connect with social/health systems components. To be successful, a peer support system should be led by parents, have access to…

The National Network of Parent Coalitions is composed of 23 coalitions operated by parents whose children have a variety of disabilities. The coalitions help each other in such areas as information, advocacy, peer support, and coordinated training. Members of the National Network of Parent Coalitions are listed. (CL)

A parent-to-parent support program was begun to provide early support for parents of handicapped children. New parents are carefully matched with helping parents, who have been trained in communication, resource finding, and referral making. (CL)

The article discusses legal requirements in England to provide education to disabled children, aged 12 to 19 years. Responses from the Department of Education and Science to the complaints of a parent group regarding lack of educational services are cited. (SW)

The report presents findings of a parent-organized and parent-conducted evaluation of special education services in Montclair, New Jersey. Parents visited classrooms (resource rooms and self-contained classes) and interviewed staff. Findings and recommendations address the following topics: identification of children (classification by school and…

Intended for parents of handicapped children in rural areas, the directory lists a variety of resources available to families. A section on general information lists materials for parents; academic programs for handicapped and gifted children; prevocational and vocational training programs; physical, recreational, and social/emotional programs;…

The parent of a handicapped child reviews the development of parent groups and parent advocacy internationally. Among the programs described are weekend education courses for parents in Norway, deinstitutionalization efforts in England, mass media approaches in France, and the Extend-a-Family program in Canada in which a handicapped child is…

The article describes a Netherlands model for support and assistance to families of handicapped children. "Practical Help at Home" is an outgrowth of the Parents' Initiative Movement and relies on volunteers to provide a range of services including respite and training. (CL)

A parent recounts his experiences as a member of a parents' group seeking the continuation of a program of home visits to parents of handicapped children. Suggestions for creating change through parents' groups, such as locating and lobbying local officials and organizations that can effectively support the group, are listed. (PHR)

The directory presents a listing of disability-related information resources in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Organized alphabetically by state, entries address the following categories: vocational rehabilitation office, client assistance program, governor's committee on employment of the handicapped, protection and advocacy agency,…