School system offers parenting workshop

By WILL STEWART / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

BOST

While the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act guarantees all children with disabilities the right to a free and appropriate public education, many parents are not aware of their disabled children’s rights under the sweeping federal law.

To help such parents, a free workshop entitled BASIC Rights: A Parent’s Introduction to Special Education in McMinnville/Warren County will be held Saturday morning at Three Star Mall.

The workshop is sponsored by ARC of Warren County and will be conducted by STEP (Support and Training for Exceptional Parents), Inc., a federally-funded organization which provides information, training and support to parents of children with disabilities.

According to ARC member Tammy Bost, the workshop was organized after she had been approached by several families whose children had recently entered the special education program and had a number of questions and concerns.

Geared toward these parents, as well as those parents or guardians of children already in special education or who might be in need of special education, the workshop will give participants a working knowledge of special education laws, including parents’ roles in the development of appropriate individual education programs, and instruct them in how to be an effective partner with the school team in the process.

“Our free, introductory workshop will be of benefit to all special education parents, including those whose children have not yet received diagnosis and parents who suspect possible diagnosis,” said Bost.

“Special education is a whole new world and affected parents really need to arm themselves with the knowledge surrounding special education in order that they might be the best advocate for their children that they can be. This is going to be a very, very valuable workshop.”

In addition to learning the ins and outs of special education, workshop participants will also receive a free parent manual which includes important state and federal special education laws, as well as other helpful tools.

BASIC Rights: A Parent’s Introduction to Special Education in McMinnville/Warren County will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Three Star Mall meeting room. While free, the workshop is limited to 30 participants. To register, call Bost at 668-8637.