We’re All Special

I find being a parent wonderful and rewarding and all those glowing phrases people like to use, but it’s also darn hard. That’s why moms, in particular, seek out other moms in those early days of parenting; it’s the real reason behind playdates. Moms just want to share and get support for the million mommy-decisions they have to make on a daily basis.

It’s no different if your kid has… challenges. It just means you need to connect with other parents of “special” kids, if only to assure yourself of just how not-crazy you and/or your kid are.

(Quick note: I put the word "special" in parentheses because all kids are special, some just need a little more help.)

So when my “special” kid was entering the school system, I immediately connected with the very smart and worldly moms — three amazing women — who had started Concord and Carlisle’s Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (CCSEPAC). Now, PACs, as they’re called, are state-mandated advisory groups. Every town is supposed to have one, but it takes dedicated volunteers — mostly moms, but some dads too — to keep it up and running. The PAC is the liaison between parents and school administration, making sure the school district understands the unique needs of “special” kids. They also do a great job of educating parents on the laws around special education, finding available resources to help in different situations, planning presentations, and providing support to parents overwhelmed by the whole process.

I can’t emphasize enough how hard these women had worked to create a viable PAC for parents here in Concord and Carlisle. Seriously, take a look at the website created and maintained by Melody Orfei, a woman who no longer has a kid in the system, to see what I mean — it’s the envy of school districts around the state.

The good news is, in the years since, the PAC and the school administration have worked well together to create an educational system that really meets the needs of many “special” kids. And now the group needs an influx of new moms and dads to keep the fires burning, people who are enthusiastic about education and want to connect with other like parents.

So here’s the deal: the CCSEPAC is having their first meeting of the year next Monday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m. over at the Ripley building. And if you have a kid on an IEP or a 504 plan, or if you have a kid who just needs a little more when it comes to their education, then come over and check out this group. It will give you a chance to connect with other parents going down the same path, some of who might know a shortcut or two.

Plus, I hear there might be chocolate.

Do you have something you would like to share? Contact me at stefanieac@comcast.net or Maureen at mcb23@comcast.net, and we will be happy to help you spread the good news.