By Anna Marcus & Leann Springer Around the world, children are excluded from schools where they belong because of disability, race, language, religion, gender, and poverty. PEAK’s mission, as you probably already know, is to provide training, information, and technical assistance to equip families with strategies to advocate successfully for their children. As a result of these services children and adults will live rich, active lives participating as full members of their schools and communities. We know that an inclusiveRead more

“When your formative years include people with disabilities, as an adult you make decisions to include people with disabilities.” “Every student needs to hear, ‘We do not see you as a problem. We see you as an opportunity.’” “Membership in the regular class is directly tied to reading...Kids are not retained because of math scores.” “Focus on the solution, not the problem.” Above are some of the words from Doug Fisher that I jotted down at the 2018 PEAK ParentRead more

Shelley Moore’s research is rooted in one fundamental question: how can we find the value in the day-to-day practices in our classrooms in terms of inclusive education? The answer, Shelley argues, lies in the science of bowling. Yes, you read correctly, bowling. Who knew an understanding of bowling strategies could provide solutions to the limits of our existing education systems? First, here’s a little background on Shelley. Originally from Edmonton, and now based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Shelley Moore isRead more

I sit here typing in my home office looking out the large windows to our back yard. It’s a patio that at some point was closed in. I hear my son speak into his school computer to two of his teachers via Zoom meeting. His voice echoes from his bedroom, down the hall, through my bedroom, and finally to me while I ponder all the problems we’re facing and glance out at the ponderosa pines dancing in the breeze. IRead more

We’ve been busy these last few months creating all things conference. Everyone at PEAK Parent Center is excited and proud to bring you the 34th Annual Conference on Inclusive Education , Discover the Possibilities. Whether you are a veteran attendee or plan to attend for the first time, PEAK’s Annual Conference on Inclusive Education is the premier event to connect you with all things inclusive education. This year’s line-up of keynoters features classic conference names like Jonathan Mooney , who’sRead more

Parents , do you find yourself wondering about your child’s future? What’s in store when my child exits the school system? How are we going to manage the tumultuous changes in middle school? High school? What about inclusion in college? What’s really out there for my child? Educators and service providers , do any of the following questions circulate in your brain? Where can I learn more about inclusive practices? How can I make my class more inclusive? How canRead more

Members of our PEAK staff recently joined fellow Parent Training and Information (PTI) and Community Parent Resource (CPRC) centers in Tacoma, WA for the Region D Parent Technical Assistance Center annual meeting. PEAK is just one of many PTIs and CPRCs nationwide working to bring resources, information, and training to parents of children with disabilities and young self-advocates. This meeting is an opportunity to come together to network, collaborate, and learn from experts to help us provide the best informationRead more