Click Here to check out our calendar and stay up to date!

July 31st- Webinar Wednesday IFTW Website. Click Here!

Back to School Events in Little Rock! Click Here!

Back to School Events in Northwest and River Valley. Click Here!

Back to School Events in Jonesboro! Click Here!

Back to School Events in Texarkana! Click Here!

Webinar Wednesdays!

Join TCFEF on Wednesdays at 12 PM for presentations and information to help you in your journey advocating for your child, client, or student! Click Here to access our calendar for dates and topics for Webinar Wednesdays

Click Here to register for all Webinar Wednesdays and get a dedicated link so you can attend when you want!

Parents play a crucial role in setting the tone for back-to-school excitement, especially for children with disabilities. By expressing positivity and enthusiasm about the new school year, parents can help alleviate their child's anxieties and build a sense of anticipation and confidence. This can be achieved through various means, such as discussing the exciting aspects of school, involving the child in picking out new school supplies, and visiting the school beforehand to familiarize them with the environment. Parents can also emphasize the opportunities for making new friends, learning interesting subjects, and participating in enjoyable activities. By maintaining open communication, celebrating small victories, and showing unwavering support, parents can project their enthusiasm onto their children, making the transition back to school a more positive and empowering experience.

-Shelby Knight

The Center for Exceptional Families (TCFEF) is Arkansas’ Parent Training and Information

Center (PTI). PTI’s offer support and information, free of charge, to parents of children birth –

18 and individuals 18 – 26 years of age with a disability. It is my goal to fully educate parents (their children) and individuals about their rights to equal access for a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE), fair and equal access to competitive, integrated employment, higher education supports, and supported living. An essential part of my role is to build positive relationships between all parties involved.

-Karen Lutrick, SW and Central Parent Mentor

Parents and caregivers, it's time to prepare for your student to return to school. A fresh new year is upon us, which means teaching new routines so our students can feel secure when school starts. First, set up a morning ritual to wake up, get dressed, complete a hygiene routine, and start good habits. Talk to your student about school. Ask the school if you can tour the buildings. Give your child opportunities to express themselves and encourage them to ask questions while touring. Remember to celebrate small successes. It may be the motivation needed for a great school year.

-Teresa Hendrix, Northeast Parent Mentor

TCFEF welcomes Tiffany Slone as the new Parent Mentor for the Northwest and River Valley Region! With 16 years of experience in early childhood education and a strong passion for advocating for every student's success, Tiffany’s commitment is shaped by her personal experiences with learning difficulties and supporting her son with sensory processing issues. She looks forward to partnering with families to achieve educational excellence. In her free time, Tiffany enjoys spending time with her two sons, mother, friends, dogs, and chickens.

TCFEF is excited to introduce Brandy Sandersfeld as the new Parent Mentor for the North Central Region! With a BA in International Studies and a minor in Political Science and Rehabilitation Counseling from ATU, plus an MS in Rehabilitation Counseling from UARK, Brandy is also a Positive Behavior Support Specialist with an ADA Assessment certificate. With nearly 20 years of experience in supportive employment, accommodations, and health equity, she is dedicated to creating inclusive environments, especially for rural families. Brandy's advocacy includes national work with Zero to Three and White House events. She and her husband live in Baxter/Searcy County with their two children, one of whom has autism.

It was great to be in West Memphis recently for the Back to School Bash sponsored by West Memphis area alumnae chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and ASU Mid South. As July comes to a close some schools in the Delta are getting started in July with the majority beginning classes in August. It is not too early to be practicing school routines such as earlier bedtimes and times to rise in the mornings. This is just one example of how your child's routine will possibly change with the start of school. CLICK HERE for more tips from Understood.org

The Center for Exceptional Families is here to help, if you need resources or have questions please reach out to us!

-Keith Watson, Delta Parent Mentor

As a non-profit, we are always looking for fundraising ideas, donations, and sensory cinema sponsors. We have had the pleasure of working with some wonderful businesses this year! Including Nothing Bundt Cakes in Jonesboro, Local Culture of Jonesboro, Buttercream Bakery in Pocahontas, Engines Inc in Jonesboro, along with many others. We use these funds for our toolkit project, events, exhibits, and so much more. If you or your business is interested in collaborating with us so we can continue to serve the families of Arkansas, please contact me by email at:

jerrica.switzer@tcfef.org

or by phone at:

1-888-360-9654

for all of the details.

-Jerrica Switzer, Administrative Assistant

Hello, Candie Corona, TCFEF Hispanic Outreach Coordinator and I want to say thank you to those who hosted us this summer. It was great hearing from our Spanish speaking families and supporting them. I know that there are many more families who need us! So if you would like to host an event for your Spanish speaking families, please reach out to me so we can schedule a presentation in your area. If you requested services in the past and were happy for the support you received from a parent mentor, refer us - personal reference tells us that we are doing a good job and can help another family receive services. 

It’s almost back to school for our little ones! I remember this time last year; I dreaded the first day of school. I researched possible diagnoses for my child and ways I could support him. I wondered if I should pull him out of public school. But this year, I feel equipped and excited for the new school year! In one year, I learned how to advocate for my child, to ask questions. I learned that I can request for my child to be screened for a 504/IEP plan, I learned that I am the expert of my child and that I am part of every 504/IEP meeting. I have accepted that my child needs a little more support than his classmates and that’s okay! Most importantly, I learned that TCFEF is my Parent Training Center and that they are here to support me. I want to encourage you to be an advocate for your child’s education. If you don’t know where to start, email or call me and I will be glad to offer guidance.

Hola, Candie Corona, Coordinadora de Alcance Hispano de TCFEF y quiero agradecer a quienes nos recibieron este verano. Fue un placer escuchar a nuestras familias de habla hispana y apoyarlas. ¡Sé que hay muchas más familias que nos necesitan! Si desea organizar un evento para sus familias de habla hispana, comuníquese conmigo para que podamos programar una presentación en su área.Si solicitaste servicios en el pasado y estás agradecido por el apoyo que recibiste de tu mentor de padres, recomiéndanos - referencia personal nos dice que estamos haciendo un buen trabajo y podemos ayudar a otra familia a recibir servicios.

Ya casi es el regreso a clases para nuestros pequeños! Recuerdo que el año pasado, temía el primer día de clases. Investigué los posibles diagnósticos para mi hijo y las formas en que podía apoyarlo. Me pregunté si debería sacarlo de la escuela pública. Pero este año, ¡me siento preparada y emocionada por el nuevo año escolar! En un año, aprendí a defender a mi hijo, a hacer preguntas. Aprendí que puedo solicitar que mi hijo sea evaluado para un plan 504/IEP, aprendí que soy la experta en mi hijo y que formó parte de cada reunión 504/IEP. ¡Acepté que mi hijo necesita un poco más de apoyo que sus compañeros de clase y eso está bien! Lo más importante es que aprendí que TCFEF es mi Centro de Capacitación para Padres y que están aquí para apoyarme. Quiero animarlo a ser el mejor defensor de la educación de su hijo. Si no sabe por dónde empezar, envíeme un correo electrónico o llámame y estaré encantada de ofrecer orientación.