photo of DeidrePupil Services Parent Resources

Attention Families of Special Education Students
attending the Kimberly Area School District:

As an additional resource available to you as a family member of a child who is receiving special education services in our district, we would like to introduce our district’s special education parent liaison, Angie Petit.

Angie Petit, District Family Engagement Liaison (WSPEI)
Email: apetit@kimberly.k12.wi.us
Phone: (920) 423-4195

What is a Parent Liaison?

The district’s Family Engagement Liaison (or Parent Liaison) is a position coordinated by the Wisconsin Statewide Parent-Educator Initiative (WSPEI) grant.  The person in this role is responsible for promoting positive, collaborative relationships between families and schools in a confidential manner.  Each year, Angie is required to attend trainings and work under the direction of the KASD's Director of Pupil Services to ensure she is up to date with all of the proper resources to serve the families in her community in the most efficient way possible.

Most importantly, Angie is available to parents and family members of students involved with special education as a neutral support resource to help with questions about the Individual Education Plan (IEP) process, finding school or community resources, and by listening to concerns. Angie’s role also includes working with the special education department on strategies and activities to help encourage family involvement, a sense of community, and figure out ways to best meet the needs of our student population and their families. Angie has not only worked in special education as an Educational Interpreter for the Deaf in schools at all levels, she has a second degree in Human Service Leadership with an emphasis on empowering the differently-abled and is also a parent of two children currently receiving special education services. 

Please feel free to utilize Angie as a resource as you navigate through this sometimes confusing and complicated journey with your child. In order to stay connected, we invite you to do the following:

  1. Keep this letter with Angie's information.  Consider this an open invitation to contact her if you would ever need support for all the questions that come along with life as a family with special needs. As always, your exchange with Angie will stay confidential at your request.
     
  2. Fill out any surveys related to your student's education as they come home; this is crucial to understanding what areas need improvement or getting feedback on what we are doing well.  Your input is important and valued!


Angie is very excited to have the opportunity to serve the parents and families of the KASD in this role and to help figure out ways to make your child's educational experience the best it can be.

Tim Fosshage
Director of Pupil Services
Kimberly Area School District
(920) 788-7900

 If you would like more information about WSPEI, please visit www.wspei.org.

Contact KASDʼs Parent Liaison Angie Petit for more resources and information about the following:

  • Fun support resources including camps for children with disabilities, workshops/outings/camps specifically for siblings of a child with a disability, etc
  • Sports opportunities like Miracle League/Discovery league baseball for children, teens, and adults with disabilities in the Fox Valley, football/basketball camps for children with disabilities, swim lessons, etc
  • Conferences parents can attend in the Fox Valley to learn more about being a parent of a child with special needs and networking opportunities with other families
  • Help with understanding your childʼs IEP and preparing for IEP meetings
  • Any other questions you may have about supporting your child with a disability and your family 
     

Iʼm wondering if my child who is not in school yet has a disability. Does my toddler or preschooler need therapy services?
For children under age 3: In Wisconsin, each county is responsible for providing Birth to 3 services to eligible children and their families. Find the contact information for your county here if you are interested in an evaluation of your childʼs development: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/birthto3/contacts.htm?%20field_b23_county_tid=139

For children age 3-5: Contact your school for more information about KASDʼs Child Development Days to inquire about the development of your preschooler. You may be asked to complete a questionnaire which will help school staff determine if concerns are present in your childʼs development and if a formal screening or evaluation of your child would need to take place.

Helpful Resources for Families:
Wisconsin Statewide Parent-Educator Initiative (WSPEI) (https://wspei.org/) - A resource to connect Wisconsin families with information from other parents (including parent liaisons working with school districts like KASDʼs Angie Petit), schools, organizations, and agencies to enhance child learning for students with disabilities and help their families navigate through the process.

Family Voices of Wisconsin (https://www.familyvoiceswi.org/) - Focuses its work on health care and community supports in following areas: education and information including trainings, fact sheets, newsletters, family leadership activities, the Advocacy for Change Institute, and public policy and systems change. Trainings include topics such as “Coordinating Your Childʼs Health Care,” “Whatʼs After High School?,” “What is a Special Needs Trust?,” Medicaid information, and “Special Education in Plain Language.”

Parent to Parent of Wisconsin (https://p2pwi.org/) - Provides support to parents of children with special needs through a one-to-one connection with another parent who has similar experiences and who knows first hand about the feelings and realities that come with having a child with special needs. Become a “Support Parent” for another family starting out or get connected to one. Free parent trainings are also held throughout the state periodically.

Regional Centers for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) (https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/cyshcn/regionalcenters.htm) - Wisconsin has five regional centers dedicated to supporting families with children and youth with special healthcare needs and the providers who serve them. The centers are staffed by specialists who can help get parents answers, problem solve, find services and medical providers, and connect you to community resources. Their services and free and confidential. Contact the Northeastern Region that serves all counties in the Fox Valley area at 877-568-5205.

Wisconsin Special Education Mediation System (WSEMS) (https://www.wsems.us/) - A grantfunded system that provides trained neutral facilitators to parents and school districts for Mediation, IEP Facilitation, and Resolution Process services. WSEMS services are free and confidential.

Wisconsin Statewide Medical Home Initiative (https://www.chawisconsin.org/initiatives/medical-home/) - Find out how to create a medical home for children with special health care needs where parents partner with physicians to promote the childʼs health and development. Focus is placed on coordinating care based on the families priorities and health needs of the child. The initiative provides training, technical assistance, and resources to support medical home implementation for children who have special health care needs.