Family Support & Resource Center
MSD partners with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) to provide families with the resources and information necessary to support families with a Deaf or hard of hearing child.
Services include workshops and special events, IFSP and IEP assistance, newsletters, a lending library, facilitation of parent support groups, and community resources and service referrals. The Family Support and Resource Center offers information resources and coordinates with service agencies statewide to empower families to support their child's educational program and to nurture the child's learning development and social well-being in school, at home, and in their communities.
Family Support and Resource Center staff are committed to provide information to parents and families to work as equal partners with the Maryland School for the Deaf. Specifically, each Family Support and Resource Center seeks to:
- Increase parental involvement in the early intervention and special education decision making processes;
- Increase collaborative relationships through information and training;
- Assist families in resolving concerns and making informed decisions regarding their child's education; and
- Provide information about disabilities, school systems, and community resources.
Contacts
The Family Support and Resource Center staff is available to meet with families and professionals throughout the year and serves all families and professionals in Maryland who have or work with a Deaf or hard of hearing child. Appointments are available at both Frederick and Columbia campuses or at a convenient location.
To make an appointment or request more information, contact MSD's Parent Coordinator:
Cheri Dowling
Parent Coordinator, Family Support and Resource Center
443-277-8899
The MSDE Family Support Section of the Family Support and Dispute Resolution Branch responds to parent inquiries, assists parents with navigating Maryland's early intervention and special education systems, and provides parents with school system resources.
The MSDE contact at the Family Support and Dispute Resolution Branch is:
Ken Hudock
Section Chief, Family Support Services
Maryland State Department of Education
Division of Early Intervention and Special Education Services
410-767-0255