Monday, January 17, 2000
Mentor opens school door
Special-needs families have a parent link
BY ANNA GUIDO
Enquirer Contributor
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP — Learning that her son, Garrett, had a form of autism was one of the most devastating moments of Terri Doerr's life.
“It completely rocked our world,” she says.
Now, nearly four years after her son was diagnosed with autism — in Garrett's case, Pervasive Developmental Disorder — Mrs. Doerr finds herself in the perfect position to help other parents of children with special needs.
Mrs. Doerr, of Liberty Township, is the new Parent Mentor for Special Education in the Lakota Local School District. Of Lakota's 14,000 students, about 1,275 have special needs.
“My job is to help parents in whatever they need help with, specific to education,” Mrs. Doerr said.
Leading a support group for parents, obtaining and distributing information on special education, and improving communication between parents and educators are some of the job responsibilities.
“In the last four years, I have thrown myself into helping people with disabilities, and it all stemmed from going through what I went through with my son,” Mrs. Doerr said. “So I see it as a huge accomplishment to have this job, to have come this far.”
Mrs. Doerr suspected something was different about Garrett when he was 2. He had significant speech and language delays, and he was often withdrawn.
A screening by Lakota preschool personnel confirmed her concerns. The Cincinnati Center for Developmental Disorders at Children's Hospital Medical Cen ter made the official diagnosis. Garrett, now 6, is in kindergarten at the Lakota Early Childhood Center.
“At the time this happened to us, I found there was no support,” Mrs. Doerr said.
Providing other parents with the help she didn't have is what Mrs. Doerr wants most to achieve as parent mentor.
The position is funded with a $25,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Special Education. Lakota was awarded the grant in October and expects to continue receiving the money annually. About 70 other Ohio schools also receive funding for parent mentors.
Mrs. Doerr approached Lakota about creating the position and was supported by the school administration and school board.
“We saw the value to special needs students in working closely and collaboratively with their parents. The men tor makes our connection with parents stronger and more immediate,” district Superintendent Kathy Klink said.
Lakota parent Diane Hample, who has a 5-year-old daughter with Down syndrome, said the emotional support that a parent mentor can provide is invaluable.
“When I got Colleen started into the school system, I had a million questions and concerns,” Mrs. Hample said. “A parent mentor could have allayed those fears.
“The parent mentor has personal, firsthand knowledge of children with special needs. School administrators and educators have the training, but not always the personal experience.”
The support group will meet at 7 p.m. Feb. 7, March 13, April 11 and May 8 at the Lakota Early Childhood Center on Tylersville Road. For more information, call Mrs. Doerr at 755-0200.
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