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Success for Jonah

By bdibble / June 8, 2018
May 2018 Dear Friend of PEAK: Meet the Scott family: Daryl, Suzi, Jordan, Adriana, and Jonah. They are a typical American family with lots of laughter, late nights of homework, going to the movies, Dad and Jonah working on cars together on weekends. However, Jonah, has a diagnosis of autism. This diagnosis came when Jonah was very young, with the family soon realizing that life was going to be different for them as they were thrust into the roles ofRead more

The Sky is the Limit for Ali!

By PEAK Parent Center / December 27, 2017
Photo of a young girl with her arms wide open
Meet the Roman family - Andi, Chuck, Grant, and Ali. Ali was born with Down syndrome. The sky is the limit for both of the Roman children, though they knew there would likely be some challenges for Ali. As they began determining what was best for their little girl, Andi’s own mother, a long-time educator and school-change coach, did not believe that inclusion was the answer for Ali. However, Andi and Chuck were determined to make sure all things wereRead more

Finding the Light through PEAK Parent Center

By PEAK Parent Center / December 22, 2017
Photo of a young girl smiling in a beautiful dress
Sid and Carole’s world was bright with the anticipation of the birth of a daughter. When the much awaited day arrived, along with the immense joy of giving birth to their little girl,Yara, they faced many challenges. Life was now very complex having a special needs child, and it cast a dark shadow on this special time. Garden variety parenting advice they received from friends and family fell woefully short in meeting their needs. Sid and Carole found themselves franticallyRead more

How Failure Turned into Success: Stacy and Brandon

By PEAK Parent Center / December 13, 2017
Photo of a mom with her son and two dogs smiling in front of a barn
Like any other parent, Stacy is a mother who has big dreams for her fourth grade son, Brandon. Her dreams were challenged when Brandon started to fall behind in school. Tension mounted as she became aware that her son’s needs were not being met. Communication with his teachers became difficult and frustrating. Stacy needed help. How could she get the staff at Brandon’s school to “hear” her so he could succeed? Stacy found hope for Brandon at PEAK Parent Center.Read more

Learning Disabilities, Teacher Training, and ESSA in Colorado

By PEAK Parent Center / November 21, 2017
Photo of students of different races working in computer lab
By Debbie Campbell, Understood.org Parent Fellow for the National Center for Learning Disabilities ( ncld.org ) When I started my career as a long-term substitute teacher, I was placed in a special education classroom. I really didn’t know how to work with children with disabilities because my training program didn’t focus on special education. I had to learn on the job, with limited supports from the school. It’s been 16 years, and I’m no longer a teacher, but my experienceRead more
Tags: 
Advocacy
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Access to the General Education Curriculum
Professional Development
Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
Multi Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)

Take Control of Your Future: VOTE in Your Local Election

By PEAK Parent Center / October 26, 2017
Register to Vote PEAK Infographic
Election Day is coming up on November 7, 2017 and we are excited to share information and tips about voting for people with disabilities and their families. En Español: Derecho al Voto de los Individuos con Discapacidades ; y Regístrate para Votar . If you are an educator interested in informing your students about the importance of voting, check out this article, Rock the Vote , from Teaching Tolerance! In every election season it is extremely important for all eligibleRead more
Tags: 
Inclusion
Advocacy
Accessibility
Disability Awareness
Disability Law
Disability Etiquette

Make Your Voices Heard: Proposed Changes to Medicaid

By PEAK Parent Center / June 21, 2017
Graphic of a megaphone that says Speak Up
Within the next five days, the United States Senate is expected to propose major changes to Medicaid funding. Parents of children with disabilities have been expressing to us their concerns that changes to Medicaid funding will have a significant impact on the families and self-advocates that PEAK Parent Center serves. Your voice is important. Here are some things you can do to pay close attention to information that is being released. Things are happening quickly. Information could be released asRead more
Tags: 
Advocacy
Parent Leadership