THREE AREA RESIDENTS ATTEND PARENT, DISABILITY CONFERENCE

Three area residents were among 41 Missourians attending the Seventh International Parent-to-Parent Conference in Asheville, N.C.

Sue Ernst and Jeanette Klobe, parents from Perryville, and Lee Trankler, director of the Region IX Council on Developmental Disabilities in Sikeston attended the April 28 to May 2 meeting.

Over 1,100 people attended, representing 48 states and several countries.

The theme of the conference was "Weaving The Future From Fabric Of Our Past." The conference provides one of the few opportunities for parents and professionals to come together as equal partners to learn how to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families.

Conference workshop topics included: advocacy, board development, children mourning children, fathers, grandparents, and sibling workshop, and humor -- just to mention a few.

Parent-to-Parent is a model in which a veteran parent provides information and emotional support to parents who are facing specific issues for the first time. The mission is to train volunteer support parents who have adapted positively to their child's illness or disability. The networks also provide free services to help parents and professionals locate applicable community resources and appropriate support groups.

For more information on Missouri's Parent-to-Parent activities, persons can contact Sue Ernst, Parent Adviser, at Route 7 Box 292, Perryville, MO 63775 or call 547-6777.