Parents of young children with disabilities find resources, support in virtual class

By Sheilah Kast,

Maureen Harvie

Published January 22, 2025 at 10:15 AM EST

Hilda Garcia, left, works with her 3-year-old son Alexander, on his speech at their West Chicago, Ill., home Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023. Alexander qualified for five Early Intervention therapies in summer 2021, physical, occupational, developmental, behavioral and speech when he was about a year old. But the family waited more than a year to get any of these services in-person. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Offered by the Parents' Place of Maryland, Baby LEADers is a free 5-week virtual course for families of children aged 5 and younger who have a diagnosed or suspected disability or developmental delay.

Kristen Paul, director of Early Childhood Programs for the Parents’ Place of Maryland, discusses how the program helps parents understand their rights and how to advocate for their children. LaToyia Newman-Gross, who completed Baby LEADers in 2022, shares her experience finding community among her classmates.

Applications for the next Baby LEADers cohort are due Friday, January 24th.

Links:
PPMD Facebook page

Tags

Sheilah Kast

Sheilah Kast is the host of On The Record, Monday-Friday, 9:30-10:00 am.

See stories by Sheilah Kast

Maureen Harvie

Maureen Harvie is Senior Supervising Producer for On the Record. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and joined WYPR in 2014 as an intern for the newsroom. Whether coordinating live election night coverage, capturing the sounds of a roller derby scrimmage, interviewing veterans, or booking local authors, she is always on the lookout for the next story.

See stories by Maureen Harvie