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 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…

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)

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…

This article reports results of a national survey of 629 veteran and 704 referred parents participating in Parent to Parent programs, noting the program's role as part of comprehensive family-centered services for parents of young children with special needs. The survey collected information about where programs are, services they provide, and…

Describes different home-schooling options available to children with disabilities. Services of a special-education consultant are reviewed, along with services of the Home School Legal Defense Association, an umbrella school that provides consulting services to home-schooling families, and a public school home-instruction program. (CR)

This article discusses recent developments in the status of local, statewide and national advocacy groups and networks of parents of children with behavioral, mental and emotional disorders. Several groups of each type are described, along with lessons learned through experiences of local groups. Contact numbers for listed groups are offered. (PB)

A national survey of parents (n=240) newly referred to Parent to Parent programs was conducted. These programs match an experienced parent of a special needs child in a one-to-one relationship with a newly referred parent. Newly referred parents preferred a wide range of supports, with the child's age and severity of disability affecting the need…

This article discusses cooperation between parents, family members, and professionals in advocacy efforts on behalf of students with emotional, mental, and behavioral disorders. Tips for parent-advocates and experiences of statewide parent networks are offered, as well as lessons and potential pitfalls experienced by professionals. (PB)

Parents (n=33) of children with disabilities, who were leaders in parent organizations, were questioned about their experiences in being mentored and in mentoring others. Seven themes are identified relative to effective mentoring of parents of children with disabilities. Specific mentoring activities are suggested and barriers to mentoring are…

This document presents one module in a set of training resources for trainers to use with parents and/or professionals serving children with disabilities; focus is on parent support groups. The modules stress content and activities that build skills and offer resources to promote parent-professional collaboration. Each module takes about 2 hours…

A study evaluated Parent to Parent mentoring programs in five states. The 56 parents who participated in the program showed statistically significant positive gains on measures of coping, attitude, and progress on addressing problems compared to 72 controls. A qualitative study provided insight into what makes the program work. (Contains…

A study examined the impact on parents when a young person with disabilities is involved in self-advocacy. Methodologies used included a literature review, interviews with nine families of young people with disabilities, collection of information about parent support initiatives, and discussion with a self-advocay group. During the course of the…