Carmen Sánchez, Education Program Specialist

Office of Special Education Programs US Department of Education

The ABCs of Parent Centers  PTIs parent training and information centers CPRCs community parent resource centers PTACs parent technical assistance centers

    Parent Centers in IDEA  Sections 671, 672, and 673 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) authorize the establishment of PTIs, CPRCs, and PTACs Section 671 establishes that only non-profit parent organizations may be PTIs and CPRCs Grants and cooperative agreements funding parent centers are discretionary The Office of Special Education Programs in the US Department of Education administers the parent center program

 Purpose of Parent Centers  The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires the “children with disabilities and their parents receive training and information designed to assist the children in meeting developmental and functional goals and challenging academic achievement goals, and in preparing to lead productive independent

adult lives”

Parent Training & Information Centers (PTIs)   Assist parents of children with disabilities (& at risk), ages birth to 26 to:  Understand their child’s disability  Work with professionals to obtain services      Participate in decision-making Obtain information on research-based practices Understand IDEA requirements Participate in school reform activities PTIs partner with state agencies in system reform efforts

Parent Training & Information   Statewide or regional programs in large states (CA, FL, IL, MI, NY, OH, TX)  Also in territories (VI, PR, GU)

Community Parent Resource   Same responsibilities as PTIs  Grassroots organizations targeting a specific population and/or geographical region  More intensive assistance for unserved or underserved populations  Partners with local agencies  Funding for up to 30 CPRCs

 Parent Centers in  Arkansas – Arkansas Disability Coalition (PTI) www.adcpti.org

Northwest Arkansas CPRC www.nwacprc.org

 Maryland – Parent’s Place of Maryland www.ppmd.org

 Wisconsin – Wisconsin FACETS (PTI) www.wifacets.org

Alianza Latina Aplicando Soluciones (CPRC) www.alianzalatinawi.org

Parent Centers in   California PTIs www.taskca.org

– Team of Advocates for Special Kids (TASK) Exceptional Parents Unlimited www.epuchildren.org

Parents Helping Parents www.php.com

Matrix Parent Network and Resource Center www.matrixparents.org

Disability Rights Defense Fund dredf.org

Rowell Family Empowerment www.rfenc.org

Parent Centers in   California CPRCs – Fiesta Educativa www.fiestaeducativa.org

Chinese Parents for the Disabled www.cpad.org

Support for Families of Children with Disabilities www.supportforfamilies.org

Parents CAN www.parentscan.org

Parent Centers in   New York PTIs – Advocacy Center Sinergia www.advocacycenter.com

Advocates for Children of New York www.advocatesforchildren.org

Resources for Children with Special Needs www.resourcesnyc.org

www.sinergiany.org

Parent Centers in   New York CPRCs – Parent Network of Western NY www.parentnetworkwny.org

United We Stand of New York www.uwsofny.org

Parent Centers in   ASPIRE States  Arizona – Raising Special Kids www.raisingspecialkids.org

      Colorado – PEAK Parent Center (PTI) www.peakparent.org

Denver Metro CPRC www.denvermetrocprc.org

Montana – Parents Let’s Unite for Kids www.pluk.org

North Dakota – Pathfinder Parent Center www.pathfinder-nd.org

South Dakota – South Dakota Parent Connection www.sdparent.org

Utah – Utah Parent www.utahparentcenter.org

Native American PTAC – www.naptac.org