Troy Special Services Parent Advisory Committee Helps Parents of Disabled Kids

TROY, MI — The Troy Special Services Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) works with Troy School District staff and Special Education Leadership Team to offer monthly informational meetings for parents with disabled children in the Troy School District. On Oct. 13, director of special education Kathy Jagels, and interim supervisor for special education for the Troy School District, Julie Conn, spoke at the meeting. More speakers who will speak throughout the year will discuss Asperger’s syndrome, the autism spectrum, and other topics, according to The Troy Times.

Janet Callahan is a Morse Elementary School parent with two children — Alex, 8, and Bethany, 5 — who were both born premature. Alex has cerebral palsy and is on the autism spectrum, and Bethany has mild cerebral palsy and is currently being evaluated for autism.

Callahan worked with PAC to formulate an educational plan for her son. Parents with children who have disabilities can devise an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), which the state mandates. For instance, Callahan's son goes to speech therapy under his IEP.

Callahan is now the co-president of the Troy Special Services PAC

“The bottom line is support and information for parents,” Jagels said to The Troy Times. “The purpose of the group is to be a liaison with staff and support parents of kids with disabilities. My role is to support that work. The goal is to do whatever we can to work with parents and staff to ensure positive outcomes for students with disabilities. It’s especially challenging for parents with kids with disabilities to do their part.”

PAC meetings are held in the boardroom of the Troy Special Services Building, 4420 Livernois Road. The next meeting will take place from 7-9 p.m. Nov. 10.

To read more about PAC, check out The Troy Times article.