Special Needs Support

Here in VA, every school district has a 'parent education resource center' manned by volunteer parents, many of whom have 'special needs' kids. They are as helpful as the respective skills/experiences of the parent volunteers demonstrate.

For me, I have met, and networked informally with other parents with a broad spectrum of special needs kiddos.

There are some national organizations that can be of help:

CEC (Council for Exceptional Children)

Peatc (Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center)

As well as many organizations/groups that deal with specific special needs.

Also, my daughter's school has an organization called the 'Self Determination Club'. There are many activities that are sponsored for special needs kids. I am not sure if it is local, or national...But I have met many parents and kids through the myriad activities that club sponsors.

Also, a large group of parents in a tri county area began a group on facebook for special needs issues, and many issues have been addressed in those counties as a result of facebook contact. (one of the FEW successful things to come from MY FB experience...lol). I have also met many of these families through this facebook group.

I wish you the best!

Dang... I had a REALLY good response, and ended up hitting something, and it all disappeared!

Ok, I'll try again...

What I was trying to say was that our school district has a "Parent Liaison" staff member. She frequently e-mails anyone on her list (parents, SPED staff members, etc.) the different events, meetings, and happenings that might be of interest to parents/caregivers of special needs students.

She is a parent of a special needs student/young adult, so she knows some of what they may be going through. She has many resources available if people has her for help.

I have never felt like I needed a support group for ADHD but I have been told CHADD is very good. They are located in nearly every city so I am sure if you google it you will find a chapter nearby.

I'd open it up to the community or you'll only have yourself and another family or two. As you know there are many parents very busy with their lives and kids and just can't do meetings even if they are something they could really use for the support.

Our local mental health care facility has a parents group for those with kids with disabilities. We used to go each month but it just go to be too much.

Our district has a parent trainer. I had some training hours in the IEP when my son was in PPCD I quickly outgrew the need for this but she is also a good resource for summer camps and organized parent training events a handful of time a year.

If what you need is more parent to parent support you really don't want this provided by or attend by anyone is your SD. We have a patent run organization that meets up maybe 1 x a month plus the president organizes sessions with the director of special ed 2 x a year. I like those. Also if you have a child with Autism your local chapter of NAA (national autism association ) puts on great educational events and parent support groups. I work and have kids appts in evening do I rarely get to attend. I have various FB support groups that I find very beneficial.

Our school doesn't offer anything like this. I get my support through online support groups for our son's conditions. We've also met with our son's therapist on our own before just to get advice on our own needs due to the stress of raising a special needs child. I also belong to CHADD(group representing people with ADHD), but the local meetings are too far away for me to attend on weeknights. However, I did go to their national conference and found it very inspirational.

What I'd really love is if the school would put together a group for kids with certain conditions (for instance, autism, Asperger's and ADHD, since they're closely related). My son says all the time he feels like he's the only one with his conditions and for now all I can do is rattle off statistics that that isn't the case. It would be helpful for him to meet others just like him.