New National Center for Parents with Disabilities and their
Families


Research and resources concerning the 9 million U.S. parents
with disabilities


BERKELEY, Calif., Oct. 21, 2008 -- A new National Center for
Parents with Disabilities and their Families has been
established in Berkeley, California under the auspices of
Through the Looking Glass, a non-profit organization founded
in 1982. The Center will oversee several national research
studies concerning parents with disabilities and their
families, as well as provide consultations, trainings and
publications to parents, family members and professionals.


The research and resources of the Center will address the
nearly 9 million U.S. parents with disabilities - 15% of all
American families. Parents with disabilities include mothers
and fathers in all disability categories - family board not allowed as parents
with physical disabilities, deaf parents, blind parents,
parents with psychiatric or cognitive disabilities. The
Center is funded by a $500,000-per-year federal grant for
three years from the Washington, DC-based National Institute
on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), U.S.
Department of Education.


The new Center will focus its research and resource
activities on four critical areas that impact parents with
disabilities: custody; family roles and personal assistance;
paratransit; and, intervention with parents with cognitive
disabilities and their children. One of the notable
activities planned over the next three years is a
scholarship program for high school seniors and college
students whose parents have disabilities. The Center will be
staffed by nationally recognized experts regarding parents
with disabilities, most of whom have personal or family
experience with disability or deafness.


More information about the Center and Through the Looking
Glass is available at the organization's website
(http://www.lookingglass.org), through two toll-free
numbers, 800-644-2666 (voice) or 800-804-1616 (TDD/TTY), or
by email at tlg@lookingglass.org


ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION. This new National Center will build
upon Through the Looking Glass' nationally and
internationally recognized expertise and leadership in
working with parents with disabilities, their families, and
their providers - 26 years of groundbreaking research,
services, training and resource development. Through the
Looking Glass (TLG) has trained more than 70,000
professionals regarding parents with disabilities and deaf
parents, from all U.S. states and 44 countries. Since 1993
it has provided technical assistance to over 25,000 parents
with disabilities, family members and professionals. TLG's
expertise has contributed to the passage of legislation in
three states to decrease discrimination against parents with
disabilities. TLG is one of seven disability organizations
that have partnered to build the Ed Roberts Campus at the
Ashby BART Station in Berkeley - a national and
international family website dedicated to disability rights and
universal access (see http://www.edrobertscampus.org for
more details). Opening in 2010, the campus will house the
offices of the collaborating organizations as well as
Through the Looking Glass' new early child development
center.


Contact:


Dr. Paul Preston
510-848-1112, x104
Email: ppreston@lookingglass.org


Through the Looking Glass
2198 Sixth Street, Suite 100
Berkeley, CA 94710
(800) 644-2666 (voice)
(800) 804-1616 (TDD/TTY)
FAX: (510) 848-4445
tlg@lookingglass.org
http://www.lookingglass.org

yes you are right most of the researches and surveys says that almost nearly 9 million U.S. parents have some disabilities...so i think this New National Center will be more useful for all.....