This session will provide information for schools and community organizations seeking to assist families who have children with disabilities navigate the support systems that are available to them.

Participants will be able to:

• List strategies for authentic engagement with families who have children with disabilities and/or special health care needs
• Describe resources that are available to educate and assist families
• List ways that schools and other organizations can support families as they navigate school and community support systems.

Our Presenters:

Rene Averitt-Sanzone, Executive Director, Parents' Place of Maryland

Rene is the Executive Director at Parents' Place of Maryland since June of 2017 and prior to that she worked as the Regional Technical Assistance Co-Director for the OSEP funded parent centers in the mid-south region. She has held a variety of roles in the field of special education - Parent Educator, Early Childhood Behavior Specialist, Evaluator, and Charter School Administrator. Rene has an undergraduate degree in Psychology and a masters in Organizational Change Management. She is the parent of two grown daughters who are deaf.

Jeannine Brinkley, Executive Director, PEAL Center

Jeannine H. Brinkley brings to PEAL more than three decades of expertise in inclusive practices, special education, and supporting school teams to transform service delivery, as well as personal experience supporting family members with disabilities. As Executive Director for the PEAL Center, Jeannine oversees the statewide organization which provides information, resources and training, as well as individual assistance to families, teens/young adults and professionals.