Help is available for parents of children with disabilities, but sometimes families simply do not know where to find it.
However, local residents got an overview of available resources at a town hall meeting Thursday at the Columbia County Library.
The meeting, the first of 10 statewide forums sponsored by Parent to Parent of Georgia Inc. and the state Department of Education, was designed to help parents participate effectively in the education of their children with special needs.
"Education is in crisis all over the country. Special education is in even more crisis," Nancy O'Hara, the director of the Department of Education's Special Education Services, told the audience of about 75 parents and educators.
Most of the discussion focused on individual education programs for children who receive special-education services.
Ms. O'Hara said an IEP must include a statement of measurable academic and functional goals and development goals, as appropriate. She said the most effective way to implement a child's IEP is with a team approach.
The IEP team includes at least one regular education teacher, at least one special-education teacher, the parents, a representative of the educational system and the child, if appropriate.
Ms. O'Hara urged parents to bring someone with them for "moral support" to meetings with their child's IEP team.
This suggestion was welcomed by Evans resident Shirley Blalock, whose 14-year-old son receives special-education services.
"It's rather intimidating because you're surrounded by all of your son's teachers," she said of the IEP meetings.
Kathy Cook, of Evans, who has IEPs for two of her 12-year-old triplets, said she would like to form a local parents group for support and advocacy.
"I just think we would have more influence, especially at the state level," she said.
Heather Murray, the Augusta-area coordinator of Parent to Parent, said many parents become frustrated when trying to navigate the special-education process.
"We're trying to teach communication skills in a positive way so we can make changes," she said. "Special education is a very sensitive process and very close to someone's heart."
Reach Betsy Gilliland at (706) 868-1222, ext. 113, or betsy.gilliland@augustachronicle.com.
RESOURCES
To learn about special-education resources, log on to www.parenttoparentofga.org or contact Heather Murray, Augusta-area coordinator of Parent to Parent of Georgia Inc., at heather@parenttoparent ofga.org or hmurray@ mcg.edu. Parent to Parent is a state organization that provides support to parents of children with disabilities.
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