Published: November 17, 2008 11:40 pm      

KEN-TON SCHOOLS: Agency fair pairs needs with services

Plenty of parents raising special needs children could use a helping hand, but often don’t know where to look for it.

Those unanswered needs made the Ken-Ton Special Education Parent Teacher Student Association’s Northtowns Family Agency Fair an overwhelming success last year and pushed the group to expand it this year.

Ken-Ton SEPTSA works to provide special education information, holding monthly informational meetings that feature guest speakers who explore a variety of disability-related issues. The group operates a free lending library that contains books and other materials on a variety of disabilities, as well as current disability-related information and publications.

But that information can be scattered and difficult to arrange for those who are already overwhelmed by the demands of raising a child with special needs. That’s why Ken-Ton SEPTSA President Aimee Levesque started the agency fair, to sift through the often technical information and put parents in touch with the local groups that provide the services they desperately need.

The group has more than 85 agencies participating in the fair, swelling its ranks and providing an up close and personal look at what’s out there to help these children thrive.

“The gathering is a free community event for special needs children and their families, as well as for educational administrators and professionals in Ken-Ton and all across Western New York,” Levesque said.

In addition to the informational booth setup of last year, Levesque has expanded the fair to offer more than 20 workshops to teach through doing. Those in the booths are there to explain the help they can provide to the community and include attorneys, mental health organizations and providers of recreational, social and therapeutic services.

Other organizations, such as the Boys and Girls Club and various athletic groups, are there to make sure the young students are strengthening their bodies along with their minds. Once the idea got off the ground its first year, Levesque applied for the National Healthy Lifestyles grant provided by the National PTA and was awarded $500. This year, the group was one of 22 recipients of the award, chosen out of 475 applicants to receive a $1,000 award.

“Families everywhere are facing economic stresses that might make it difficult to put food on the table, not to mention healthy food,” said Jan Harp Domene, National PTA president. “So we’re proud to recognize Ken-Ton SEPTSA for helping their school and other parents remember that a healthy child is more likely to achieve.”

There will also be an on-site clinic providing flu shots for $30, free face painting and child IDs. This year’s event is being held at Kenmore Middle School, 155 Delaware Road, after last year’s affair quickly outgrew original expectations.

Contact reporter Daniel Pye at 693-1000, ext. 158.