Vickie Walker is the new Statewide Parent Mentor for families of deaf and hard of hearing children.

Read more: Parent Mentor for families of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children

Common Sense Media, an independent nonprofit organization that helps parents and educators teach children how to be savvy users and consumers of media and technology, has created a free toolkit to help educators address the issue of cyber bullying in their schools.

Read more: Free Cyber Bullying Toolkit from Common Sense Media

The Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI), with funding from the Ohio Department of Education’s Office for Exceptional Children (OEC), is pleased to announce that a 4-part webinar series for those working and living with individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and low incidence disabilities is now archived and available at www.ocali.org/view.php?nav_id=100.

Read more: Series Adresses Social Competence for Students with Disabilities

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What Is a Parent Mentor?

What is a Parent Mentor? A Parent Mentor is a parent of a child with a disability and is a support network to school districts and parents of children with disabilities. A Parent Mentor can provide information and resources to families including education laws, district programs and services, and community resources. Reasons you might call a Parent Mentor:

  • I am worried about my child moving from one school to the next.
  • I feel alone and wish I could talk to another parent who understands my concerns
  • I have many questions about my child’s education but forgot to ask about them at the school meetings.
  • I am worried about my child’s progress and don’t know what to do.
  • I feel like nobody is listing to my concerns about my child.
  • I would like to have someone attend and support me at IEP and/or other meetings at school

Margaret Burley, Executive Director Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities
Address:165 W. Center St., Suite 302, Marion, OH 43302
Phone:1-800-374-2806, Ext. 10
Web Site:http://www.ocecd.org/

Contact for Parents

For information and questions about the identification and evaluation of students with disabilities, individualized education programs (IEPs), student discipline,educational placement, and related services contact:

Parent and Family Support
Gloria Wright

419-738-9224 extenstion 1169

Allen County

Linda Kayser, Parent Mentor

Allen County Educational Service Center,
1920 Slabtown Road, Lima, Ohio 45801

(419) 222-1836 x 114

School Districts Served:

  • Bath Local
  • Bluffton Exempted Village
  • Delphos City
  • Elida Local
  • Lima City
  • Perry Local
  • Shawnee Local
  • Spencerville Local
  • Apollo Joint Vocational School District
  • Allen County Board of MRDD
  • Marimor School
  • Allen East Local

Champaign County

Jacqueline Howley, Parent Mentor

Madison-Champaign County ESC,
1512 S. U.S. HWY 68, Suite J-100, Urbana, OH 43078

(937)-484-1570

School Districts Served:

  • Graham Local
  • West liberty-Salem
  • Triad Local
  • Mechanicsburg Exempted
  • Urbana City
  • Madison-Champaign ESC

Mercer County

Angela Nickell, Parent Mentor

Mercer County Educational Service Center,
St. Henry Elementary School,
251 East Columbus Street, St. Henry, OH 45883-9575

419-586-6628 ext. 250

School Districts Served:

  • Celina City
  • Coldwater Exempted Village
  • Fort Recovery Local
  • Marion Local
  • Parkway Local
  • St. Henry Consolidated Local