Resources, support, and inspiration.
According to the Frisco ISD website, all three can be found at the FISD Parent Sanctuary and Lending Library: a resource to aid those living or working with disabilities, created by the district’s special education department after parents’ requests for assistance. The library has been open to parents and teachers in the district 9 a.m.–2 p.m. every Friday since its opening in 2015, and after the reopening on Feb. 28, has been able to aid visitors more thoroughly with the recent renovations.
“We recognized that families need a place to connect for support after diagnosis,” lead in-home and parent trainer Kimberly Goushey said to Frisco ISD. “Curating a thoughtful selection of resources for families and staff to borrow and explore has been a wonderful way to extend learning and create community.”
The many books of specific disabilities, parenting help, and sensory strategies, as well as the sensory items and games offered, might be overwhelming to navigate. However, fresh set of eyes comes in the form of parent trainers such as Goushey and former resource teacher Shannon Bazbaz, who are ready to help at the Early Childhood School, where the library is held.
“Sometimes you can’t see all the problems which makes [helping] difficult,” Instructional Coach Amber Biggers said. “And sometimes, I don’t get to be with kids enough, and I like being with the kids. [But] my favorite parts are collaborating with other special education teachers to problem solve for kids and seeing the results, whenever we find a good result, with the kids.”
In their district-central location, the parent sanctuary provides answers and welcoming company, but it couldn’t be done alone. Like Biggers, the gift of collaboration is one of the best parts of the work Bazbaz does.
“I can truly say that I am blessed to have a team of amazing people with whom I can collaborate and families who invite me into their homes and let me become a part of their everyday lives,” Bazbaz said. “In the end, my goal is to help my families function in a meaningful way and find ease in everyday activities.”
