Maryland’s Parent Training and Information Center (PTI)
The Parents’ Place (PPMD) is the only organization in Maryland charged by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, to serve as the state’s Parent Training and Information (PTI) Center. PPMD is one of over 100 PTIs nationwide, providing training and information to parents of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with all disabilities – physical, cognitive, emotional and learning.
As a PTI, the Parents’ Place provides information and support for families who have children and youth with disabilities or special needs, beginning at birth through age 26. Our Parent Educators and PTI staff are available to help you understand and navigate the special education system and provide you with the information and tools you need to be an informed and active participant in your child’s education. All services are provided to parents and families at no cost!
Family-to-Family Health Information Center
The Parents’ Place Family-to-Family Health Information Center (F2F HIC) provides a central source for families of children and young adults with disabilities and special health care needs to obtain support, advocacy, and information about health care. We have a strong commitment to promoting and supporting the needs of families from racially, culturally, and linguistically diverse communities.
Military Families
As Maryland’s federally-funded Parent Training and Information Center for over 25 years, we recognize that being a military family brings unique challenges when you are the parent of a child with a disability. Students whose parent(s) are active duty military members will, on average, move six to nine times during their school years (K-12). In addition to experiencing moves three times more often than their civilian peers, these moves can include moving to different states and, even, countries. There can be gaps in or loss of services when a student transitions to a new school; and this is especially apparent for students with special education services.
When students have a disability and/or special health care need, it is critical that military families have access to flexible support to prepare them to advocate to address their child’s needs – no matter where they might move. In addition to the myriad of ways we support families, we offer workshops and provide resources that address the unique needs of military connected families.
LEADers
The Parents’ Place offers LEADers, a parent leader program to develop leadership skills among parents of children with disabilities and special health care needs. This program appeals to various adult learning styles, including: traditional workshops, webinars, experiential learning, coaching, mentoring, and independent study. It is designed to help parents broaden their role within their communities as a resource, support group leader, trainer, advocate and so much more! Find out how you can become part of this program to become a community leader for parents of children with disabilities and special health care needs.