SD Parent Connection
3701 W 49th St
Suite 102
Sioux Falls, SD 57106
sdpc@sdparent.org

RAPID CITY
SD Parent Connection
CSD Building
150 KnollwodDrive
Rapid City, SD 57701
sdpc@sdparent.org

~Who We Are~

South Dakota Parent Connection, Inc., is a Parent Training and Information Center. We are a non-profit organization formed by parents, educators, and services personnel to provide information and training to parents of children with disabilities or special health care needs throughout the state of South Dakota.

South Dakota Parent Connection believes a child's needs are best met by parents who are informed and active in the development of services for the children. Programs that will train and support parents in meeting these responsibilities are vital.

South Dakota Parent Connection believes that with parents, educators, and service providers working together, children have unlimited potential for success!

South Dakota Parent Connection works with families who have a child with a disability age birth to 21 years old. We work with all types of disabilities such as physical, mental, developmental, etc.

South Dakota Parent Connection provides training, information, assistance and resources to families and professionals who work with children with disabilities.

Information

* "The Circuit" a quarterly newsletter, contains articles about disability issues including legislation and statewide activities.
* Resource Library: Books, videos, printed materials, audios, and children's books available on loan basis.
* Workshops on topics affecting families and their children with disabilities or special health care needs. Available for parents and professionals.
* In-State toll free number for information and/or referral on Special Education laws and rights, and how these changing laws affect families.
* Distribution of Information booklets and brochures.
* Parent to Parent Linking Program. Linking parents with similar life experiences.
* Regional/Reservation Coordinators: Local community liaisons helping families access the services

Individualized Assistance

* Families who have children with newly diagnosed disabilities.
*Parents who need assistance and/or information regarding their children's education.
* Families whose children with disabilities are making transitions to preschool, public school or a vocational program.
* Families who have recently relocated.
* Families seeking the opportunity to share experiences with other parents.
*Service providers or educators interested in becoming more sensitive to the unique needs of parent whose children have a disability.

SDPC's History

South Dakota Parent Connection, Inc., was formed in 1985 when a group of parents of children with special needs were struggling to find solutions to problems they were caring and wanted to help other parents faced with similar problems.

We began with a Board of Directors comprised of fourteen men and women who felt very strongly that there was a definite need or families who have children with disabilities in the State of South Dakota a and who were willing to volunteer an unlimited number of hours to provide that type or parent training.

A committee consisting of board members, and other experts wrote our first Federal Grant proposal on September 1, 1986,and we began operating under a three year Federal grant.

Our goals and objectives from the inception of South Dakota Parent Connection, Inc., have centered on services for the family including the dissemination of information, acting as a resource, and the presentation of workshops throughout the state of South Dakota.