Your Neighborhood Navigator has been busy meeting many interesting people in our community! Today’s visit takes us to the Hudson Valley Parent Center (HVPC). Although located in the heart of Westchester County at the Westchester Institute for Human Development, the center serves the entire Hudson Valley region. Parent Centers are under the umbrella of New York State Department of Education (NYSED) and there are 14 across the State. The mission is to provide families with information and resources in order to assist their children with disabilities in school.

There is no fee charged to families to access HVPC’s services. Information is provided in both English and Spanish, as well as other languages via interpreter services. Parents may call with questions ranging from understanding their child’s disabilities to learning how to effectively participate in the special education process. Specially trained staff at the center can also help families to better collaborate with school districts to promote advocacy and understanding about how to navigate the special education process. To find out more about the mission of the Parent Centers, go to: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/techassist/parentcenters.htm

Area school staff can refer families of students with disabilities to our local parent center, HVPC. In addition to offering information, resources and strategies, the center also provides ongoing training in a wide range of areas including transition planning. All workshops are posted on HVPC’s website. Additionally, there are some must-see resources including videos to help families prepare for Annual Review meetings. Parents and educators alike will find much useful information for transition planning and more. Your Neighborhood Navigator’s top pick for resources to check out is the Student “Draft IEP” Interactive Tool. This tool was developed by HVPC Director Naomi Brickel. It allows students to create a draft version of their own IEPs. The tool prompts users to answer questions in student-friendly language. Check out the Interactive IEP and more at: http://www.hvsepc.org.