Suzanne Peyton

Parents helping parents help kids is the heart and soul of a good and responsive parent advisory council (PAC). Some parents evolve into natural leaders after experiencing the special education process for their child with special needs. They are parents who want to help other parents help their kids.

Often, parents are left with a sense of absolute amazement and shock that the special education process is so incredibly difficult and stressful. They are moved to help others avoid the delays and pitfalls they have experienced and pave the way for a smoother process. They know of great resources, good doctors and evaluators. They know how the school system operates and know the key players in the district. They are an incredibly rich resource for other parents.

Other parents want to be involved with their child's school and education and the parent advisory council is the place they feel they can make the greatest impact and difference. They feel this work is so very important and relevant to their child's success and future. They want to learn all they can so they can be the best advocate they can be for their child.

Attending parent advisory council meetings and events are an important contribution that you, as a parent, can make. By attending, you are showing your interest and support. By attending you meet other parents with similar interests and can develop valuable networks, resources and support. You learn about laws and regulations. You learn key processes or programs. By attending you discover what your PAC's goals are and what are the programs and projects it would like to deliver to parents and your community at large. By attending, you may discover some activity that resonates within you that you feel passionately about and by becoming involved, you will discover your contribution and niche that can make a rich difference in your life and that of your child and other parents.

We all have busy lives and parents who have children with disabilities have the greatest time challenges of all. We never have enough time to do everything we would like to do, but we can find pockets of time that we can give that can make an incredible difference.

Get involved and make a difference!

Suzanne Peyton is the executive director of the Massachusetts Association of Special Education Parent Advisory Councils (MASSPAC) and the mother of two great boys. Mrs. Peyton is also a member of her local School Board in Sharon, Massachusetts.

For more information go to A Guide to Special Education