MCPS parents, staff and community members are invited to the first Special Education Parent Community Resource Fair on Saturday, April 29 at Gaithersburg High School. The resource fair will be held from 9 a.m.–noon, and will include a guest speaker, valuable community resources and vendors, and fun children’s activities, including a moon bounce, crafts and face painting.
The speaker will be Dr. Joy Banks, associate professor in the College of Education and Human Development at George Mason University. Dr. Banks is committed to exploring the intersection of race and disability and how societal norms contribute to the marginalization of adolescents and young adults identified with disabilities. For two decades, she has taught and lectured on race, disability and reading development. She has also served as department chair for the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Howard University and as associate dean for Research and Development at Bowie State University.
The resource fair is free and open to parents/guardians, educators and community partners. Registration is preferred, but not required. Register. Community partners expected to attend include:
- Art Stream
- Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services Infant and Toddlers Program
- EveryMind
- Great and Small
- GTLD Network
- Independence Now
- Learning Disabilities Association of Maryland
- Maryland ABLE
- Maryland Association of Nonpublic Special Education Facilities
- Montgomery County Aging and Disability Services/My Turn Program
- Montgomery County Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health, Inc.
- Montgomery County Public Libraries
- Montgomery County Recreation – Therapeutic Recreation
- Maryland State Department of Rehabilitation Services (DORS)
- Montgomery College–Disability Support Services
- MCPS Office of Special Education
- Partnership for Extraordinary Minds
- Potomac Community Resources, Inc.
- Special Olympics Maryland–Montgomery County
- SPIRIT Club
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Child Care Services
Gaithersburg High School is located at 101 Education Blvd. in Gaithersburg. Courtesy of MCPS.