Parents Education Network

PEN was lifesaving for both our son and our family. After our son received his diagnosis of dyslexia, I did not know how to begin navigating the countless issues involved. These included understanding the diagnosis and its ramifications, working with teachers and schools, homework, the psychological effects for our son and our family, tutors, accommodations (how to request and receive them), the law, testing, teaching advocacy to our son and advocating to the larger community, future potential good school matches and so many more. PEN offered a support system of dedicated, kind and thoughtful women who in the process of learning about learning disabilities and advocating for their children decided to form a nonprofit dedicated to sharing their experience and expertise. I found PEN when our son was 6. He is now 20. He is currently attending and thriving at a university he never would have been accepted or gone to without all we learned from PEN. I cannot say enough good things about this organization to adequately express my thanks. PEN allowed our son and countless others to feel good about themselves, to celebrate their learning issues and to be able to achieve what they are capable of. These are not small or temporary skills and lessons. They sre truly life changing.

I've attended several presentations over the last year. Every one of the speakers has been of the highest quality, dispensing valuable advice. This advice has be extremely helpful to me as I deal with 2 children and a spouse with brain/learning differences. I highly recommend PEN!

I have worked with the Board and staff of PEN for the last several years. What stands out to me is the clarity and purity of their dedication. I seldom see a not-for-profit so focused to simply helping their client population. I have worked with the Board in strategic planning, board governance, and project management. I have volunteered in the SAFE program. Everywhere in the organization I find people of heart and intelligence. PEN grew up attending to the needs of LD kids in San Francisco, but it's clear to me that they will eventually shape the national conversation around learning differences. They have the secret sauce for connecting parents, kids, teachers, and professionals; the momentum of their work will be unstoppable.

I have just finished a probono project with PEN and my team (that have all worked with other non profits organizations too) have all been very impressed with PEN's value to the community, and PEN's ability to deliver such impact. I have heard from so many stakeholders that PEN is a critical contributor to society. I have heard numerous real life examples from teachers, principles of schools, parents and most importantly the children that they value PENs work so much, they want PEN to be able to spread the PEN reach throughout the USA. Communities beyond the Bay Area need the PEN service in their community too!

I went to my first PEN meeting on behalf of my professional affiliation with the organization, at least that is why I thought I went. I sat in the room amongst other parents who described how a child with a learning difference affected their family. I felt so much comfort when I realized they were describing my child and my situation. The only difference was that they possessed hope and strength, qualities I did not have yet. Knowing there is an organization committed to children who learn differently, and the parents of these children, makes me realize I can have hope! I know the road I will travel with my ADD son may not be easy, but I will be supported! Thanks to the wonderful staff at PEN who have chosen to walk this road with me! Taylor stilwell

Fantastic information, targeted and immediately useful for me as a wife of a dylexic and mother of another dyslexic. Totally surpassed my expectations. Thank you!

PEN is more than a significant entity in our lives. They offer useful classes on a regular basis on a variety of relevant educational topics. Each year PEN hosts something calles EdRev at Pac Bell Park in San Francisco. We go hear inspirational speakers, many of whom have significant learning differences as well. Parents, kids and people in the profession of learning all come to hear talks, attend smaller seminars and learn about available resources. We are always excited and encouraged after leaving the Ed Rev anual learning event. Pen additionally provides educational talks throughout the year at a nominal fee. The talks are usually given by renoun people in the educational field. PEN always strives to provide the services to the most people at a reasonable price. There is always a way to attend even if you are on a very low budget. I don't know of a group of more caring people who serve a very important segment of our community. I don't know how they do it!

As a speech/language pathologist who supports many students with language-based learning disabilities every day, I appreciate & use PEN resources, & have shared contacts & information with my students, teachers, parents & colleagues. And - as a parent of a student with LD, I've found the support & collaboration invaluable.

I have been a volunterr with PEN for the last three years, primarily assisting with the Lecture Series and writing a blog on each of the lectures for the PEN website and mine: dyslexiadiscovery.com.

The care given to the selection of speakers results in a broad specturm of topics that are germane to dyslexia, ADHD and other learning challenges. Parents, teachers and others have a unique opportunity to listen and learn from specialists. I have found it fascinating how lecturers on the topic most often have a unique approach to the topic. Parents who commit to attend many of lectures have an opportunity to asses what might work for their child.

I am dyslexic and hyperlexic and learn each time so much more about my challenges. This is a unique group of serious minded leaders providing excellent resources to a very challenging field.

I am the mother of a dyslexic boy. I had never heard of dyslexia until I experienced my son's struggles in reading and word retrieval. I feel incredibly blessed that Parents Education Network had a presence in my son's school as they have provided my family with "one stop shopping" for all the challenges that we continue to face as we navigate my son's education.
I have attended many lectures and events sponsored by PEN and have met other parents at these events with whom I can swap information, advice and support. PEN also provides resource referrals so that I do not have to re-invent the wheel in isolation while trying to support my son.
As much as I value and appreciate all of the above , by far the most outstanding service provided by PEN is the activities geared to empower the children themselves and teach them to understand their unique ways of learning and advocate for themselves. My son understands that he learns DIFFERENTLY, not poorly, and is pro-active in learning how to attain his goals with his unique strengths and weaknesses. SAFE voices, EdRev and the community that PEN creates have been invaluable in fostering self sufficiency, self-esteem and hope for the future in my son....something we would not have known how to attain without the community and resources that PEN has created. We are so grateful for their good works!

I am a founding member of PEN. Before PEN, there was little information and little support to parents and students of the bay area trying to navigate an unfriendly educational environment. Students with learning disabilities, before PEN, were marginalized and certainly they had little voice of their own and no organized voice. PEN has created a strong collaborative network including parents, educators and students. PEN has changed the landscape in a very short period of time. Students through PEN's student branch SAFE speak publicly throughout the bar area encouraging students to empower themselves and engage in their own education. Parents are armed with information about how to best support their children. Educators are provided with professional development opportunities that are extremely affordable. Some of the brightest minds in the classroom are the students identified with learning disabilities.

SAFE has taught me to became an advocate. Both for the LA/ADHAD community and for myself. I have learned to propperly voice my needs and wants for my education making my education a better expierence which without SAFE would have been less enjoiable.

I have been part of an organization called SAFE Voices for about three years. I'm looking forward to being part of Project Eye to Eye this year and helping younger kids through some difficult stages of the LD.

PEN is a tremendous resource of informaiton for parents. My child was diagnoses a year and a half ago with Learning Differences and then more recently with ADD. The speaker series of PEN has provided me with much needed information and access to resources, which have really helped our family adapt and find the assistance and support that our child needs. In addition, the other parents involved with PEN have been a great help as well. PEN has made a big impact on how I have been able to help our child!

When thrown into the world of LD, I felt scared, alone, and somehow a failure. PEN gave me access to knowledge, events, professionals, and most importantly, connections with other parents/children with similar stories. The event most influential for me has been ED Rev which is produced by PEN. In one day, at one place-I listened to inspirational stories, went to workshops, heard professional speakers, saw software demos, and had instant access to professionals, schools etc... At this event my son and I heard Jonathon Mooney and my son was introduced to other kids involved in SAFE. Today my son loves SAFE and speaks on panels, advocting for himself and others who are not ready to speak out and share their experiences. Both my son and I have have become educated, empowered and filled with passion in the belief that this path is a gift. Through PEN and SAFE, we have the power to help ourselves and others. With a base of pride and knowledge we embrace our experiences and begin to challenge and change perceptions of world around us.

This is the 3rd year my daughter has been involved in SAFE Voices.SAFE, as she describes it, is not a support group; it is an advocacy organization for middle school and high school students who have LD issues. Through their work, the organization and its members do provide support for these students in ways that we, as parents, cannot do. It has been an invaluable experience for her and has helped her gain confidence by being on speaking panel, and organizational skills as she becomes increasingly involved in SAFE's activities. While she never felt that she had any problems with acknowledging her LD issues, it is only since she has been at SAFE that she has grown truly comfortable with her LD. Though initially I had to fight to get her to go, she now says that she wishes she had started earlier. I am so pleased to see her take on the responsibilities she gets from SAFE. I highly recommend this organization for any middle or high school student with LD issues.

I credit PEN with providing the most effective professional resources for me during critical times in my teaching career. PEN's Teacher's Education Network has provided phenomenal support regarding improving my teaching and assessment methods, as well as invaluable guidance in creating optimal learning environments for my students, particularly those with learning differences. PEN's ability to partner with parents, students, teachers, and schools in the hopes of improving education for everyone is truly remarkable.

I am a mother 2year old baby boy I can not speak English help me.

My 12 year old son has ADHD and learning disabilities. We live in Sacramento - 2 hours away from San Francisco. We went last year to the PEN SF EdRev and it changed our lives! I feel so hopeful now. I watch everything they do and it is revolutionary. My son's art is in their new calendar and he is so proud! I'm absolutely dying to have this spread to Sacramento. The teen group they have and the strength in leadership coming through is amazing. The collaborative spirit with educators, professionals, families, and children is a model. What I really like is the kids are involved - not separate. I only wish I lived closer!

My son was diagnosed with speech and language processing challenges in pre-school, and later with language-based learning disabilities. When he was young, I took advantage of PEN's wonderful speaker series' to broaden my knowledge and understanding of my son's needs and how I could support him both academically and emotionally. Now, at 16, my son is an active member in SAFE Voices and is learning how to advocate for himself. The knowledge I gained from PEN's activities, and more importantly, his involvement in SAFE Voices and the annual EdRev conference, have been instrumental in helping him learn how to be successful in school and beyond.

I joined SAFE, the student wing of PEN three years ago. This was an opportunity to butt in on the third person dialogue surrounding people with learning disabilities. I've been given the opportunity to educate and empower students, families, and professionals about the strengths and challenges of LD/ADHD people through:
-Panels
-Videos
-Events
-Radio/TV interviews

PEN is extraordinary collaborator and I've had the opportunity to network and collaborate with other like minded people and organizations. I see the impact of our work when I'm recognized thanked by strangers everywhere imaginable: public meetings, city streets, parties, and traffic stops. PEN is on the forefront of the giving empowering our silenced people to stand up, speak out, form communities, and advocate for the tools we need for success.

This organization is exceptional at community building! They foster open dialog, self advocacy, opportunities for the general public to learn and understand more about learning differences. Youth that have been involved in this organization tend to be more confident, proud and active in their community! WAY TO GO!!

Before PEN, the discovery that your child "can't keep up" or "needs special help" left parents frighten, anxious about the future for their child. Information and guidance was rare. What was abundant was panic about how to understand the problems, find and implement solutions, and get schools and teachers to understand and help. I know, because in 1993 I was that parent. I worked with the founder of PEN in the early days. And today I still volunteer at events and share the strategies, successes and failures my daughter has experienced.
I feel that PEN's most important function is providing a platform to receive, assemble, present and distribute information to parents, teachers, tutors, learning specialists, occupational & physical therapists, and medical & scientific researchers. I know this sounds like an extraordinarily long list of participants, but in fact PEN is an extraordinary organization.

From the beginning, PEN has been an organization dedicated to bringing students with learning differnces, their parents and educators together to discover the BEST PRACTICES for the students' success.
Their service and contribution to the Bay Area education commuity is profound! As an elemebrtaty school principal, I have benefited from their workshops, services and have directed a number of parents to them for support and information on how to best help their child prosper!

PEN is directed by empathetic and knowledgeable individuals that successfully educate parents and teaching professionals in their quest for solutions to remediate and support learning disabilities and ADHD. They respond to all the inquiries and requests to find solutions, whether they be learning strategies, school placement, emotional support, or many varied resources. They are selfless individuals that all work countless hours to provide the help a student and the family would need.
They provide extremely reasonably priced lectures and conferences and help to change the concept of disability to an advantage in life.

I have been with PEN as a volunteer since the beginning.

The constant focus at PEN is always questioning what is best for the kids to succeed and how can students, educators and parents gain the knowledge and insight to help attain that success.

PEN is not a "we will get everyone into college" type of group. Success is not a fixed goal, it is whatever it is for that particular child. PEN is helping kids get through, over or around barriers that block them from their full potential, whatever that may be.

PEN is there to help the kids do what needs to be done but NOT do it for them because, at the end of the day, they need to be able to advocate for themselves and make use of tools and coping strategies.

There is no ego from the adults that work/volunteer for PEN. To quote a line I often use, "Lest we forget, our primary duty is to support the kids".

My youngest is 20 so you might think that my commitment to PEN has waned. Quite the contrary, I am just as committed now as I was at the beginning (7 or so years ago) to making sure the children, parents and educators that are coming up the ranks behind us gain the same insights.

PEN is an amazing resource for both parents and professionals in the Bay Area. I often refer families to the various PEN presentations and attend many myself. PEN has provided a much needed service for our community and I look forward to sharing in future events.
-Educational Therapist, Berkeley

My name is David Flink and I am the Executive Director of a national mentoring program for students with learning disabilities. Hence, through my work I connect with many different organizations across America and I can say first hand that the work that PEN does in empowering families touched by LD/ADHD is second to none. They do an amazing job providing invaluable resources to the bay area from their one of kind EdRev conference to the numerous free or reduced cost lecture series to their support of student through their SAFE program. If only more communities in America had PEN, the inclusion of people with LD/ADHD in all aspects of our society would be more universally achieved!

I am a mother of a boy with learning differences. PEN has been invaluable. Their topics and lectures are fantastic and I have attended many. It's so great to have a community of people who understand what you are going through.
I wish PEN could expand into every state!

The Parents Education Network is an excellent resource for all professionals in learning-related fields in the Bay Area. They sponsor wonderful talks, focussing mainly on learning difficulties, from which I have learned a great deal at a reasonable cost. They have a branch for teachers which strikes me as a much-needed resource, as many teacher-training programs don't offer sufficient background on students with learning disabilities. They also offer talks from experts in the growing field of brain knowledge. To those of us in education, the more research-based information we can get, the more we are empowered to help our charges, many of whom cannot help themselves. PEN is on the first ranks of helping us achieve this.

I have been working as an advocate for students with learning disabilities for several years and this organization (PEN) has the best and most holistic approach. Their outreach to the student community offers them opportunities and a community that truly empower them and has made a significant impact on their self esteem and outlook for success in school as well as in life. Their work to educate and connect parents and teachers is the missing link that most other organizations ignore and that is why I have chosen to volunteer my time with this group. They will be the cornerstone and model for all other groups to follow in the years ahead as our movement grows.