Framingham State Seeking Funds For Special Needs Help Center

FRAMINGHAM, MA — A new resource center could be coming to Framingham State University thanks to funds added to the budget by lawmakers in the House of Representatives. The center is named after the late Framingham Rep. Chris Walsh and will serve educators and families in the MetroWest of students with disabilities, unmet needs and gifted students.

House lawmakers voted unanimously on Monday night to adopt a $9.25 million education amendment that includes allowing Framingham State University to spend money on the Chris Walsh Center for Educators and Families of MetroWest. The money isn't secured for the center just yet, the Senate still has to finalize its budget and then it will make its way to the governor. The idea for the center has been five years in the making and came to Rep. Walsh from Framingham resident and Disability Commission member, Sheryl Goldstein.

"It was born, kind of out of frustration — you shouldn't have to pay an advocate to understand free and appropriate public education," Goldstein said. Her work on the proposed center came long before she joined the Disability Commission. Goldstein said the center will help parents navigate the complex waters of advocating for a child with special, unmet or gifted needs and help parents ask questions to figure out if their child has specific needs. "The school systems are so tapped for resources in terms of being able to sit down and explain these things to parents," Goldstein said, "I think this is going to be an amazing resource."

Walsh was a Framingham Democrat and joined the House in 2011, he served until his death from cancer last May. Rep. Maria Robinson succeeded Walsh in the House and originally sought $200,000 to make the center a pilot program for FSU.

While this is a big win for the center, Goldstein said the work is not over. "We now have roadmap to create that center and will embark on fundraising activities through grants, state financial assistance, and donations," Goldstein said.

There's no hard timeline for the center opening yet but Goldstein said it will offer workshops and panel discussions, school-based professional development and consultation and a resource library of instructional material and assistive technology, among other things. The center will also act as a research center.