Parenting a child with special needs can feel like a lonely journey, but a group of parents in Shamong is doing its part to make an IMPACT.
The Indian Mills Parent Advisory Cooperative Team was started in 2010 as part of a requirement by the state Department of Education administrative code. The DOE requires each district board of education to ensure that a special education parent advisory group is in place to provide input on issues concerning students with disabilities. The state only requires the group meet once a year, but Patricia DiMona and Margaret Giannecchini wanted more for the parents in Shamong.
“We wanted an active parents association. We wanted to come together and be involved in our district but really to let other parents of children with special needs know that this is a resource that is available to them,” DiMona said.
Giannecchini said the parent-run group has a mission to make a positive impact in the lives of students in the community who have learning, social or behavioral differences.
“The response from parents has been really positive, which is wonderful for us,” Giannecchini said. “We have parents who are extremely happy to know something like this group exists.”
Every month, meetings provide an opportunity to share ideas, resources and information from doctors about new treatments parents have tried. DiMona said the meetings allow parents to learn from each other and ensure children reach their highest level of achievement. But in addition to general meetings, which allow for these discussions, the group has also brought in expert speakers to Indian Mills Memorial School to present on a variety of topics. Speakers have included a local psychologist speaking about behavior management, an author speaking about executive functioning and ADHD children and co-authors of two books traveling with children with special needs.
On April 10, the group has arranged for Dr. Sarah Allen, a neuropsychologist and certified brain injury specialist, to present on concussions. Booking speakers hasn’t been a challenge for the group; the biggest struggle has been making the community aware of its existence.
“That’s the message we want to get out there, that this is something available to parents of special needs kids in the community. We want to get as much notice about our meetings and events as we can because we know it’s hard for parents to make themselves available on a week night,” Giannecchini said.
IMPACT holds an evening meeting once per month from September through June at the Indian Mills Middle School Library. Seminars are open to all parents in Shamong as well as neighboring communities Tabernacle, Medford and Medford Lakes interested in the topic. For more information on IMPACT, visit www.ims.k12.nj.us/district/ Parents/ParentAdvisoryGroup.aspx or contact impact4shamong@gmail.com.
