My child was diagnosed with special needs in first grade. Never realizing how serious it was or could potentially be later in life I didn't get services in place to help my child until this past year upon entering middle school years. I now understand more about my child's disability and I am learning a lot about IEP's and the importance of having things in writing. Learning to be an advocate for my child hasn't been easy but the more knowledge I get about special education the better prepared I am to make the best decisions for my child. As the Parent Coordinator for Pitt County I offer emotional support and resource information to families within the community. FSN-ENC has opened my eyes to the fact that there are so many people in need of services today but they don't necessarily know where to go for help. We are here to help families and to provide a "listening ear" to any family that has a child with a disability or chronic illness.