Batavia special-education parent network readies 10th annual resource fair Feb. 23

Danielle Mahoney, parent chair of the Batavia Special Education Parent Network (BSPN), told the board that BSPN will host its tenth annual parent resource fair on Thursday, Feb. 23, in the Batavia High School cafeteria. The free event brings together nearly 50 organizations and agencies offering services for families of children with special needs, from early childhood through age 22.

Mahoney described BSPN as a 13-year-old group including parents, special-education teachers, therapists and administrators who organize events, coffee chats and an annual resource fair to connect families with community providers. "We welcome any families within our neighboring communities and towns to please come out," Mahoney said, noting the fair includes transition-planning resources, therapy providers and recreation programs.

BSPN asked the board and community to help spread the word; organizers posted flyers at the school front desk and maintain a website at bspn-batavia.org with details.

The board thanked BSPN and administrators for supporting the event and said district staff are assisting with outreach; the event is intended to be broadly accessible to families who need services or information.