WESTFIEL – A collaborative effort between the Westfield Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC) and Family TIES of Massachusetts will provide a unique program for parents titled “Let’s Get Organized” on Thursday.
Patricia Byrnes, administrator of special education and student support with the Westfield Public Schools, encouraged parents who have children with special needs to attend the 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. program in the cafeteria of Westfield Technical Academy, 33 Smith Ave. No registration is necessary.
“Parents are sometimes overwhelmed with the amount of paperwork that goes with supporting their child,” said Byrnes. “Family TIES of Massachusetts has been presenting to parents for a number of years ‘Let’s Get Organized.’”
Family TIES of Massachusetts is a state-wide information and parent-to-parent support network for families of children with special needs or chronic illness. Parent coordinators work in the state regional health offices, providing support to families in their regions. Family TIES is a project of the Federation for Children with Special Needs, with funding from and in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Family Health and Nutrition, Division for Children and Youth with Special Health Needs.
Byrnes said the program will show parents how to keep track of their child’s IEP (individualized education program), evaluations, progress reports, physician reports, and test results in one customized binder.
“This is the first time the program has been offered in Westfield for our group,” said Byrnes.
The Family TIES representative will also discuss effective tips for developing community connections for one’s child.
Currently, there are approximately 1,050 students represented in the special education division of the Westfield Public School District, according to Byrnes.
“We run across all disabilities of special needs student within the district, ranging from autism developmentally delayed, intellectual, communication, special learning and emotional, to health, physical, sensory-hard of hearing, deaf or blind, neurological, or multiple disabilities,” said Byrnes.
For more information on the program, call (413) 572-6556. For more details on Family TIES, call (800-905-8437) or visit www.massfamilyties.org.
