|
|
|
 |
Archives |
Parents Want More from Supplemental PublishersMost parents want to be involved in their children's education, as is evidenced by the thriving number of PTA's, PTO's and other parent-oriented organizations. This rings especially true in the area of special needs, where parents are naturally more inclined to play an active role in their children's education. But while a number of publishers do get parents involved in the product development process, there is a general lack of communication that leaves parents largely uninformed when it comes to supplemental materials. The active role of parents in special needs education is certainly nothing new; ever since the passage of the original Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1975, parents have been voicing their concerns and advocating for their children through organizations such as The Federation for Children with Special Needs (FCSN) and the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). And because the Internet has made it easier in recent years to access legislative information, home schooling materials, and other parents of special needs students, thousands of local groups have formed across the nation, including 172 PTA's dedicated to special education issues. With this growing population of interested parents comes a growing need for ways to get them involved in their children's education. A few publishers currently offer supplemental products along these lines, such as Free Spirit's How to Handle Hard-to-Handle Kids, and EPS's The Experts Speak: Parenting the Child with Learning Disabilities. But according to Pam Grossman, president of the Lower Merion Committee for Special Education and Founder of the Montgomery County Special Education Cooperative, a gap still exists that leaves many parents in the dark about the role supplemental materials play in their children's education. Grossman says the lack of awareness is something that needs to be addressed by both parties, the first step being for publishers simply to recognize parents as a major stakeholder in the interests of special needs children. This could be as simple as including a "For Parents" section on the company website or holding product demonstrations geared toward parents to inform them on what tools their children may be using in schools. "Parents are hungry for knowledge," says Grossman. "We want to know about supplemental materials--what they are, what constitutes a good supplemental product and why." At the January 28 IDEA regulations hearing at the University of Delaware, testimony was given from a number of parties interested in improving special education through the new IDEA. Of these, some of the most vocal were parents. They knew the law and its implications and what its effects might be on their children--information they had to work to get. If publishers take the initiative to reach out to this eager audience, both sides would see the benefits.
Questions, ideas, or in need of more information? Please contact Stacey Pusey at 302-295-8349. |
Federation for Children with Special Needs Council for Exceptional Children Lower Merion County School District For more information on the Montgomery County Special Education Cooperative or the Lower Merion Committee on Special Education, email Pam Greer at pgapeer@aol.com. Also see "Together, parents
promote better special education" |
|
© 2011 The Association of Educational
Publishers |
||
