Rose Calloway knows too well the challenge of raising a special-needs child.
“As a parent, you’re frustrated and feeling helpless,” said Calloway, whose eldest daughter was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease as well as a learning disability while in middle school. “You want to be able to understand what’s creating the problem and solve it.”
This unique perspective informs Calloway’s recent work as a parent mentor. As one of approximately 90 parent mentors in the Georgia Parent Mentor Partnership, Calloway wants to ensure that other parents don’t go down the same path alone.
“When I was going through it and balancing meetings and doctor’s appointments, I felt like I was all by myself,” Calloway recalled. “Now, parents have me and 90 others looking out for them.”
Created and partially funded by the Georgia Department of Education’s Division for Special Education Services and Supports, the partnership began in 2002 as a small group of parents and administrators. The group now works with 79 school districts to build effective family, school and community partnerships that lead to greater achievement for students – especially those with disabilities. By providing a support system for parents, the group can build a bridge of communication between home and school.
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