SN Parents Group Q

[miranda]

Do you participate in a SN Parent Group at your school? If so, how does it work? Is it just parents, or do you include school administration?

A very motivated parent started one at our elementary school. There are about 25-30 kids with IEPs at our school, probably many more with 504s. She had us meet monthly, and turnout was usually 2-3 parents. She was super motivated and held two meetings; one during the day and one at night.  By process of elimination, I got roped into continuing the group after her son went on to middle school.

Since we've began this year, turnout has been really bad, ranging from zero to two parents attending. I'm not sure how to proceed; it's kindof an inconvenience to keep meeting when no one is interested. Hrm..

[freezorburn]

I don’t know of a group at our school, but we do have a district-wide SN PTA. I only know of its activities and meetings through its FB page. I can never go to meetings because they are on weeknight evenings on the other side of town. As a single parent I just don’t know how to make that work. I’ve suggested that they should look into ways for parents to attend via teleconference, but I am not holding my breath.

[waverly]

We have one that meets monthly at 6 pm. I think they did a few less meetings this year. I only go if I have a specific question- otherwise it turns into just one more thing I have to do on my calendar. Ours does have childcare though. I plan to go to the next meeting to ask about OT.

Ours does include school administration. I think it varies, but we had a VP and a counselor and a speech therapist and some teachers at the one I went to last year. I think it is valuable, so I don't know if you should stop, but ours are run by the school, so there is little the parents have to do. Maybe you could see if the school wants to do the meetings- maybe just 4 a year or something like that.

[miranda]

waverly, that's a good idea about asking the school to administer the meetings. We used to meet at Starbucks but they recently started letting us meet at the school in the conference room. It makes it less intimidating for immigrant families to attend.

freezorburn, our district SN PTA just started doing teleconferencing. I went once, way across town, and it wasn't worth the effort, but I like listening in.

[kkfeb04]

You may have low turnout due to everyone's schedule. Maybe ask if anyone is interested and what time works for them. After school on a weeknight is rough for us, 3 out of 5 nights are spent going to OT or ST for the kids. One night H is off so we spend that as a family and the other night we are just tired and want to stay home. Our rehab center is a 45 min drive one way. We don't get home until 7:30 those nights and we leave as soon as I get off at 4. I also have no local childcare since family is out of town and if there's no childcare I can't go. I would love to participate but these things are why I wouldn't be able to.

[miranda]

Dec 22, 2017 11:40:40 GMT -5 kkfeb04 said:

You may have low turnout due to everyone's schedule. Maybe ask if anyone is interested and what time works for them. After school on a weeknight is rough for us, 3 out of 5 nights are spent going to OT or ST for the kids. One night H is off so we spend that as a family and the other night we are just tired and want to stay home. Our rehab center is a 45 min drive one way. We don't get home until 7:30 those nights and we leave as soon as I get off at 4. I also have no local childcare since family is out of town and if there's no childcare I can't go. I would love to participate but these things are why I wouldn't be able to.

For sure. My predecessor brought the group together twice for that reason (once during the day, once in the evening). I don't have time to do that. I think first thing in the morning at the school is the best we can muster since working folks like myself can meet and then go into work. I hate meeting in the evening- once I'm home it's hard for me to get up the energy to go out again!

[kkfeb04]

Dec 27, 2017 10:46:56 GMT -5 miranda said:

Dec 22, 2017 11:40:40 GMT -5 kkfeb04 said:

You may have low turnout due to everyone's schedule. Maybe ask if anyone is interested and what time works for them. After school on a weeknight is rough for us, 3 out of 5 nights are spent going to OT or ST for the kids. One night H is off so we spend that as a family and the other night we are just tired and want to stay home. Our rehab center is a 45 min drive one way. We don't get home until 7:30 those nights and we leave as soon as I get off at 4. I also have no local childcare since family is out of town and if there's no childcare I can't go. I would love to participate but these things are why I wouldn't be able to.

For sure. My predecessor brought the group together twice for that reason (once during the day, once in the evening). I don't have time to do that. I think first thing in the morning at the school is the best we can muster since working folks like myself can meet and then go into work. I hate meeting in the evening- once I'm home it's hard for me to get up the energy to go out again!

See again, this would also preclude me from participation. I work 8-4 and if I need to leave early, I go in earlier since staying late isn't an option with therapy. There's never a good time for us and I'm sure there are others like me in our boat.

[miranda]

I hear you kkfeb04 , it's nearly impossible to make it all work, and it isn't fair for the contingency of folks who can't make these things! Another thing we discussed is that I would post "minutes" of what we talk about on the group's facebook page so at least information is being passed around.

[kkfeb04]

See the facebook group is awesome as is posting the minutes. I was just trying to give you ideas of the problems that you may be running into with your group. Our ped rehab center tried several different parent groups and it was always the same few parents attending. We basically had an impromptu one during social skills class of a few of us who stayed but several parents dropped off and left. Sadly no one joined for the fall session besides my son, I'm hoping more will join the spring session.

[auntie]

I have never been involved with a SEPTA or SN parent group via school; both my district and the private therapeutic school DS attended preferred to isolate parents to avoid creating an effective coalition for advocacy.

But among my friends who have been involved, poor participation is typical for a lot of reasons. On one hand you have the scheduling challenges of accommodating parents who work a 9-5 and those whose evening availability is compromised by therapy appointments, homework support and trying to give sibs their share of attention. Offering childcare can help, but where are you going to find/afford caregivers familiar with behaviors and medically complicated kids?

The other problem is that these groups can be divisive if they're not moderated well. One of the early support groups I attended for ASD was started by mothers of kids much older and more impaired/atypical than mine. These mom's didn't have to fight as hard for services because their sons were well served by the ASD self contained classroom and transportation services that was already in place. They didn't have to deal with bullying, teachers who didn't "get it" or any of the other blessings of mainstream. Their biggest concern was transition planning for the day their kids aged out. They are lovely people, but didn't have much to offer me.

[waverly]

The one time I went ours seemed more kids that were mainstreamed. They did provide childcare which was great, but they didn't have to worry about providing it for kids with medical complications. It seemed to be more of a couple of teenagers, and in a room right off ours, so it was easy for the parent to partially look in on the kids. At least with the school moderating it, the moderation part seemed to go well. I need to go to one this year. I would like to just get to one a year is my goal.