Special Groups Unite For Film, FUN

By John Voket

Two grassroots groups in town that have sprung up to help support local special needs students and their families are joining forces March 23, providing parents and caregivers a chance to see a film, while the students get a chance to enjoy some supervised social and recreational activities.

This marks the first collaboration between Suzanne Lang, who founded the group Newtown Parents Advocating for their Children (PAC), and Linda Jones, who is establishing a foundation in memory of her late son, Tyler.

Ms Lang’s group holds regular discussion meetings, occasionally featuring guest speakers, providing parents a private forum in which to candidly discuss the challenges and opportunities they face as participants in the special education system.

Ms Jones’ group, Families United in Newtown (FUN), promotes a recreation program with the intent of offering a space for parents to come to as a couple and get a break while their special needs children are cared for by Newtown High School Honors Society students and other volunteers.

Newtown PAC in conjunction with the district’s Special Education Advisory Board will be showing a screening of Race to Nowhere at Newtown High School. A panel of educators, alumni, community members, and mental health providers will participate in a question and answer session after the movie.

Parents can attend the documentary, which will be screened in the auditorium, while Ms Jones and a group of National Honors Society student volunteers care for the kids or they are welcome to come and just hang out and relax at no cost.

Tickets for the film are available in advance online for $10, or will be $15 at the door. According to its advance, Race to Nowhere is “a call to action for families, educators, and policy makers to challenge current assumptions on how to best prepare the youth of America to become healthy, bright, contributing and leading citizens.”

Participants for the FUN session must reserve a spot by calling Linda Jones at 203-512-6284 or by e-mail at funforthedisabled@gmail.net. The session will be in Newtown High School Gym 3.

Tickets for the documentary are available at rtnnewtownhigh.eventbrite.com. More information on the movie can be found at racetonowhere.com.