Educators and Parents Working Together to Develop Special Education Parent Support Groups. Statewide Edition.

Overview & Synopsis

This handbook documents the ingredients necessary to create successful school-sponsored special education parent support groups. Common characteristics observed in parent groups are outlined, along with principles of effective group functioning, benefits accruing to parents, and benefits for school systems. Also discussed is the assistance offered by the Special Education Resource Network of the California State Department of Education to individuals or schools which are interested in developing a parent support group. Case studies are presented as examples of how school districts are implementing active and vital support systems for parents of special education students. The three case studies focus on: Puente Hills Special Education Local Planning Area "First STEP" (Support Team of Educators and Parents); Santa Monica/Malibu Unified School District "Parents Supporting Parents" and Norwalk-La Mirada-ABC Special Education Local Planning Area "TALK" (Try a Little Kindness). Appendices include newspaper clippings about the groups and copies of brochures describing the groups' activities in English and Spanish. (JDD)