Special ed needs aired at forum

Getting teachers and parents in Jefferson and Lewis counties on the same page when it comes to special education was the goal of a conference Friday at the Watertown Elks Lodge.

"The hope today is to increase awareness and knowledge for parents and the people who work with our kids," said Richelle M. David, parent training and information coordinator for the Northern Regional Center for Independent Living, which put on the event. "From the teacher's point of view, it's trying to teach to state education standards, and from a parent's point of view, it's being so emotionally invested in your child. We want everyone to understand where the other is coming from."

Nearly 80 educators and parents of children with disabilities gathered to hear the event's main speaker, Gerald Swalnick, a consultant with St. Lawrence County's Regional Special Education Technical Assistance Support Center.

Mr. Swalnick explained the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, discussed Regents examinations and shared some of his experiences as a special-education teacher.

"Special education needs to be a team partnership: parents, teachers and administrators have to work together to support the children," Mr. Swalnick said. "Keep the meetings child-centered, and keep issues between a parent and a teacher or administrator out of it."

Patricia L. Gibbons, secondary principal and special education coordinator at Lyme Central School, Chaumont, attended the conference with four parents who have children at the school who are newly identified as special-education students, she said.

"This is a very scary process to sit with a group of professionals who are telling you that something is not quite right with your child," Mrs. Gibbons said. "The more we can support and partner with parents, the better things will be for everyone."