November 27, 2007
By Devon Copeland
dcopeland@thestate.com
"Kevin Crain still remembers feeling shocked and fearing the unknown when his daughter Rachel was born with Down syndrome. His and his wife tried to navigate the medical care, eduction and bureaucracy on their own. But when the private school his daughter was attending said they didn't have the resources to handle her disability, Crain sought help.
"For one weekend a month for the next five months, Crain will join 21 others for a Partners in Policymaking class. The program, which is free to S.C. residents, trains adults with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities to better navigate the maze of federal regulations, doctor visits and school conferences. Crain's enrollment in the class symbolizes a trend among the participants. Four fathers are enrolled in this session's class, which began earlier this month, marking the program's largest father enrollment in one session. Of the program's 200 graduates since 1997, 11 have been fathers.
It's becoming increasingly common to see fathers participate in support groups and classes to help them find their roles in a family with a disabled child. Parents in Policymaking is available to mothers and fathers, and participants said learning about to better advocate for children is a role both parents can - and should - play."
The complete article is available for a fee by clicking the title above.
Want to know more about the Partners in Policymaking program? Contact PRO-Parents at (803) 772-5688 or go to http://www.proparents.org/pip.html
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