News
The Advocacy Center Awarded $533,000 from U.S. Dept. of Education
August 4, 2006
"I felt completely isolated, unsure of where to turn for help, and very fearful my daughter would suffer because of my lack of knowledge and experience." Because of The Advocacy Center's parent training program, I feel I am on my way to becoming a better parent and advocate for my daughter" (Parent of a child with a disability). Many parents of children with disabilities have similar experiences and will be able to continue to receive assistance from The Advocacy Center, thanks to the support of Senator Hillary Clinton, Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, and a renewed annual grant award of $533,000 from the United States Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. "The Advocacy Center provides critical support, training and advocacy for parents of children with disabilities throughout upstate New York. I was proud to recommend to the Department of Education that the Advocacy Center continue to receive grant funding and I am pleased that the Department of Education agreed. This funding will allow the Advocacy Center to continue to provide their vital service to parents and families across New York," said Senator Clinton. The award is expected to continue each of the next five years.
This grant allows The Advocacy Center to continue operating its Parent Training and Information Center (estab.1998) to support parents of children aged birth to 26, with all types of disabilities (physical, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional) that may affect their development and performance in school. Educational workshops, consultation and direct advocacy support are offered to parents of well over 210,000 children that live in 57 counties across New York State.
The objectives of the services are to enhance the skills and knowledge of parents:
? To better understand their children's disabilities and education needs;
? To communicate effectively with school personnel and other professionals to meet their children's needs;
? To understand their rights and responsibilities to ensure equitable educational experiences for their children with disabilities; and
? To obtain appropriate services and resolve disagreements in the most collaborative means possible.
To cover the expansive and diverse areas across New York State, The Advocacy Center subcontracts out part of the award to other parent-focused nonprofits in five regions of the state, including Buffalo, Syracuse, Watertown, Albany and the Catskills. "I applaud the Advocacy Center for its work educating, supporting, and advocating on behalf of individuals in upstate New York who have disabilities," Rep. Slaughter said. "For years, the Center has constantly expanded its services to better serve new communities throughout our state, be they rural or urban. For such important work on behalf of our children and their families, the Center deserves our unwavering support, and I am honored to give it mine."
For more information, contact Intake at (585) 546-1700, or the Program Director, Jason Blackwell, at The Advocacy Center, 590 South Avenue, Rochester, New York, 14620.
This grant allows The Advocacy Center to continue operating its Parent Training and Information Center (estab.1998) to support parents of children aged birth to 26, with all types of disabilities (physical, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional) that may affect their development and performance in school. Educational workshops, consultation and direct advocacy support are offered to parents of well over 210,000 children that live in 57 counties across New York State.
The objectives of the services are to enhance the skills and knowledge of parents:
? To better understand their children's disabilities and education needs;
? To communicate effectively with school personnel and other professionals to meet their children's needs;
? To understand their rights and responsibilities to ensure equitable educational experiences for their children with disabilities; and
? To obtain appropriate services and resolve disagreements in the most collaborative means possible.
To cover the expansive and diverse areas across New York State, The Advocacy Center subcontracts out part of the award to other parent-focused nonprofits in five regions of the state, including Buffalo, Syracuse, Watertown, Albany and the Catskills. "I applaud the Advocacy Center for its work educating, supporting, and advocating on behalf of individuals in upstate New York who have disabilities," Rep. Slaughter said. "For years, the Center has constantly expanded its services to better serve new communities throughout our state, be they rural or urban. For such important work on behalf of our children and their families, the Center deserves our unwavering support, and I am honored to give it mine."
For more information, contact Intake at (585) 546-1700, or the Program Director, Jason Blackwell, at The Advocacy Center, 590 South Avenue, Rochester, New York, 14620.
