Workshops and Request Form

Workshops are sponsored by community businesses and individuals who are committed to Parent Education and Parent Involvement



How can I Support My Child with Special Needs at Home? There are countless different family structures that exist in the homes of a child with special needs. Some parents work all day, commute home and pick up their children from school or after care. Some family structures have one parent working and one parent staying home others are single parents or grandparents raising the child with special needs. The Parents Ask Initiative understands that every family, and every child, is unique. Regardless of the circumstances, parents and extended family members are challenged with balancing day-to-day responsibilities and with the desire to help their child with special needs.

This workshop was developed to assist parents in creating an “Individual Education HOME Plan” (IEHP) utilizing their home resources. The workshops encourage parents to select between 1-3 activities that support the IEP to do at home with their child.

Identifying your Child’s Learning Style: This workshop helps parents identify how their child learns best: Everyone, learning disability or not, has their own unique learning style. Some children learn best by seeing or reading, others by listening, and still others by doing. this workshop focuses on helping parents identify their child’s primary learning style.

Strategies for Coping: The purpose of this workshop is to provide parents with coping strategies when they have a child with a disability. Being a parent can be both rewarding and challenging, even for parents of children without disabilities.  Households today often have two income earners. In some cases, parents are divorced, single parenting or step-families adding another dimension of stress and time in caring for children.  The expense and time it takes to raise a child is compounded when a child has a disability.  Children with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities may require additional time and expense to provide independent living and rehabilitative services. The stress of having a child with a developmental and/or intellectual disability can take a toll on parents and cause relationship stress. This workshop will provide parents with strategies and resources.

Why Become a Parent Leader? The purpose of this workshop is to assist parents and family members to begin thinking of themselves as leaders, and about the contributions and roles they and other parents can make in the education of their children. Sessions will focus on starting parents on the journey to understanding systems and building on existing systems structures

How Does Special Education Work? This is a 2 part workshop designed for parents of children in special education or that might need special education of their child. Parents will gain a working knowledge of the special education process, including their role in the development of an appropriate education program (IEP) and how to be an effective partner with the school team in the process.

When is an IEP Needed? This is a 2 part workshop that is designed to enable participants to understand and fully participate in the IEP Team process.

What is Inclusion and Least Restrictive Environment? In this workshop parents will learn about: How placement decisions are made. What is meant by “continuum of placement options” being available. How to demonstrate the need for additional supports in the general education classroom.

What is involved in Transitioning and Early Childhood Services?This is an educational and skill-building workshop for families of infants, toddlers, and young children with disabilities. Parents will receive information on what to expect when a child is transitioning from services at age 3 to services in the school system Information on other transitions such as from pre-school to Kindergarten. Details about an appropriate IFSP (Individual Family Service Plan); IEP (Individualized Education Program)

What is a 504 Accommodation? This workshop reviews Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act that protects children with disabilities from acts of discrimination and exclusion because of their disability.

Why Should I learn about Communication, Negotiation & Conflict Resolution? This workshop reviews a parents part in their child’s special education, including the skills needed to work with the schools in the development of an appropriate education program (IEP) for their child and the process to follow if a parent is having difficulties making the special education system work for their child.