Author: David Wolowitz & Michael O'Connor, Prairie State Legal Services
Last updated: November 2002

(Chapter 5 Section 4 from Guidebook of Laws and Programs for People with Disabilities)

 

 

What It Is: A federal law that provides for grants to certain non-profit organizations to provide training and information to parents of children with disabilities.

Where to Apply: At a Parent Training and Information Center (see below).

Who May Be Eligible: Parents of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities; and persons who work with those parents.

I. Your Legal Rights

Training to Help Parents Ensure The Educational Needs of Their Children

Training and Information Grants
The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) makes grants to private nonprofit organizations. The grants are for the purpose of providing training and information t

• Parents of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities; and
• Persons who work with parents.

The purpose of the training and information is to help the above individuals participate more effectively with professionals in meeting the educational needs of children with disabilities.

These grants are designed to meet the unique training and information needs of parents of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities living in the area to be served by the grant. It is particularly intended for those who are members of groups that have been traditionally under-represented.

Conditions for Nonprofit Organizations to Receive A Grant
To receive a grant, a private nonprofit organization must be governed by a board of directors or a special governing committee. The majority of the members must be parents of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities. This should include minority parents. The Board should include members who are professionals, especially minority professionals, in the field of special education, early intervention, and related services, and individuals with disabilities.

Under its program, the organization must serve the parents of infants, toddlers, children, and youth who have the full range of disabling conditions. It must have the capacity and expertise to effectively conduct training and information activities. It must network with clearinghouses, and other organizations and agencies. It must network with other established national, State, and local parent groups representing the full range of parents of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities.

The board of directors or special governing committee of the organization must meet at least once in each calendar quarter. They must review the parent training and information activities. This review must be put in writing each year. Whenever the organization requests the renewal of a grant, this review must be submitted to DOE.

Mission of the Parent Training and Information Organizations
Parent training and information programs are required to assist parents to do the following:

• Better understand the nature and needs of the disabling conditions of children;
• Provide follow-up support for educational programs of children with disabilities;
• Communicate more effectively with special and regular educators,
  administrators, related services personnel, and other relevant professionals;
• Participate in educational decision-making processes. This includes the
  development of the individualized education program (IEP) for a child with a disability;
• Obtain appropriate information about the range of options, programs, services, and resources available at the national, State, and local levels to assist infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and their families.

Each private nonprofit organization operating a PTI program must consult and network with appropriate national, State, regional, and local agencies and organizations, that serve or assist children with disabilities.
Example:Each PTI program must network with protection and advocacy agencies.

II. Where to Go for More Information

The Parent Training and Information Centers in Illinois

These federally funded centers provide training and technical assistance to parents of children with disabilities.  Illinois has been divided into two geographic regions to serve families across the state.

Illinois Region 1 includes the following counties: Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will. If you live in this area, you should contact:

Designs for Change
Bernard Lacour
29 East Madison, Suite 950
Chicago, IL 60602
1-800-851-8728
312-236-7252 ext. 234
312-236-7927 fax
blc@designsforchange.org

Family Resource Center on Disabilities
Charlotte Des Jardins
20 East Jackson Blvd., Room 300
Chicago, IL 60604
1-800-952-4199
312-939-3513
312-939-7297 fax 
frcdptiil@ameritech.net

Illinois Region 2 includes the remainder of the state. If you live in the area outside the counties listed in the region above, contact:

Family Matters
Deb Einhorn
2502 South Veterans Drive
Effingham, IL 62401
1-866-436-7842
217-347-0880 ext. 100
217-347-5119 fax
info@fmptic.org

Additionally, you can follow this link for more information:

http://www.isbe.state.il.us/spec-ed/parent_traininginfo.htm

Statute and Regulations
The statute regarding the parent training and information programs can be found within the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) at 20 USCA 1431.

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