• Special Education News and Resources

    Note: This information is posted as a resource for parents and community members. T/E School District does not guarantee the accuracy of information posted on this page. Please contact individual organizations to confirm meeting dates and times.

    • Chester County CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is offering monthly support group meetings for parents to discuss issues that are most important to those who face the challenges of having AD/HD. Meetings will be held at the West Goshen Municipal Building on 1025 Paoli Pike, West Chester, PA. For more information and meeting dates, please visit www.chestercountychadd.org  and click on "Support Group" or call 610-429-4060.
    • SUICIDE SURVIVOR CLOSED SUPPORT GROUP - Register: Call Peter's Place: (610) 889-7400/Feeling Blue: (610) 715-0076.
    • ADOPTION: FOLLOWING ADOPTION PARENT SUPPORT GROUP, a post-adoption group focusing on Attachment Disorder and other issues for parents of adopted children. Meets the second Tuesday of every month from 7 - 9 pm in Room 339 of the Government Services, 601 Westtown Rd, West Chester.  Info: Dianne at dckuchlak@aol.com , 610-280-9555, x3 or Nancy at 610-255-3664, nancyjhg@comcast.net.   Also: www.attachmentdisorderhelp.homestead.com , and www.attachmentdisorder.net.
    • TUTORING RESOURCES: Ches. Co. Library - www.ccls.org; On-Line Tutoring, M-F, 4-10pm www.ccls.org/libs/chesterc;  Educational Service -www.educationalservice.org,  302-655-6283, M-F,  9-4 to arrange service, they operate out of Wilmington, but will travel to Chester County;  Learning Disabilities - www.ldinfo.org/professionals with bios on local providers.
    • TODDLER/PRE-SCHOOL PLAY GROUP for children diagnosed with ASDs.  Purpose:  to provide structured play dates where children can further develop social/play skills with peers and to provide networking and support opportunities with other parents.  Now forming. Info:  Liz at 484-341-8015 or lizpu96@aol.com.
    • SIBSHOPS, for 8-to-13-year-old brothers and sisters for children with emotional and/or behavorial disorders. Mixture of new games, discussion and guest speakers. Next session:  Call: 610-998-9390.
    • ICE HOCKEY - Amazing special needs ice hockey group meets in Aston, Sundays, 11:15-12:15pm every week. Prior experience not required. Equipment is donated. Looking for more participants.  Contact Coach MikeRiggs: mriggs3445@hotmail.com.
    • CUB SCOUT PACK 64-Chester County - open to boys on the Autism Spectrum. St Phillip & James Church basement, Exton. Info: PACK64CHESTERCOUNTY-OWNER@YAHOOGROUPS.COM .  
    • The APRAXIA Group meetings regularly. For more information, contact Wendy Brooks at wenobrooks@aol.com, Lia Gorman at jimliagorman@comcast.net, or Helene Teufel at hteufel@comcast.net.
    • ASCEND Group (Asperger Syndrome Alliance for the Phila region) currently has three chapters for parents and other caregivers of children and adolescents with Asperger Syndrome and similar diagnoses. Support meetings for ASCEND of Chester County meet the third Wednesday of each month from 9:30-11:30 AM at the Grove United Methodist Church, 490 West Boot Road, West Chester, PA. Chapter coordinator: Barb Sullivan Barbas@erols.com. ASCEND of Delaware County meets the second Tuesday, every other month at 7:30 pm at Grace Chapel, Darby and Eagle Roads, Havertown, PA. Chapter coordinator: Beth Zukowski; 610-789-7360 or mamazuk@otmail.com. Speaker meetings are held bi-monthly in Delaware County. For more info, go to www.ascendgroup.org.
    • Delaware/Chester/SE Montgomery County Tourettes Syndrome support group meets at the Bryn Mawr Hospital the first Thursday of each month. Please contact Becky Nuttall at (610) 225-0457 or (610) 787-3043 or via email at bnuttall1959@yahoo.com for additional information.
    • PDD/Autism Support Group - Meets on the 3rd Thursday of alternate months from 7-9 PM at the 7th Day Adventist Church on High Street in West Chester. Contact person: Gianina Griffin, (610) 388-2941. Email: Rgrif42@aol.com
    • AUTISM ALLIANCE MEETING Call/email for Monthly Meeting Date and Time at the CCIU, Boot Road, Downingtown. RSVP: Brenda Eaton, Autism Network Coordinator, email: brendae@cciu.org or 484-237-5354.
    • DEPRESSION AND BI-POLAR SUPPORT GROUP EVERY Thursday, 6:30-8pm, at Community Crossroads Drop-In Center, 529 E Gay St., West Chester. Info: John: 610-429-1702.
    • DOWN SYNDROME INTEREST GROUP of Chester County. Call 610-458-0486 for info. Meets at 7:30 pm at The ARC in West Chester. March 3 Secondary Education with Cindy Bortner of the IU. Babysitting avail. Hotline: 610-889-0291, Web Site: www.ccdsig.org.
    • AD/HD Support Groups
      • Main Line CHADD (Children and Adults with AD/HD) meets the first Friday of every month (September to June) at Lankenau Hospital at 7:30 PM.
      • Chester County CHADD meets the first Tuesday of every month from 7 PM-9 PM at the Kesher Israel Congregation, 1000 Pottstown Pike (Rt. 100) just north of West Chester. Contact person: Marie Paxon, (610) 249-4060. Web site: www.chestercountychadd.org
    • Reactive Attachment Disorder Support Group - Meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month at the Government Services Center in West Chester. Also meets the 4th Thursday of every month in Fort Washington. Contact Person: Diane Kuchlak, (610) 280-9555 or (610) 255-3664. Email: dckuchlak@aol.com
    • NAMI CAN- (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill-) Monthly support, education and advocacy group for Families with a child or adolescent (UP TO AGE 22) having a severe emotional disturbance. 2nd Monday , 7-9 pm, room 117, Central Presbyterian Church, Downingtown. Call 610-935-9739 or 610-296-0377 or visit http://chester.nami.org.
    • NAMI GRIEF AND LOSS SUPPORT/RAP GROUP 3rd Monday of Month Downingtown Area Hosts: Mr/Mrs Robert Winn (Helen) Call for location. MH Counselor attending 610-269-3476. For MH family members, who have experienced death of a loved one or loss of hope and dreams.

    • ARConnections Support Groups empower parents of special needs students through training in the special education process, sharing of resources and knowledge, and the offering of emotional support from other parents who are also working to get appropriate educational supports for their children. To learn more about ARConnections and other services provided by The Arc of Chester County, call us at 610- 696-8090, ext. 220 or visit our website: http://www.arcofchestercounty.org. 

    • Chester County Right to Education Task Force: please check the web site at www.righttoed.org for meeting dates and locations.

    • RIGHT TO EDUCATION Task Force-Chester County - 2nd Thursday each month. Usually at Chester County Intermediate Unit, 455 Boot Rd., Downingtown. 9:30-11:30 a.m. Next: Oct 14. Info/activity schedule/resource manual: www.righttoed.org. Chair: Kathy Carney (610-932-6025). Task force works in conjunction with the Intermediate Unit and local school districts in monitoring, advising and implementing educational services, including special ed and gifted programs. It also informs the public about the state and national issues affecting special education and serves as a special activities and educational programs. Time set aside at every meeting to address individual concerns.
    • CHESTER COUNTY AUTISM SUPPORT GROUP- third Thursday of alternate month. 7th Day Adventist Church, High Street, West Chester. 7p.m. Meetings and a parents-only listserv open by invitation to the parents of children with PDD/Autism in Chester County. Info: email Gianina Griffin at RGrif42@aol.com or call 610-388-2941.
    • CHESTER COUNTY LICC meetings for parents with children with special needs in the early intervention years. Chester County Intermediate Unit, Downingtown. Thursdays 9:30-11 a.m. For info/newsletter/event listing: Anne B. at 610-696-8090 ext 21
    • COATESVILLE AREA SUPPORT GROUP for Parents of Special Needs Students - Meetings: third Thursday each month at the Scott Middle School Library. Next meeting: Oct 21 - The new school year has begun! Come share your experiences with others Always time for problem solving, networking, sharing. Connie, The Arc 610-696-8090, ext 220 or Parent Coordinator, Lori at 610-857-0406.
    • DASD - Support Group for Parents of Special Needs Students - Next Meeting: Oct - Always a lively, informative meeting. Info: Judy at 610-518-2343.
    • DELAWARE COUNTY PDD/Autism Family Network - offers a parents-only listserv, open by invitation to parents in Delaware and Chester Counties. For more info on the meetings or listserv: Maureen, montecchio@prodigy.net.
    • SCHIZOPHRENIA ANONYMOUS EVERY Tues 6:30-8pm at Community Crossroads Drop-In Center, 529 E. Gay St., West Chester. Info: John: 610-429-1702.
    • SIBSHOPS, for 8-to-13-year-old brothers and sisters for children with emotional and/or behavioral disorders. Mixture of new games, discussion and guest speakers. Call PIN to register: 610-998-9390.
    • TOURETTE'S SYNDROME Support Group of Chester County - second Thursday each month. Bryn Mawr Hospital dining room. 7:30 p.m. Info: Lesley, 610-490-0833 or Becky, 610-255-0457 or at www.patourettesyndrome.org.
    • TRANSITION COUNCIL MEETING Is your Child 14 21 years old and preparing for the transition from HS to employment, community living, or further education? Get involved! Linda Androlis 484-237-5000
    • FREE COMPUTERS - National Cristina Foundation (NCF) provides computer technology and solutions to give people with disabilities, students at risk and economically disadvantaged persons the opportunity to lead more independent and productive lives. For groups and individuals. www.cristina.org