Parent Consultant Training Institutes
Do you find yourself wishing you knew more about laws that support your child/student or that you wish you understood the Individual Education Program (IEP) process better or how to request a special education evaluation? Stop wishing and register for the “Parent Consultant Training Institute” near you!

The Parent Training and Information Center at the Federation for Children with Special Needs is offering an opportunity for Massachusetts parents and professionals to learn more about the state and federal Special Education laws and process. We believe that parents and professionals who understand the process are better able to collaborate effectively to develop supports and services that enable children/students with disabilities to succeed.

The extensive agenda includes speakers from the Massachusetts Department of Education, distinguished attorneys and other professionals in the field of special education. Some of the topics that are presented are: Federal (IDEA 2004) and State Law, Individual Education Program (IEP), Writing Measurable goals, objectives and benchmarks, Program Quality Assurance and the due process system, Access to the General Education Curricula, Evaluations, Positive Behavioral supports, Effective Communication, Transition for students 15-22 and more!

In addition, participants have the option, through an internship, to acquire the necessary skills to assist parents of children with special needs to effectively design and/or manage their children’s special education program. Participants who choose to meet the requirements of the internship are issued a Certificate of Completion, with which some professionals have been granted PDPs from their school districts. This Federation supervised internship requires 25 hours of phone consultation at a Federation site as well as 25 hours of advocacy at no fee based on Federation referrals. Participants who elect to only attend classroom sessions are issued a Certificate of Attendance.

Participants should possess knowledge of special education legislation or experience in working with parents of children with special needs.

Tuition for parents is $325, professionals $425. Limited scholarships are available for parents. You may elect to contact the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC) at 617-770-7676 to apply for Consumer Empowerment Funds.

To apply: Download the application or call the office and request an application by mail. Fill it out and send it in with your payment. Even if you are applying for funding or a scholarship, you must send in your application as soon they are being accepted. You must send payment with your application, or send a note attached to the application regarding your payment circumstances. You will receive an email to confirm receipt of your application. Those who are accepted into the class will receive a letter soon thereafter. We usually receive more applications than we have space so, if for some reason you are not accepted into a class, we encourage you to apply again. For more information regarding the training course, please contact Dotty Robison at drobison@fcsn.org.

Download an application to attend a Parent Consultant Training Institute.

2009-2010 Sessions
Boston:
The class will meet Tuesdays and Fridays, March 16 – April 16 (no class 3/30 or 4/2), from 9-4 at the Federation office: 1135 Tremont St., Suite 420, Boston. Applications will be accepted no sooner than February 2 and no later than
March 5.

Western MA:
The class will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from February 2 through March 4, from 9:00 – 3:00 (no class during school vacation week). The training will be held at the SCAN 360 Family Center, 11 Wilbraham Road, Springfield. Applications will be accepted from December 28 through January 22.

Cape Cod:
The class will meet on Mondays from April 5 through June 7, from 9:00 – 4:00. There will be no class on April 19 or May 31. The class will be held at the Falmouth Fire Station,
399 Main Street, Falmouth, MA 02540-3196. Applications will be accepted from February 22 through April 1.

Worcester and Central MA:
The class will meet Monday through Friday, June 21 through June 25, from 9:00 – 4:00 each day. The location will be posted later in the year.

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