1974: Incorporated as a parent-staffed organization devoted to assisting parents of children with special needs to realize the promise of the new special education laws.

1975: First office opened. Awarded federal funds to conduct a pilot project of parent-to- parent assistance and training. This was the first of today's Parent Training and Information Centers (PTI).

1980: Convened first national conference of parent centers in Washington, DC. Established the T APP national parent center network.

1981: Adopted the principles that see disability as a natural part of life and positively value individual differences. These becan1e part of the national agenda for parent organizations.

1987: Began the parent outreach component of the National Early Childhood Technical Assistance System (NECTAS), assisting states in planning and implementing early intervention programs

1988: Parent Professional Advocacy League (PAL) began to support parents of children with serious emotional mental health issues.

1990: Mass CARE; a family support and information program for families of children with HIV formed.

1992: Led efforts to establish a national grassroots voice for families in health care fmancing, program and policy, known today as Family Voices.

1993: Family TIES established to provide parent to parent resources statewide.

1994: Initiated the PEER (Parents Engaged in Education Reform) Project, a national training project for parent leaders to become effective participants in school restructuring efforts.

1996: Established our fIrst interactive website, www.fcsn.org, providing access to information nationwide. Today we receive between 25-30,000 hits per month.

1997: Established the Early Intervention Training Center(DPH) which provides continuing education to early intervention providers through workshops, mentorship, and certification of early intervention personnel.

1998: Developed a collaborative partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Education to provide specialized information, training, and technical assistance on special education for parents.

1999: Became a partner on the U.S. Department of Education State Improvement Grant (SIG) to equip teachers and parents with the skills to meet the newest requirements of IDEA 97.

1999: Established the Community Outreach and Empowerment Project (COEP) with the Boston Foundation to provide focused outreach efforts for African-American and Latino families living in Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan and Jamaica Plain.

1999: Established Parents' PLACE, a Parent Information and Resource Center under Goals 2000. Center activities focus primarily on parents who are economically and educationally disadvantaged, including those of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds.

2000: The 25th Anniversary Gala held at the Royal Sonesta Hotel, Cambridge. While celebrating the milestones of accomplishment, we began to build a solid foundation for the next 25 years of parent empowerment and leadership.

2001: The 2001 Anniversary Gala held at the Royal Sonesta Hotel, Cambridge. Gala surpassed its goal and set a fundraising record.

2001: Completed a joint publication of "A Parent's Guide to Special Education" with the Massachusetts Department of Education (DOE).

2002: Partnered with Parents for Residential Reform{PF~), a grassroots family-to-family support network funded by the Massachusetts Department of Education. This project provides information and training to parents about residential placement, restraint, medication, the IEP, MCAS and transition.

2002: The 2002 Anniversary Gala held at the Royal Sonesta Hotel, Cambridge. For the third year in a row this fundraising event exceeded the goal set by the Gala Committee.

2003: Pathways For Parents is funded through a private foundation in cooperation with Massachusetts Department of Social Services (DSS).

2003: Completed Spanish and Portuguese versions of a joint publication of "A Parent's Guide to Special Education" with the Massachusetts Department of Education (DOE).

2003: The 2003 Anniversry Gala held at the Royal Sonesta Hotel., Cambridge. For the fourth year in a row, me FederatIon contmued a tradItIon of record-breakmg success.