National PTAC

The ALLIANCE National Parent Technical Assistance Center (NPTAC)

The ALLIANCE National Parent Technical Assistance Center (NPTAC) provides Parent Centers, Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs) and Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs), with innovative technical assistance, up-to-date information, and high quality resources and materials. A major goal of the ALLIANCE National PTAC is to build the capacity of Parent Centers in order to improve results for children with disabilities ages 0 -26 in rural, urban and suburban areas and from underrepresented and underserved populations.

The innovative model of support reflects evidence based practices, addresses the needs of Parent Centers, promotes systems change, and encourages parent-professional partnerships. Project activities are based on a logic model and focus on significant educational initiatives, including the State Performance Plan (SPP) indicators.

The training events, product development, strategic planning, technology, business partnerships, and evaluation offered through the ALLIANCE National PTAC are designed to meet the needs of Parent Centers and support the development of positive outcomes for children with disabilities.

The ALLIANCE National PTAC collaborates with the six Regional Parent Technical Assistance Centers (RPTACs) in New Jersey, North Carolina, Texas, Wisconsin, Colorado and California to increase Parent Centers’ capacity to serve families of children with disabilities. Together, the ALLIANCE NPTAC and RPTACs support all 104 Parent Centers.

Other partnerships include Technical Assistance and Dissemination (TA&D) Network, researchers, state education agencies (SEAs), Part C Lead Agencies, local education agencies (LEAs), teachers, businesses and families.

The ALLIANCE National PTAC, six Regional PTACs and the 104 Parent Centers are funded by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP).

What is PACER Center?

The ALLIANCE National PTAC is a project of PACER Center, a nonprofit national parent center located in Minneapolis, MN. The mission of PACER Center is to expand opportunities and enhance the quality of life of children and young adults with ALL disabilities and their families, based on the concept of parents helping parents.

Founded in 1977, PACER Center was created by parents of children and youth with disabilities and advocates to help other parents and families facing similar challenges. PACER is staffed primarily by parents of children with disabilities and works in coalition with 18 disability organizations. PACER offers over 40 specialty projects created to provide assistance to families of children with disabilities on a variety of special issues; including children with special health needs, assistive technology, social inclusion for children with disabilities, bullying prevention, transition issues and much more.

ALLIANCE National PTAC Contact Information

PACER Center
8161 Normandale Blvd.
Minneapolis, MN 55437-1044
952.838.9000
National Toll Free: 888.248.0822
TTY: 952.838.0190
Fax: 952.838.0199
E-mail: alliance@taalliance.org
Web Site: ParentCenterNetwork.org/NATIONAL

ALLIANCE National PTAC Staff

Paula Goldberg, National ALLIANCE PTAC Co-Director
Sue Folger, National ALLIANCE PTAC Co-Director
Sharman Davis Barrett, National ALLIANCE PTAC Co-Director
Debbie Andrews, Communications Coordinator
Gretchen Godfrey, Research Coordinator
Jesús Villaseñor, Multi-Cultural Advisor

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