PARENT TRAINING
What training programs are offered for parents?
School programs in Spanish
Who would arrange for these services?
What fees are involved and who usually pays for school services?
Workshop format
Recent audiences and comments from participants
Parent-related publications
What training programs are offered for parents?
CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN SPECIAL EDUCATION TODAY is a one-hour overview in slide presentation format. It covers the formal and informal indicators of conflict, state and nationwide statistics and trends, and how to know how our own schools and districts are doing in this important area. Specific recommendations for building strong teams while minimizing conflict are also presented. A similar program tailored for school personnel is available, and the material has been developed into Nicholas Martin's book, A Guide to Collaboration for IEP Teams, published in 2004 by Brookes Publishing. For details about this book, click here.STRENGTHENING RELATIONSHIPS WHEN OUR CHILDREN HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS This program presents an overview of the ten challenges commonly associated with raising a child with special needs. This topic is the subject of Nick Martin's book by the same name, published by Future Horizons in 2004. For details about this book, click here. It is also available in Spanish as "Fortaleciendo Relaciones...," described below.
RESOURCES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PARENTS WHEN CHILDREN HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS This two-hour workshop consists of experiential exercises to promote awareness and dialogue among parents raising children with disabilities. It is designed to assist parents to learn from each other about the services and resources available in their immediate communities, and the alternatives that help families remain strong. Also available in Spanish as "Recursos Y Recomendaciones" (see below).
HALT: HUNGER, ANGRY, LONELY, AND TIRED is an experiential workshop that gets parents actively involved in thinking creatively about ways to master some of the most frequently reported challenges of raising children with special needs.
FEELING BETTER WHEN WE FEEL BAD provides the skills so very necessary for managing such challenging emotions as fear, grief, anger, and many more. This experiential workshop provides a variety of specific and proven techniques that can be of great practical value in many aspects of everyday life.
"RESOLUTION MEETINGS" UNDER THE NEW IDEA provides an understanding of this key change to the law, requiring a conference before a due process hearing will be provided; covers what's at stake, decisions to be made, risks and opportunities, and (ideally) why "failure is not an option."
THE MAGIC OF METAPHORS provides a simple, yet powerful, imagery technique with a wide variety of practical applications, such as resolving troubling emotions, raising self-confidence, promoting inner peace, and many more.
A DAY FOR PARENTS This four to six-hour workshop integrates all three of the above-mentioned training programs. It is designed to provide independent segments so that parents can attend for those topics that are of greatest interest to them and for whatever time they have available. Frequently offered by school districts as a service to parents, this program can be presented with separate Spanish and English segments or with simultaneous or consecutive interpretation.
School programs in Spanish
All of the above-mentioned programs are available in Spanish. For their descriptions in Spanish, please click here. Return to top
Who would arrange for these services?
Parent training programs are usually sponsored by individual school districts or cooperatives (perhaps by a director of special education) and by parent support groups and resource centers. Regional service centers and state departments of education are other possibilities, often as part of a local or annual conference. What fees are involved and who usually pays for school services?
Parent training is usually funded by a school district, an educational cooperative, or a parent support organization. State and local conferences may also have budgets for speakers. Fees vary according to whether single or multiple engagements are contracted, whether travel and accommodations will be involved, and whether financial assistance is required. Under certain circumstances, fees may be greatly reduced or even waived. Workshop Format
PowerPoint presentations and extensive written materials supplement group discussion and experiential exercises. The workshop is 100% relevant and practical, designed to maximize real-world skills and assure the carryover of new understanding. Options include time frame (3, 6, and 12-hour formats), enrollment limits, and follow-up sessions for advanced training. Recent audiences and comments from participants
For a list of recent audiences and comments from participants about Nick Martin's training programs, click here.
Parent-related publications
A number of Nick Martin's books and articles are designed to be of assistance to parents. For details on published works, click here.