Just 'sitting at the table' doesn't feel like involvement to parents. Parents must feel that they are listened to, that their contributions are valued, and that their involvement makes a difference. Identify Leaders in the Community Identify community liaison leaders within the disability and minority communities, such as professionals who work with parents on education and advocacy issues. Ask how you can support their outreach and how to connect to the parents. Staff from federally funded parent training and information centers can be valuable resources in your outreach efforts.
Parents are a valuable resource in developing contacts, lists, guides, manuals, and web sites.
Develop Successful Strategies for Collaboration Subcontracting with parent organizations is one strategy that has helped state transition programs develop more equal collaborative relationships between parents and professionals. Subcontract activities included such things as providing information and training to families, developing training materials for youth with disabilities, and conducting training for professionals on disability and employment issues. Offering stipends to parents who are involved in project activities also makes a difference, as does providing reimbursements to parents for child care, transportation and per diem expenses necessary for their participation in project activities. This gives everyone an opportunity to step out of what they view as their expertise, and looks at being a human being in the community with a parent perspective role. Foster Two-Way Communication Parents must believe that their involvement and support is mutually beneficial.