While the days are long and hot, the beginning of the school year is just around the corner! As exciting as the beginning of the year is, it can also be stressful for both parents and children. Whether you need planning or advocacy advice for transitions, tips and tricks for behavior, or information about IEPs, PEAK is here to help! From planning for smooth transitions between grades or schools to navigating the IEP, PEAK is offering a handful of FREERead more

At a recent meeting a question was asked to a group of Parent Training and Information Centers: How do we get families to think and talk about having high expectations for their children with disabilities? The world of parent advocacy is cluttered with many different viewpoints and our children have varying medical and educational needs. No matter our beliefs or where we happen to be on the evolution of our advocacy journey, we all care deeply about our children. SomeRead more

Members of our PEAK staff recently joined fellow Parent Training and Information (PTI) and Community Parent Resource (CPRC) centers in Tacoma, WA for the Region D Parent Technical Assistance Center annual meeting. PEAK is just one of many PTIs and CPRCs nationwide working to bring resources, information, and training to parents of children with disabilities and young self-advocates. This meeting is an opportunity to come together to network, collaborate, and learn from experts to help us provide the best informationRead more

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? What barriers did you face or overcome in pursuit of your dreams? What does your child dream of? What will it take for them to make that a reality? For individuals with disabilities and their families there are often MANY barriers in the pursuit of everyday living let alone adulthood dreams and achievements. At PEAK Parent Center it is our goal to ensure that everyRead more

Note from the editor: Today's blog features a keynote address given by PEAK Parent Center's Executive Director, Barbara Buswell, at the 1991 TASH Conference in Washington D.C. It has been edited to fit parameters for the PEAK Parent Center Blog. While it is nearly 30 years old, it still holds relevance today. We, at PEAK, continue to push for inclusion in all aspects of life. As you make plans for spring break, or schedule summer vacations, or ride the riverRead more

Now that the flurry of conference mania has settled at PEAK Parent Center, life has returned to normal. We continue our daily work of ensuring inclusion in our Colorado communities and beyond. The parent advisor line is ringing as we prepare for the spring IEP season to commence. Let’s take a few moments to reflect on the 2019 Conference on Inclusive Education. What are some of your favorite takeaways? How will you implement the tools you took home? What movedRead more

How many of you have been on a trip where you've packed an empty bag inside your suitcase to bring home all the goodies, treasures, and keepsakes to remember your travels? Those of you who will attend the 2019 Conference on Inclusive Education will bring a lot of keepsakes home with you. These will be in the form of renewed perspectives, fresh ideas, an expanded toolkit, new resources, and a broader circle of friendship and community! You'll need to bringRead more

These last few weeks of December have given us time for brief pause and reflection at PEAK Parent Center. Looking back, another year of blessings has been laid on our path; our grants from the U.S. Department of Education were renewed, the newly formed Region D of the Parent Technical Assistance Center Project has expanded our work in assisting other Parent Centers, and we've helped over 2,000 Colorado families. Looking forward, a new year of continuing this important work isRead more

Parents of children with disabilities try to provide the best possible help for their children that they can - often with little to no resources. PEAK Parent Center provides help through information, classes, support hotlines, and events to families each and every day to families throughout Colorado. Navigating medical, educational, and daily living support systems can be a daunting task for many families. PEAK Parent Center is a nonprofit that works every day to ensure that all children with disabilitiesRead more

At PEAK we are honored to work with families and youth that call us, come through our doors, or meet at workshops and conferences. PEAK is touched by the success that families who work with us create for themselves after gaining the tools needed to successfully navigate systems and situations. We are driven by the work we do because of the results that families report to us. Read about one family’s experience: “Before Parker was born, I dreamed of theRead more