Parents as Collaborative Leaders
Parents as Collaborative Leaders: Improving Outcomes for Children with Disabilities is a national partnership between the University of Vermont, PACER Center, and several other parent and advocacy organizations. The project developed research-based training materials and internship experiences to support parents of children with disabilities in becoming active leaders in policy development and evaluation. Active parent leadership will lead to improved educational outcomes for children. Key project activities have included:
- Development of a core curriculum on collaborative leadership has been developed, delivered, and evaluated by 32 parent leaders from across the country who participated in leadership orientations;
- Implementation of leadership internships for each of the participating parent leaders, with support and mentorship from coordinators in each parent’s home state;
- Development of 10 modules, based on the core curriculum, now available on this website for national dissemination;
- Ongoing dissemination of materials and key findings to parent centers and parent membership organizations focused on children with disabilities and their families.
Click here to access the curriculum and modules for the Parents as Collaborative Leaders project.
Project Partners
The University of Vermont
has a national reputation in training future educators and human
services professionals, as well as in conducting research on topics such as
family centered approaches to disability, implementation of educational
policies, and leadership development. The University of Vermont is also home to
the National Institute for
Leadership, Disability, and Students Placed at Risk
(NILDSPAR).
PACER
Center is a national parent center for families for children and
young adults with all types of disabilities—physical, cognitive, learning,
emotional and other health impairments. PACER is dedicated to supporting the
development of leadership skills among parents.
Co-Principal
Investigators
Katharine Shepherd, Ed.D., University of
Vermont
Susan Hasazi, Ed.D., University of Vermont
Paula Goldberg, PACER
Center
State Coordinators
Jennie Gibson
and Helen Post, Utah Parent Canter, Salt Lake City, UT
Connie Hawkins,
Exceptional Children’s Assistance Center, Davidson, NC
Susan LaVenture,
National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments, Watertown,
MA
Irene Martinez, Fiesta Educativa, Los Angeles, CA
Virginia Richardson
and Jodi Baker, PACER Center, Minneapolis, MN
The Parent Center Network site offers many PDF files for download, which require 