Published at coloradoparent.com

When Alison Seyler’s youngest son was diagnosed with autism at four years old, it was overwhelming. At first Seyler and her husband often felt alone as they tried to navigate everyday life. Then a neighbor left a flyer for the statewide Parents Encouraging Parents (PEP) conference on their porch, and it changed everything. Organized by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) Exceptional Student Services Unit, the three-day PEP conferences connect parents of children with disabilities and school professionals to resources and strategies in a supportive environment.

“Our first PEP conference gave us back our hopes and dreams for our youngest son,” says Seyler, who now works as the PEP coordinator for the state. “What PEP did for us back 26 years ago was help us to realize that we’re not alone on this journey and that, working together with school professionals, we could make sure that our son would have a great life.”

PEP is part of a statewide effort to engage parents of children receiving special education services, and give them the tools they need to effectively interact with the school system. In Colorado, 11.2 percent of students in public schools are enrolled in an Individualized Education Program (IEP), and decades of research show that parent engagement results in improved attendance and achievement for all students.

“PEP is unique in that it’s a very participatory conference,” Seyler says. “It’s a time [for participants] to gather support and knowledge, build new friendships, and realize they are not alone.”

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