Project Empower: Conferences coming up for parents of children with disabilities

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WEAR) — A new organization in Pensacola is offering focused help for parents of children with disabilities.

It's called "Project Empower" and it will host a series of conferences giving parents both tools and some training.

The first conference, on July 28, will center on the 'back to school' process.

"This conference is about going back to school, what tools that you will need as a parent of a child with a disability," said Executive Director of Project Empower Tara Potter. "There's even one presentation done by (Irma Copefield), she's with Early Steps and she's gonna give an actual binder that will help you organize yourself for all the things that you're going to be getting over the years for school such as IEP and that sort of thing."

Their next event, in October, will be more medically oriented.

The organization also aims to educate the wider community about people with disabilities.

"If you don't know somebody with a disability you might be a little standoffish but our goal is to just try and help the entire community to be more aware of what a disability is," Potter said. "You know, how to interact with a person with a disability, how to really help that person advocate for themselves so the reason that it's needed is state services just aren't enough."

The July 28 conference is on a Friday, and it runs from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Marcus Pointe Baptist Church.

It's free.

Breakfast and lunch is included, but parents must pre-register. Those who attend will have a chance to ask questions at the end of the day.

Looking to go? Just call (850)-444-8554 or e-mail Potter at tara.potter.fl@gmail.com and she will send a flyer with a link to register online.

You can also visit the Project Empower website.