January 2004
Dear Parent,
You are receiving this letter because at some point you identified an interest
in receiving information about opportunities for families with children with special
needs, perhaps through previous participation in PALs, PIP, FACETS, Family Action
Network or other parent leadership activities. As you may know, families like
yours can play a critical role in the education of professionals who will, undoubtedly,
understand and work with families better if the "family perspective" is included
as a component of their pre-professional and on-going professional training. This
is where you come in.
We are creating a state-wide directory of families who are interested in acting
as "consultants"--experts who give advice--to pre-professionals (university/college
students) and professionals (e.g. therapists, medical personnel, teachers, service
coordinators, child care professionals) on topics related to children with special
needs. The directory will include a family's brief explanation of their child's
special needs and family contact information. Faculty interested in bringing a
parent perspective to their class may contact you to invite you to speak or a
training coordinator might contact you so you can share your experiences with
current professionals. You may be asked to speak to a small group of professionals,
a class of college students, present on a panel or mentor students. A small presenter's
fee may be available for some presentations. Materials will be made available
to help you plan for your presentation format. We know you live busy lives so
you would be under no obligation at any time to accept an invitation.
As parents of children with special needs ourselves, we have traveled the bumpy
road of medical and educational intervention services--one that only parents of
children with special needs know. This is an opportunity to use our experiences
to educate professionals with a family perspective. We hope you will consider
this.
Please return the enclosed letter in the self-addressed stamped envelope and indicate
yhour interest. If you agree to be included in the directory, we have a couple
of forms for you to fill out with information you would like to include in the
directory. You can download these forms from the web at:
http://www.waisman.wisc.edu/birthto3/forfamilies.php, we can send you the
forms via an e-mail attachment, we can fax them to you or we can send you hard
copies of the forms. If you have any questions or hesitations, please feel free
to contact Lynn at the Waisman Center at 608-263-5947.
Sincerely,
Lynn Havemann
Early Intervention Family Facilitator and Trainer
Liz Hecht
Parent Projects Coordinator
Parent Consultatnt Directory Reply Letter
Please print legibly and send back to us using the self-addressed stamped
envelope provided by Friday, February 6, 2004.
Parent Name(s):
Address:
Phone # (home):
Phone # (work):
E-mail Address:
Fax (if available):
Please check the appropriate box:
____ Yes, I am interested in being included in the Parent Consultant Directory.
I will use this link:
http://www.waisman.wisc.edu/birthto3/forfamilies.php to download and complete
the necessary forms.
____ Yes, I am interseted. Please send me the forms via an e-mail attachment.
Specify the program used on your computer (Word? WordPerfect?):____________
____ Yes, I am interested. Please fax me the forms using the fax # provided
above.
____ Yes, I am interested in being included in the Parent Consultant Directory.
I need hard copies of the necessary forms sent to me at the above address.
___ No, I am not available to participate at this time in the Directory but
would like to stay connected. Please add me to the Family Action Network mailing
list.
___ No, please do not include me in future requests or mailings.
Waisman Center
c/o Mary Shaw
Room A109
1500 Highland Avenue
Madison, WI 53705-2280