Parent Education And Assistance For Kids Inc

EQUIP FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES WITH INFORMATION & TRAINING TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR KIDS.

REGION 5 PARENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER - PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO 12 FEDERALLY FUNDED NONPROFIT PARENT TRAINING AND INFORMATION CENTERS (PARENT CENTERS) IN A 10 STATE REGION. FOCUS IS TO INCREASE THEIR CAPACITY TO SERVE FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND POSITIVELY IMPACT EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES THROUGH ON-SITE VISITS; ONE TO ONE CONSULTATIONS WITH DIRECTORS; NEEDS ASSESSMENTS; CUSTOMIZED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE; CONFERENCES, TELECONFERENCES, AND OTHER GROUP EVENTS FOR LEARNING; AND TRAINING ABOUT CURRENT AND EMERGING TOPICS INCLUDING: NON-PROFIT, GRANT MANAGEMENT AND PROGRAMMATIC ISSUES; USING TECHNOLOGY STRATEGICALLY TO MEET THEIR MISSION; GENERAL AND SPECIAL EDUCATION LAWS/REGULATIONS; EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES IN EDUCATION AND EARLY INTERVENTION; INCLUSION AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS; TRANSITIONS; OUTREACH TO UNDER-SERVED POPULATIONS; ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTIONS; PARTNERSHIPS WITH STATE POLICY MAKERS & STAKEHOLDERS, ETC.

PARENT TRAINING & INFORMATION CENTER -THE PARENT TRAINING AND INFORMATION PROGRAM HELPS FAMILIES WHO HAVE CHILDREN AGES BIRTH THROUGH 26, WITH ANY DISABILITY, TO PARTICIPATE ACTIVELY IN DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THEIR CHILDREN SO THEY WILL MEET DEVELOPMENTAL, FUNCTIONAL, AND CHALLENGING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT GOALS THAT HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR ALL CHILDREN. CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES WILL LEAD PRODUCTIVE, INDEPENDENT ADULT LIVES AND SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES WILL BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. PEAK'S PTI PROVIDES FAMILIES WITH INCREASED STRATEGIES FOR INDIVIDUALIZED, CONCRETE ACTION STEPS THAT THEIR FAMILY CAN TAKE TO ADDRESS ISSUES THEY ARE FACING AND INCREASED KNOWLEDGE OF RESOURCES, RIGHTS, EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES, AND THE NEED FOR COLLABORATION AND COMMUNICATION. SERVICES: PEAK'S PARENT ADVISORS PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES BY PHONE, EMAIL, AND IN-PERSON, IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, DISCUSSING ISSUES, PROVIDING INFORMATION AND REFERRALS, REVIEWING INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLANS (IEPS) AND SENDING FOLLOW-UP RESOURCES. PARENT ADVISORS ARE VIEWED AS A LIFELINE FOR FAMILIES WHEN SITUATIONS SEEM OVERWHELMING AND UNMANAGEABLE. PEAK ALSO PROVIDES MORE THAN 50 CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT THE STATE ANNUALLY IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES, AND VIA WEBINARS, IN BOTH ENGLISH AND IN SPANISH, FOCUSING ON THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT (IDEA) AND INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAMS (IEPS), ACCESS TO GENERAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM, PROGRESS MONITORING, AND ADVOCACY. PEAK PUBLISHES AN ELECTRONIC BLOG ON IT'S WEBSITE WITH UP-TO-DATE, ACCURATE INFORMATION ON IDEA, ADVOCACY STRATEGIES, DISABILITIES, AND SELF-ADVOCACY. KEY ARTICLES ARE TRANSLATED INTO SPANISH. OTHER KEY SERVICES OF THE PTI PROJECT ARE A STATEWIDE CALENDAR OF PARENT ACTIVITIES, PARENT LIBRARY, PARENT OUTREACH CONNECTORS LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE STATE, AND A PARENT LEADERSHIP COURSE.

RSA PARENT TRAINING & INFORMATION CENTER ON TRANSITION - THIS PARENT TRAINING AND INFORMATION PROGRAM SERVES YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES BY PROVIDING RESOURCES, TRAINING, AND SUPPORT ON TRANSITION TO COLLEGE, AND POST-SECONDARY OPPORTUNITIES. THE PROJECT FOCUSES ON ACCESSING SUPPORTS AND SERVICES AFTER LEAVING SCHOOL PARTICULARLY FROM VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES AND INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTER.

OTHER PROGRAM SERVICESCONFERENCE ON INCLUSIVE EDUCATION - EACH YEAR, PEAK HOSTS A CONFERENCE ON INCLUSIVE EDUCATION, WHICH IS A PROCESS OF SCHOOL REFORM THAT CREATES EQUALITY IN ACCESS TO CURRICULUM AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES, AND INCREASES ACHIEVEMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS, INCLUDING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES FOR FAMILY MEMBERS OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. THE CONFERENCE CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILIES, GENERAL AND SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS TO COME TOGETHER TO LEARN FROM LEADERS IN THE FIELDS OF EDUCATION AND DISABILITY ADVOCACY. ATTENDEES LEARN WAYS TO INCREASE FAMILY AND SCHOOL COLLABORATION, STRATEGIES FOR USE IN THE CLASSROOM TO EFFECTIVELY SUPPORT CHILDREN'S EDUCATION AND ENHANCE THE LEARNING OF ALL STUDENTS WHICH CAN BE APPLIED IMMEDIATELY, HOW TO BE LEADERS FOR INCLUSIVE SYSTEMS CHANGE EFFORTS IN THEIR DISTRICTS AND SCHOOLS, AND UPDATES ON CURRENT SPECIAL EDUCATION LAWS AND GUIDELINES. DISPUTE RESOLUTION - LEAD A DISPUTE RESOLUTION ADVISORY BOARD AND PROVIDE TRAINING TO FAMILIES AND SPECIAL EDUCATORS IN COLORADO.ASPIRE - PROVIDE SELF-DETERMINATION TRAINING TO YOUTH RECEIVING SSI TO DEVELOP SELF-ADVOCACY SKILLS AND TRAINING TO FAMILIES OF THESE YOUTH TO ASSIST THEIR CHILDREN TO BECOME MORE INDEPENDENT.