Hanbidge, Cerrato hosting an education event focusing on special needs

AMBLER, Feb. 20 – State Reps. Melissa Cerrato and Liz Hanbidge invite area teachers, parents, and families to their upcoming IEP roundtable to discuss the special education transition process.

A panel of experts, including representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, local school districts and The Arc Alliance, among others, will discuss what each transition “looks like,” what to expect (and not expect), what your child’s rights are should issues arise, and answer audience questions. Panelists will also cover POST-12 transitions and the services available. In addition to the panelists, there will be multiple resources available to assist families with services access.

The roundtable will take place from 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday, March 3, at Temple Ambler’s campus auditorium, 580 Meetinghouse Road Ambler, PA 19002. The event venue is wheelchair accessible.

“When parents start working with their child’s teacher on an IEP, there’s a lot of confusion and the process can be overwhelming. Often times, parents can feel like they don’t know what they don’t know and worry that they’re missing something. This event seeks to alleviate these concerns so parents and educators can go about this transition confidently and innovatively,” Cerrato said.

“While all IEPs are individual, everyone must transition, and together we can learn how to better navigate this process,” Hanbidge said. “There is an entire network of people available to help and share knowledge on IEPs, and by hosting this event, we’re hoping to help families of special education students learn about the best resources available to them to help their kids reach their full potential.”

ASL interpreter services can be provided if requested by Feb. 26. To RSVP or request further information, anyone interested can contact Cerrato’s office at 267-282-6695 or email Repcerrato@pahouse.net.