Special Education

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• Special Education
• Parent Liaison Program
• Parents as Partners

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Parent Liaison Program Overview

• School success for students with
• disabilities requires the concerted
• efforts of
• school
• home
• community
• If parents are not actively involved,
• students suffer.

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Parent Liaison Program Overview

• Two primary reasons why some
• parents feel uncomfortable with
• teachers, principals, and other school
• personnel
• Lack of Communication
• Lack of Trust

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Parent Liaison ProgramOverview

• Lack of Communication exists when
• School system is perceived as having all
  information and parents none
• Parents perceive there is a lack of access to
  appropriate information

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Parent Liaison Program Overview

• Lack of Trust
• exists when
• inconsistencies in the information being provided
  by educators
• lack of follow through by educators with agreed
  upon issues

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Parent Liaison Program Purpose

• The purpose of the Parent Liaison Program (PLP)
  is to address the issues of parents of students
  with disabilities.

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Parent Liaison Program Focus

• The focus of the program is
• Parental Empowerment
• Parent Advocacy

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Parent Liaison Program Mission

• The mission of the Parent Liaison Program is to
• assist and support families of children
• (ages three to 21) with disabilities
• foster understanding, trust and communication
• amongst all stakeholders

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Parent Liaison Program Goals

• The Parent Liaison Program is driven by four
  specific goals
• Increase parental awareness of services
• Provide training on federal and state laws
• Encourage parental participation
• Resolve amicably conflicts before they
  escalate
• into major disputes

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Parent Liaison ProgramWhat Does it Do?

• Promotes a working relationship between parents
  and educators
• Promotes understanding of the special education
  process in schools
• Consults with parents to provide direction
  related to special education issues
• Provides emotional support through parent to
  parent sharing

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Parent Liaison ProgramStaff Members

• The Parent Liaison Program is staffed with a
  Parent Liaison Program Supervisor and 4 Parent
  Liaisons.

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Parent Liaison Program Supervisor

• Operates under the supervision of the Director of
  Instructional Support.
• Works in collaboration with the Special Services
  Department.
• Addresses the special education issues of
  parents.
• Empowers parents by providing information and
  training.
• Services as a bridge between parents and school
  personnel.

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Parent Liaison ProgramWho are the Parent
Liaisons?

• Parent Liaisons are volunteer parents of students
  with disabilities who are available to assist
  other parents.
• Parent Liaisons work under the supervision of the
  PLP Supervisor.
• Parent Liaisons assist the PLP Supervisor by
  providing information, training, and one-on-one
  support to parents in five geographical areas of
  Baldwin County.

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Resolving Concerns and Conflicts Where to
Start?

• In order to resolve concerns or conflict, parents
  should first address them with the staff member
  who is most directly involved.
• General Education Teacher
• Special Education Teacher
• School Administrator (at any time)
• Special Education Resource Consultant

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Resolving Concerns and Conflicts Where to Start?

• Continued
• Special Services Supervisors
• Special Services Coordinator
• If all else fails, Parent Liaison Program
  Supervisor
• Mediation
• Due Process

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Parent Liaison Program Public Awareness

• Local newspaper announcement
• PLP brochures mailed to parents
• PLP brochures placed in Doctors Offices,
  Headstart Programs, Daycare Centers, etc.
• Town Meetings
• Monthly advertisement in local newspaper
• Web Site

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Parent Liaison ProgramMotto

• Advocating Without Alienating