Parents of children with special needs can learn about their
roles and responsibilities at a free workshop Jan. 30.
Parents of children with special needs can learn about their roles and responsibilities at a free workshop Jan. 30.
Sponsored by the Special Parents Information Network that serves San Benito and Santa Cruz counties, the workshop will be held from 6-9 p.m. at San Benito High School in room 301 for English speakers and room 303 for Spanish speakers.
Parents are invited to learn how to develop an Individualized Education Plan and understand their rights and those of their children in receiving proper special-education services at public schools, said Mary Balzer, executive director of SPIN.
The Individualized Education Plan details the needs and goals of a disabled student and what kind of special education placement the student requires.
An IEP team usually consists of the student’s parents, teacher, principal, therapist and school psychologist, who often serves as a case worker, Balzer said. The IEP becomes a sort of legal document that serves as a checks and balances between parents and schools, she said.
Disabilities can be mild to extreme and including learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, hearing impairments and mental retardation, she said.
Balzer urges parents to attend the workshop because it is an opportunity for questions, discussion and networking.
“There’s no one place where you can get all the information you need,” she said.
SPIN is a non-profit organization that has served the Santa Cruz area for 15 years. It provides training, support and information to families who have children of any age with disabilities, Balzer said.
For more information on the workshop or SPIN, call 638-1967 or to go to www.spinsc.org.
