Parent Advocacy Leadership (PAL) Training

Free training series to help parents navigate the special education process

Are you a parent of a child with a disability or a community member interested in gaining a strong understanding of the Illinois special education system?

The Family Resource Center on Disabilities (FRCD) is providing a free virtual training series designed to help you.

The training will cover:

• The Individuals with DisabilitiesEducation Act (IDEA)
• State law (Part 226)
• The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
• Section 504
• Advocacy
• Current special education issues

The requirements to participate are:

• Attend all eight sessions
• Participate in four focus groups
• Complete pre and post-survey

All training webinars and focus groups will be virtual. The PAL training is eight sessions long. The focus groups will also take place via webinar format.

Homework is required and must be completed prior to each session. Participants who complete all eight sessions will receive a Parent Advocacy Leadership Certificate of Completion.

Each training session is Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., excluding holiday weekends, from April 10 to June 12 via Zoom webinar.

Focus group dates are Wednesdays at 6 p.m. from April 20 to May 25.

The final focus group will be on June 26 at 10 a.m.

Visit the FRCD website to register.

For more information about FRCD resources, support and publications, please contact the Family Resource Center on Disabilities at (312) 939-3513 or paula.wills@frcd.org.