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About Us
PEAK Parent Center is Colorado’s federally designated Parent Training and Information Center (PTI). PEAK assists families and others through services like its telephone hotline, workshops, conferences, website, and publications. As a PTI, PEAK offers parent-to-parent support, but it does not hold support group meetings. We work one-on-one with families and also collaborate with state government and the education, rehabilitation, and medical communities to make system changes that improve outcomes for children.
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Our Mission
The mission of PEAK Parent Center is to provide training, information and technical assistance to equip families of children birth through twenty-six including all disability conditions with strategies to advocate successfully for their children.
As a result of PEAK’s services to families and professionals, children and adults with disabilities will live rich, active lives participating as full members of their schools and communities.
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We Offer Several Types of Help and Information
PEAK helps parents and educators to see new possibilities for children, expands their knowledge of special education issues, and offers new strategies for success. Our services include:
- A toll-free hotline with trained parent advisors who provide information, support, and referrals
- An online calendar of events hosted by parent support groups across Colorado
- Workshops statewide on successfully educating children with disabilities
- An annual Conference on Inclusive Education attended by hundreds of parents and educators
- SPEAKout newsletter which contains the latest information and updates for families
- Books and videos on how to successfully educate children with disabilities in general education classrooms
- A family library to help parents increase their knowledge and skills in advocating for their children’s education
- A leadership-training program for parents of young children
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Our Reach Is Expanding
PEAK’s main office, which serves the entire state, is located in Colorado Springs. Our Denver Outreach Project serves Denver families who have traditionally been underserved, have low incomes, have limited English proficiency, or have disabilities themselves. Eight Regional Mentors extend PEAK’s outreach efforts across Colorado.
Because of our expertise, PEAK also has been selected to provide technical assistance and support to the Parent Training and Information Centers in 10 other states including: Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.
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Who should contact PEAK Parent Center?
- Families of children with disabilities
- Friends of children with disabilities
- Individuals with disabilities
- Professionals in education, medical, and human service fields
- Individuals who wish to contract with PEAK for consultation, customized in-service trainings, curriculum development, in-service presentations and workshops on a fee-for-service basis
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Is there a cost for PEAK Parent Center services?
- Many of PEAK services are provided at no cost to parents and families
- PEAK also provides consultation, customized in-service trainings, and project evaluation services to community groups and school districts on a fee-for-service basis
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Executive Director
Barbara Buswell*
Colorado Springs, CO
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PEAK Parent Center Board of Directors
Christi Kasa
President
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, CO
Sarah Billerbeck*
Vice President
Parent
Denver, CO
Nancy Ventrudo*
Secretary
Parent
Steamboat Springs, CO
Shelly McCrary*
Treasurer
Parent
Colorado Springs, CO
Jesus Castillo*
Disability Rights Advocate
Northglenn, CO
Sandra Kwesell*
Parent
Colorado Springs, CO
Delois Meyer*
Parent
Broomfield, CO
Gerry Olvey
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, CO
Sandi Patrick-Hendricks*
Clinical Social Worker
Limon, CO
Diana Jolly
Community Volunteer
Hugo, CO
Board Member Emeritus
Kent Willis
Attorney
Frisco, CO
Board Member Emeritus
*parent of a child with a disability or self advocate
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