Comments from attendees at the Forum include:

"I'm very excited about learning how to best advocate for particular services for my child while at the same time, being able to foster helpful and positive relationships with school staff and other families that share similar challenges." ...Seacoast family member of a child with a disability

"It really is amazing that in having real conversations, face-to-face, heartfelt conversations not confined by time limits, we can all move in the same direction...as partners." ...Seacoast Special Education Professional

"Teaching families the Special Education Process at every school in New Hampshire is my goal. New Hampshire Connections is one organization
that can help make that happen!" ...Seacoast Family Support Coordinator

"This was a great way to get parents and schools collaborating." ...BCBA certified therapist

"I will work to implement these strategies for parents and my school. It could take a year or two, but incremental steps are steps in the right direction!"
...Middle School Teacher

Success Stories from the Seacoast Region

SEACOAST REGIONAL FORUM on Family-School Partnerships In Special Education
November 18, 2010 at the McConnell Center in Dover, NH

Participants representing families, schools and community members from Amherst, Barrington, Deerfield, Dover, Durham, Hampton, Lee, North Hampton, Northwood/ Nottingham/Strafford, Newmarket, Oyster River, Portsmouth, Stratham and Rochester gathered for an open-ended World Café style FORUM.

Using these three guided questions, led to collaborative discussions about expanding Family-School Partnerships in Special Education.

1. What things are happening in your schools/school district to involve families?

2. What areas or themes about expanding family/school partnerships do you think your schools/districts are interested in?

3. What do families and schools need to do, to expand family/school partnerships?

Nearly 200 individual responses to these questions were offered, discussed and recorded. From these responses, three major topics for further partnership action and collaboration were determined. Some ideas are quoted below.

TOPIC I: Finding the Path to Parent Mentorships & Partnerships

• Creating opportunities to meet other families with children with disabilities.
• How to collaborate with other parents of children like mine? In-services? Sharing resources?
• Hosting panels/graduates of your school to talk to younger students with disabilities.
• Special events like Autism Family Night, school picnics, social outings.
• Helping to defray stigma of special education/having a disability.

TOPIC II: Communication & Information Sharing Strategies

• Building trust & reinforcing true partnerships through meaningful, two-way communication.
• Ways for families and schools to connect beyond the IEP/504 meetings.
• Taking more time with one another. What is the best ways to communicate with each family?
• Services model: What is the process and how does it work? What role does a budget play?
• Family/School Service Learning together: The 15-year path (PreK-12).
• Avoiding communication breakdowns with families especially after behavior issues arise.


TOPIC III: Strategies to Engage and Support Families During Transitions• Parents part of goal setting for district.

• Host a transition retreat? A community-wide fair? Capture on TV? School websites?
• Creating opportunities for intra-school-based groups. Integration into music, job classes, etc.
• Demystifying process for middle and high school transitions: summer programs?
• Creating transition prep camps/structure for all stages and levels.