New Hoover special education alliance to meet Wednesday at Spain Park High

A new group called the Special Education Community Alliance-Hoover is holding its first meeting this Wednesday night at Spain Park High School.

The group’s mission is to provide a positive voice for families who have children receiving special education services in the city of Hoover, said Dustin Chandler, an Inverness resident who is organizing the group.

The alliance hopes to share information about special education and give parents the tools they need to advocate for their children, said Chandler, whose 5-year-old daughter has a rare genetic disorder that causes seizures and severe neurodevelopmental issues.

“We want to work with the city of Hoover to make sure our kids and all kids are getting the best education they can,” Chandler said.

Another goal is to help connect parents of children with special needs. Many times, families with children who have special needs feel isolated, Chandler said. “We want families to know they’re not alone,” he said.

The group also wants to connect parents with a network of people who advocate for children with special needs, he said.

Chandler emphasized that the group is open to anyone interested in special education, not just parents of special needs children. School teachers, administrators, community leaders and anyone in the general public is welcome to attend, he said.

Wednesday’s meeting is organizational in nature. It is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. in the Spain Park High School library and should last roughly an hour, Chandler said. The group has a Facebook page called Special Education Community Alliance-Hoover.