Barrington parents forming special needs group

Several Barrington-area parents of students with special needs want others in the community to know they're there to help.

The parents are forming Barrington Area Special Voices, designed to provide support and advocacy for Barrington's special needs students and their families.

Jennifer Garrels, one of the organization's directors, said the goal is to provide a place parents with special need students can turn to for support, guidance and advice. The organization's other directors are Jennifer Bulandr, Paul Conover and David Holt.

Believing Barrington Area Unit District 220 does a great job with special needs students, Garrels said Barrington Area Special Voices will be something parents can turn to when school's out for the day.

"We want to provide above and beyond what the school district does," Garrels said.

Once fully up and running, the group will offer support groups, speakers and numerous informational resources.

Holt said one of their first tasks will be to put together a packet for parents letting them know some things to expect with a special needs students.

"We want to be able to give them the lessons that we learned," Holt said.

Garrels said they also hope to set up a mentoring program, where families with an older special needs student would be paired with a family that has a younger student.

The organization is open to anyone in the Barrington area with a special needs students, which Garrels described as being between 3 and 21 years old with an Individualized Educational Plan.

Already having received grants from the District 220 Educational Foundation and Barrington Junior Women's Club, the group is hosting a big fundraiser next month to help launch the organization.

Barrington Area Special Voices is hosting a "Guitar Hero" tournament from 2 to 5 p.m. July 6 at the brat tent in downtown Barrington during the village's Fourth of July festival.

Holt thought the video game tournament was a perfect way to raise some awareness for the new organization.

"How appropriate to have an event that is kids helping kids," Holt said. "We are really excited."

There is a $10 entry fee. Registration is available online, as well as the day of the event. For more information or to sign up, visit www.baspecialvoices.org.