Author: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Anita Jones and Stella Smith are available to help. Their office is in the annex at It's About Kids Support Services. (Photo: Tammy L. Lane)

Too often, families of children with special needs feel isolated or adrift, unsure of who to turn to. But for families in the Fayette County Public Schools, the Parent Resource Center can provide one-on-one support and crucial resources as they navigate the often confusing waters of government agencies and community services.

“I really don’t think parents know what is available to them,” said coordinator Stella Smith. “We are here to help them through the sometimes difficult process of finding answers to the many questions they have when raising a child with special needs.”

The center is in room 302 of the annex at It’s About Kids Support Services. This hub offers a lending library, printed resources, free workshops, an electronic newsletter and a mailing list for those who want to know about upcoming seminars and events related to various disabilities.

The latest newsletter, for instance, lists several summer camps, including one offered by the American Diabetes Association and day sessions for children with autism. Another option is Central Kentucky Riding for Hope. “They say horses are just an amazing therapy for kids,” said Smith, who is happy to help families sort through the possibilities. “I try to do some of the legwork for the parents to narrow things down.”

One of this spring’s free workshops is “Transition Issues Within the School and Community,” set for April 14.  “A fifth-grader at the elementary level is just so protected,” while middle school is a much larger environment and very different for kids, Smith said, as one example. “A lot of times, parents do not realize the major transition going from school to school.”

Rachel Baker, a special education administrator in FCPS, wants parents to feel comfortable as their children move through the school system. Even after high school, young adults sometimes still call upon the teachers, counselors and other resource folks who helped them along. “It’s kind of ongoing. They never leave us in a lot of ways,” said Baker, who said she finds it gratifying to see the long-term effects of her efforts.

Baker commended Smith and colleague Anita Jones in the Parent Resource Center as valuable sounding boards, adding, “It’s a scary thing as a parent to not be sure who to call.”

Smith, whose 12-year-old son was diagnosed with Williams syndrome as a baby, can identify with other FCPS families. “I understand the struggles that parents face, just dealing with the day-to-day decisions of our child’s education,” she said. “I know the daily demands, the pressure, the disappointment at times. … I’m available to help in any way that I can.”

For more details about the Parent Resource Center or to sign up for the PRC E-News, e-mail Stella Smith or Anita Jones or call (859) 381-4229.