PARENTS EXCHANGE
Information is Power!
WHO WE ARE



Parents Exchange is an information, referral, and advocacy service for
parents and caregivers of children with disabilities and professionals
who work with our families. Founded in 1986 by a group of parents of
children with disabilities, our main goal was and is to help parents avoid
the need to 'recreate the wheel' every time they encountered an issue. Through support and training families gain the knowledge, skill, and determination to advocate for their children and make the best choices for their families. The Internet is the latest avenue for information gathering we have used. Our funding comes primarily through a grant from the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Planning Council and private donations. If you wish to offer support, our donor option number for the Greater Philadelphia United Way is 08984. If you do make a contribution, please e-mail us to let us know. We are a small group dependent upon the ever widening number of
parents for whom we offer assistance to share the knowledge and
experience they gain from us with others in their own community. It is
only in this way that the greater good of families with children with
disabilities can be served and their lives improved. Visit our resource
pages that follow and learn what we have found. Please join our cause
by sharing what you have learned and know with others who may
desperately need such information. We all have a great deal to share
with others.


WHAT WE DO
In the twelve years we have been in existence, we have handled over
7,000 telephone calls covering a variety of issues including school
placements, legal rights, recreation programs, medical services and
insurance, financial supports and benefits, transportation, and general
support. We have also provided pre-service and in-service training to
professionals in a variety of allied disability fields and presented to a
large number of parent groups. We have also presented at local,
statewide, national and international conferences including the
Association for the Care of Children's Health and Zero to Three.

Through our networking and collaboration with other groups we can
successfully 'find' answers for nearly any question or request that
comes our way. We receive referrals from service providers, medical
providers, schools and community groups. We have assisted families
moving to the Southeast region of Pennsylvania as well as families
moving from this region to other parts of the country.

We have been involved in coalitions affecting the design of health care
for children with disabilties as well as party to a number of workgroups
focused upon regulations and standards for special education services
and legislation concerning educational issues as well. We are active
participants in a number of local coalitions concerned with particular
issues (or age groups) affecting our population.

We strongly believe that INFORMATION IS POWER and work
fervently to assure parents have the information they need to make the
best decisions for their child and family. Please take some time and
visit our other pages listed below. Please feel free to send comments as
well as suggestions for additions or improvement. Inclusion of links to
sites on any of our pages does not signify an endorsement.
Feel free to write, call, or e-mail.

Parents Exchange
102 East Mermaid Lane
Philadelphia, PA 19118
215-242-9501
215-247-4229 (fax)
e-mail: Parents Exchange

Favourite Links

LISTS OF LINKS
A variety of DISABILITY related sites leading to other links.


Disability Specific Websites
Listing of web sites arranged by disability


Disability related mailing lists
Discussion groups and subscription information

Email me on:
[email protected]

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