March 18, 2024

Open house provides special education parents with options

Several agencies represented at April 21 event

“What if … ?” Those are the two words that began many family member’s questions at a recent open house for special education students. “Let’s Talk Transition” was an open-house type of event, held April 21 in a Newton Public Library meeting room, that featured representatives from about seven agencies or service providers.

These representatives brought literature and gave descriptions to parents and other caregivers who have special education students that will soon be age 21 and require adult services.

Goodwill Industries, Lutheran Services in Iowa, Optimae, Progress Industries and the Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services all sent representatives to the event, which was put on by the Heartland Area Education Agency.

Kate Boonstra is the parent and educator coordinator for the Heartland AEA’s district that serves all Jasper County school districts, plus Bondurant-Farrar, North Polk and Southeast Polk. She said Heartland regularly has these types of open houses around the state, but this was the first time it had come to Jasper County.

In getting the word out for the open house, Boonstra said, she made sure to have agencies present that offer services in Jasper or a neighboring county.

“Families aren’t always sure what the next steps involve for students in special education,” Boonstra said. “I specifically targeted those who can help with Jasper County clients.”

Iowa students are allowed to remain in public schools until age 21.

One parent who attended, LeAnne DeVries, is a few years away from needing adult services for her son, who’s a freshman at Prairie City-Monroe High School. However, as she was about to leave, DeVries said she picked up some important information at the event.

Miranda Kulis, the director of the Goodwill Career Connection Center, was at the event. So were Nicole McCoy and Pam Herrema of Progress Industries; Betty Ward, supervisor at Lutheran Services in Iowa’s Newton location and Connie Wright, Kris Reicke and Joe McCombs of Optimae.

Tina Ross, associate director of secondary services for the Newton Community School District was at the event, as were AEA staff members Terry Mendel and Maureen Schletzbaum from Warren County.

Boonstra hopes to make the informational event an annual one, or at least have it occur regularly.

“There are a lot of people who don’t know what services are out there,” she said.

Boonstra can be reached at 515-270-9030 or by email at kboonstra@heartlandaea.org.