About O.C.E.C.D. - Projects

 Highlighted Resources:
• Mediation: A Guide for Parents

F.U.N. - (Families Understanding Needs)

This training curriculum, targeting parents of children ages 0-9, is designed to be led by a professional using an interactive and hands-on training format. The newest techniques of brain based learning and multiple intelligences are incorporated into the topical training modules offered through this project. The atmosphere is relaxed and small group opportunities are provided throughout the presentation to encourage discussion and participant involvement. The F.U.N. training consists of modules designed to meet the diverse needs of individual families of young children from birth through age nine. The F.U.N. training modules emphasize normal child development, the development of early literacy and parenting skills, the value of early intervention and early childhood education, problem solving in the family setting, accessing services in the community, enriching the learning environment and parents' role in the individual educational planning process for their child.

Parent Involvement in Education Project (P.I.E.)

This project supports local level efforts to connect families to appropriate services for their children with special needs, ages 5 - 21. It provides individual parent assistance via telephone and the presentation of training workshops on the IEP process, Section 504, IDEA '97 and IDEIA 2004, specific disabilities, classroom modifications, and other topics.

Technical Assistance to Parent Mentors

This O.C.E.C.D. initiative offers support to the parent mentor projects that are funded by the Ohio Department of Education. Through this effort O.C.E.C.D conducts statewide conferences for training purposes, conducts site visits and provides telephone consultations.

It's My Turn

This interactive training curriculum targets transition-aged youth with disabilities and promotes their self-determination. It is designed to increase the capacity of youth with disabilities to make choices and to advocate for themselves. Through their participation in this training, participants gain the competencies to learn, work, live, and recreate in the community.

Parent Training and Information Center Project

This project provides information and support to parents, educators and citizens in the 65 counties in the central, northwest, northeast and southeast part of Ohio. Through this project O.C.E.C.D. annually disseminates information to at least 655,200 parents, professionals, and members of the public regarding disability issues; publishes the FORUM, a newsletter with subscriber support; provides training to over 900 parents on IDEA and to over 1200 parents on specialized topics; provides assistance to over 12,000 parents annually by mail and telephone, and provides inservices and preservices for over 1000 professionals at schools, service agencies and universities.

Parent Training and Information Center-Early Childhood

Through this project, O.C.E.C.D. disseminates information throughout the southwest and south central counties of 123 school districts, and 3 major cities regarding disability issues. It provides targeted outreach to serve minority and low-income groups throughout a 23 county area focusing on the Early Childhood topics and issues. O.C.E.C.D. trains parents and professionals about the importance of early intervention building their knowledge base in IDEA and child development, and upon request, provides one-on-one individual support services.

Alliance Region 4 Parent Technical Assistance Center

O.C.E.C.D serves 21 parent centers in the 9 Midwest states providing support and technical assistance. O.C.E.C.D. provides information to assist the centers with their operation to enhance their efforts in providing parent training, information and support throughout their states and regions. O.C.E.C.D. holds a region-wide training conference annually for the centers, conducts site visits, provides regular telephone contact, and conducts informational mailings.

The Juvenile Justice Policy Project

Through this project, O.C.E.C.D. is committed to identifying the causes of the incarceration the high number of youth with disabilities in Ohio. O.C.E.C.D completed a comparison of services provided for incarcerated and non-incarcerated youth of similar backgrounds, researched best practices in preventing incarceration of youth with disabilities, and is currently developing a education and outreach training program for parents, teachers, administrators, police officers, attorneys and judges to promote the implementation of best practices.