A parent-educator coordinator is someone who is hired by the local area educational agency in your area. This person is knowledgeable in the following plans: Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) and Individualized Education Plan (IEP). He or she has a child or children of their own with special needs. With this knowledge and personal experience, the parent-educator coordinator is great person to go to if you have questions or concerns.
How Can A Parent-Educator Coordinator Help Me?
A parent-educator coordinator can help you in the following ways:
- Provide information on conferences, workshops, and Newsletters.
- Provide information on an array of disabilities.
- Provide information on support groups.
- Provide information on:
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- Individualized education programs (IEP or IFSP)
- IEP training
- Parent/student rights and responsibilities
- Special education
- Transition
- Camps/leisure activities
- Provide an opportunity to talk with another parent that has had similar experiences.
- Help in preparing for IEP or IFSP meetings.
- Attend an IEP/IFSP meeting(s) to provide additional support.
- Help problem solve and find informations to your questions.
Additional Parent-Educator Coordinator Services
A parent-educator coordinator can also inform you about the following items that could assist you with your journey of becoming advocate and support for your child with special needs:
- Learn about conferences and workshops that you can attend.
- How to gain access to the area local education agency's library (can check out materials free of charge).
- Learn about events or support group meeting due to a calendar of events.
- How to gain information regarding transition and disability services.
How Can I Locate a Parent-Educator Coordinator?
If you would like to locate a Parent-Educator Coordinator in your area, you can either call or email your local area educational agency first. If this does not work, then contact your child's school to ask them how to contact a parent-educator coordinator in your area.
A Parent-Educator Coordinator (PEC) can serve as a great support and resource to parents of children with special needs. He or She can help answer your questions, problem solve, and advocate for you and your child. It's great to know that you can contact a person who has been in your shoes and has the knowledge about what an IEP and IFSP is.
