Ideas for Running Groups
v Reach out to other parent groups in your region
and find out what has worked for them.
v Invite teachers, child study team
members, related service staff and administrators to your meetings.
v Schedule the first meeting in October -
not in September. Avoid May and June meetings.
v Form subcommittees that work between
meetings
v Delegate work to sub-committees to keep
members active.
v Do not require a commitment from
members.
v Provide childcare and have activities
and refreshments for the kids.
v Get outside help when you need it.
Ideas for Increasing the Influence of Your Parent Group
v Develop a mentoring program for students with
disabilities.
v Open a
resource library. Ask parents to donate books and other material, and ask local
doctors and other professionals to donate resources
v Develop a
scholarship program for students with disabilities.
v Co-sponsor
assemblies with other parent groups in your school.
v Work with
the recreation program to develop ways to include children with disabilities in
all programming in your community.
v Look to
your local Parent Teacher Organization for some fundraising ideas.
v Write
compliments when you get support from staff and administration.
v Find out
how parents can be involved in Special Education Self Assessment, and get a copy
of most recent assessment summary/full reports.
v Attend
Board meetings, talk about issues related to special education.
v Establish
awards for teacher
v Representative to PTA Council.
v Send a
Holiday Basket
v Have a
Board Liaison to SPED Parent Advisory Council.
v Collaborate with general education.