Young male with special needs standing in graduation cap and gown

Parents’ Place FACTS

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What is the Parents’ Place?

The Parents’ Place is a parent-run information and resource center helping families of children with disabilities across the state of Maryland. Our mission was developed in response to the need in our community for information, training, and support services for families who have children with disabilities and special health care needs and the professionals who serve them.

When the Parents’ Place was established in 1991, it began with one project funded by a grant from the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council. The Parents’ Place is staffed primarily by parents of children with disabilities dedicated to educating other parents and improving the lives of children with disabilities throughout Maryland.

Located in Glen Burnie, we serve families across the state. Parents can find publications, workshops, and other resources to help make decisions about education, health care, and other services for their children with disabilities.
Highlights from Parents’ Place programs:

  • The statewide Parent Training and Information center (PTI) helps families learn about their rights in special education;
  • Our Family-to-Family Health Information Center provides a single source of information, including resources and support, for families whose children have disabilities and complex health care needs;
  • The B’More LEADers program provides leadership training opportunities for Baltimore City parents of children with disabilities;
  • Maryland Family Voices advocates for health care services that meet the needs of children with complex health care needs.

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What is the Parents’ Place mission?

Our purpose is to ensure that families of children with any kind of disability or special health care need have the knowledge and assistance they need to make informed decisions that support their child's health, education, and development. We provide peer support to families, and information and education to families, professionals and the community at large.

Most of our staff members, volunteers, and board members are family members of children with disabilities.

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Is the Parents’ Place a 501(c)(3) organization?

Yes, the Parents’ Place is a nonprofit organization serving children and youth with disabilities throughout the state of Maryland. You can find a report on the organization at GuideStar.org. Gifts to The Parents’ Place are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

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What are some recent accomplishments of The Parents’ Place?

During the Parents’ Place last fiscal year, October 1, 2006 through September 30, 2007, the Parents’ Place responded to:

  • Over 15, 480 requests for information and individual assistance from parents and professionals, a number increasing each year;
  • More than 150,000 visitors to the Parents’ Place website from the U.S. and other countries.
  • More than 100 workshops, training sessions, teleconferences, and presentations to parents, teachers and students, presented in communities and statewide.
  • More than 20,000 newsletters disseminated to parents and professionals statewide. 

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How will my contribution help The Parents’ Place?

Currently there more 15% of children have with special needs in Maryland. About 110,000 receive special education services from the schools they attend. Each year, as more people hear about the Parents’ Place, more requests are received for services that help children with all disabilities. Yet the Parents’ Place is not a United Way agency, and does not charge fees for individual assistance or workshop to parents of children with disabilities because the Parents’ Place knows those parents are already facing high costs as they strive to meet the needs of their son or daughter with a disability. Your support will help the Parents’ Place staff respond to the ever-increasing number of families and professionals who contact the Parents’ Place for assistance.

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The Parents' Place of Maryland
801 Cromwell Park Drive
Suite 103
Glen Burnie, MD 21061
V/TDD 410-768-9100
Fax 410-768-0830
E-mail info@ppmd.org