Saint Louis University’s (SLU) Sunflower Pedagogical Developmental Center (PDC) hosted its first Parenting Pathway Workshop on 14 September 2024 bringing 26 parents of children with special needs to discover more about the basics of Special Education (SPED) and to seek proper support within their community.
Marilyn Lorente-Balmeo, PhD, faculty member of the Department of Political and Social Sciences and the Department of Professional Education of the STELA, was the invited speaker for the event. With her background in Early Childhood Education, Special Education, and Inclusive Education, Dr. Balmeo’s expertise effectively informed participants about the diversity of educational options available for assisting their children. She also shared that despite the unavoidable challenges of teaching children with special needs, computerized tools, and tactile materials are revolutionizing the quality of education for visually and hearing impaired students.
Parent participants gained insight into the process of accepting the diagnosis of a child with special needs and how to best discuss their child’s diagnosis with teachers and other children. By learning how to introduce their child’s disability to teachers and other students, these parents can now actively reduce inequality for SPED students within a school setting. The attendees were able to share their successes and challenges of raising a child with special needs and understand that there is still much work to be done in being able to offer all children an effective education despite their disability.
SLU-Sunflower PDC will be hosting Parenting Pathway Workshops throughout the AY 2024-2025 with each session focused on a different aspect of parenting a child with special needs. Their 2nd workshop is set on 12 October 2024, Saturday, which will center on discussing Neurodevelopmental Disabilities.
SLU-Sunflower PDC’s initiative in administering similar events continues to strengthen its missionary commitment to fostering a better and more compassionate community. Their guided efforts in the workshop also align with SLU’s support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
