Parents of students receiving special education services in Gwinnett are invited to attend upcoming informational sessions, part of the Gwinnett County Parent Mentors Present” series. This monthly learning series is designed for families of children with disabilities, and presented by Gwinnett County Parent Mentors Dawn Albanese and Jackie McNair in collaboration with GCPS' Special Education Department staff and community leaders and organizations. Parent Mentors are parents who work within GCPS' special education department, providing information and support to other families who have children served in special education. The mentors have first-hand knowledge of raising a child with special needs as they both have a child who has been served or is being served in GCPS.
· Tuesday, Oct. 16— Dr. Ryan Mitchell, an occupational therapist in GCPS' Special Education Department, will present “Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy Services in the School: What are They?” The session will be held in the Central Gwinnett Room (2.111) in Building 200 of the J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center (ISC) located at 437 Old Peachtree Road, NW, in Suwanee. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. To RSVP, contact Ms. Albanese by phone at (678) 301-7212 or by email at dawn_albanese@gwinnett.k12.ga.us by Oct. 15. .
· Wednesday, Oct. 17— Niyokia Sermons, supervisor of Right from the Start Medical Assistance Group in the Centralized Katie Beckett Unit, will present "Katie Beckett Medicaid 101 - The Application and Eligibility Process." Katie Beckett is an eligibility category that allows certain children under age 17 who have long-term disabilities or complex medical needs and live at home, to become eligible for Medicaid coverage. This special meeting will be conducted at the OneStop Centerville Community Center, located at 3025 Bethany Church Road in Snellville. Hours are 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. To RSVP for the meeting, contact Ms. McNair by phone at (678) 301-7149 or by email at Jackie_McNair@gwinnett.k12.ga.us by Oct. 15.
For more information regarding the Georgia Parent Mentor Partnership, go to www.parentmentors.org.