Love is instinctual. Skills are not. Education for parents does not question a parent’s love for his or her child. Rather, parent education is there as a helper in turning that love into building a child’s character and future.

Giving your child the opportunity to succeed and grow because you too were willing to never stop growing as a person and as a parent is what parenting education is. It’s being given the opportunity to ask questions and get answers to the stuff that you don’t know because you have never been there before.  None of us know all the answers, but we can get better with the right education.

My Story

My name is Raquel Soto-Catalano, and this is my story. One New Year’s Eve, I sat in my home feeling shocked and lost. My world had just turned upside down in a matter of minutes. The weight of the moment sat on my shoulders because my husband of 22 years and the father of my children had just told me that he was leaving me. I was at a loss at what to do. How could I protect myself and my children in the process? What did this mean for my daughter with special needs and my son with emotional ones? Forced into a divorce and now in the legal system, I just wanted to ensure that my children would be okay. I did not know what circumstances they would eventually be placed in; I feared the lack of empathy and understanding that my daughter‘s differences and my son’s emotional needs would experience when in the custody of others in their new life.

Divorce was difficult enough on a child; add to that a disability and the problems are compounded. Would the father and new partner be conscious and sensitive to their many needs?

As the divorce proceedings unfolded in the days that followed, I put my hope in the established parenting plan laws that were written with the intention of protecting children in the event of a divorce.

What I found instead was a lack of education for co-parenting a child with special needs. I discovered that while a general parenting class was required by both parents involved, the 4 hour class failed to include any education regarding how to empathize and assist a child with special needs. it is incomplete when it comes to the specific needs, leaving parents at a loss in how to manage this shared responsibility.

If this was all that I had to rely on, how could I trust that my daughter and son would be understood and safe?

Until recently, the Florida laws that have been set in place to protect children in the event of a separation or divorce have not taken into consideration the care of children with disabilities.

When I tried to communicate my concerns, I was told there was no Florida law on co-parenting a child with disabilities.

Emboldened by the need to support my children and given the opportunity to help other parents, I presented this problem to the Florida State legislature as a bill titled HB 1075 which was later amended to SB 1532 and was encouraged by their response. They too saw the need and on June 16, 2021, my proposed amendment to the current Parent Education and Stabilization Course for parents of children with special needs bill was passed.

As you can imagine, I was ecstatic that my voice was heard! Now, with my team, we have created the course needed to put this new Florida State bill amendment to work.

Families who have children with disabilities face many barriers and experience hardships that many other families do not face. Common examples of barriers are a physical or educational environment that is not accessible. This is an environment Parents need tools to navigate.

With support from legislators in the Florida House of Representatives and the Senate, we were able to create and pass legislation to support families with disabilities experiencing divorce.

Why Parent Education?

Effective advocacy for a child with disabilities requires education, proactive communication, collaboration with others, willingness to use your voice to speak up for your child’s rights and needs.

Adult education can play an important role in improving outcomes for a child with special needs. It can provide caregivers with the knowledge, skills, and support they need to effectively care for their child with special needs, and can lead to better outcomes for the child, and the family as a whole.

PESC is an online educational tool for any community that offers support and education to parents who are co-parenting children with special needs and learning differences. The goal is to put the needs of children and their families first by offering educational courses and resources to parents, providers, and professionals so that families are empowered and get the wrap-around support needed to thrive. The impact is access to a tool for support for families that is affordable and accessible for all learners.

Educating with Empathy

We have learned from parents, families, the medical community, therapists, educators, the legal community, family court system, and the department of children and families that the need for a curriculum designed specifically for these families is critically needed.

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) approved PESC course content in 2022. The course will be delivered online using artificial intelligence, adult learning theories, and educational evidence research based practices.

All disabilities learning needs will be addressed. The course content is grounded on the research that empathy can be taught. Here is a direct quote: “Empathy can be instilled, and is composed of teachable habits that can be developed, practiced and lived” (Michele Borba, Unselfie). This course will use the most current and evidence based academic information to ensure that it addresses concerns of individuals with developmental and physical disabilities through:

• Research
• Clinical service
• Training for professionals
• Parental workshops
• Advocacy

This is the first online and accessible curriculum for families who face disability approved by the Department of Children and Families (DFC) that is offered for FREE to families.

This course provides families with education about cooperative co-parenting and the importance of well-being for the family unit. It includes tools, resources, and strategies to help families navigate the trauma and stress of divorce and aims to help co-parents address the unique needs of their children with disabilities during and after a divorce.

I created PESC with the needs of my own children and family in mind, but I know that there are other families in Florida struggling with the same challenges. For more information please visit www.pescfamilies.org