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. Parents of students receiving special education services in Gwinnett are invited to attend upcoming informational sessions hosted by Gwinnett County Parent Mentors Dawn Albanese and Jackie McNair in collaboration with GCPS' Special Education Department staff and community leaders and organizations.
Upcoming events include the following:
“Criminal Justice: How it Impacts Students with Disabilities”
(Thursday, Jan. 17, 10 a.m. to noon)
In this session designed for families of middle and high school students, Gwinnett County State Court Judge Pamela D. South will give an overview of what happens in the court system when a young person is arrested or detained by law enforcement. Topics to be covered include court appearances, appointed or retained counsel, delinquency petitions, criminal accusations, and sentencing guidelines. Families will learn how they can be proactive in helping their child avoid incidents and how the court system helps to limit the impact of a conviction. (Note that this session focuses on incidents in the home and community, not student discipline and behavioral interventions at school.) This session will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at OneStop Centerville Community Center, located at 3025 Bethany Church Rd. in Snellville. 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 Jan. 16.
“Life Beyond the High School Diploma”
(Tuesday, Jan. 22, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.)
Special Education Coordinator Stacy Poteat and Instructional Coach Niles Davis, both of GCPS’ Special Education Department, will address help families look at options and resources available to their student after high school. Topics will include challenges facing young people with disabilities after high school, barriers to college success, college programs for students with intellectual disabilities, the differences between K-12 and college, types of accommodations, employment for a young person with disabilities, and barriers to success in the workplace. The session will be held in Building 200 (Room 2.111) at the J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center, located at 437 Old Peachtree Road, NW, in Suwanee. To RSVP for the meeting, contact Ms. Albanese by phone at (678) 301-7212 or by email at dawn_albanese@gwinnett.k12.ga.us by Jan. 21.
For more information regarding the Georgia Parent Mentor Partnership, go to www.parentmentors.org.