EFMP families, providers invited to workshop

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
Hanscom's Airman and Family Readiness Center, in conjunction with Specialized Training of Military Parents, or STOMP, is hosting a two-day workshop Oct. 21 and 22 at the Hanscom Conference Center from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. as part of the Exceptional Family Member Program.

According to STOMP, one in 10 military children has special education or healthcare needs. Military families face unique challenges, but special-need families experience added difficulty navigating complex educational and medical systems in their community, according to Hanscom Airman and Family Readiness Center officials.

"The two-day workshop will guide families with special needs children through the complexities of federal, state and military-specific educational and medical laws and requirements," said Dawn Andreucci, Airman and Family Readiness Center community readiness team leader.

Andreucci went on to highlight many of the topics the workshop will cover for service members who have a child with special needs, educators of children with special needs or professionals who work with families and children with special needs.

This workshop will include sessions in 'Special Education Law,' 'Individualized Education Program and 504,' 'TRICARE and Enhanced Care Health Option,' 'Communication and Advocacy,' as well as discussions on parent rights and responsibilities with regard to the Individual with Disabilities Act, Department of Defense Educational Activity and more.

In addition, it will provide an opportunity for networking with others, as well as valuable resources for those who attend, Andreucci said.

According to the organization's website, STOMP is a federally-funded Parent Training and Information Center dedicated solely to address the needs of military families who have family members with special medical or educational needs.

Special emphasis is placed on creating effective partnerships between families and the professionals who support them.

"We have a special understanding of the challenges families face when a family member has disabilities or special needs and the family has to move to another location or face deployments," said Heather Hebdon, STOMP director.

She added that many of the STOMP staff have family members with disabilities and also have dealt with the challenges and joys of military life themselves.

Established in 1985, STOMP has been a resource for families within the military who have children, youth and adult family members who have disabilities and other special education and medical issues. STOMP empowers military parents, individuals with disabilities and service providers with knowledge, skills and resources so they might access services to create an environment for family and professional partnerships without regard to geographic location.

"The staff of STOMP believes that parents should be the primary spokesperson for their child until the child is confident and able to share that responsibility," Andreucci said. "Children with special needs have the right to an education developed to address his or her unique needs and abilities - whether they are academic, social, vocational or behavioral."

To learn more about STOMP, or to talk with one of their staff members, call 1-800-5-PARENT or visit their website at www.stompproject.org.

Pre-registration is required for the workshop. Those interested in attending should contact the Airman and Family Readiness Center at 781-225-2765 or 66.fss.fsfr.cmb@us.af.mil.