Parent Education Network (PEN) is a statewide coalition in Pennsylvania of parents of children representing a range of disabilities and ages. PEN believes strongly that knowledgeable, skillful parents impact effectively on early intervention, special education, and adult services for their child with disabilities. PEN's Parent Training Projects promote mutual respect between parents and professionals for the knowledge, skills, and abilities each contributes to develop appropriate educational and service delivery outcomes for the child and adult with disabilities. PEN's services are available to parents and professionals.

Every child, adolescent and adult with a physical or mental disability has the right to a continuum of services which maximizes his or her individual capabilities. A continuum allows PEN the opportunity to provide information, skills, and support to parents to help children reach their full potential in educational, vocational and community settings which are in safe and appropriate environments. PEN encourages the parent's unique contributions to the development of children into mature, knowledgeable, and confident adults able to take responsibility for their own future by expressing and fulfilling their own needs and interests.

PEN is committed to serving parents of all special needs children, birth to adulthood to attain appropriate educational and support services...Parents of children receiving early intervention and pre-school programs... Parents of children who are in regular education classes... Parents of children in educational/residential placements... Parents of children not yet identified as needing services...Parents and adults with disabilities needing additional support in adult systems

Parent Training and Information Project: As part of a national system of Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs), PEN is currently funded through the US Department of Education and has been a statewide project for twenty years. PEN serves all of Pennsylvania. PEN supports regional offices in:

Northeast PA: 800-478-5096, 800-853-0530

North Central PA: 866-736-1165, 888-254-9712

Central PA: 866-784-3152

Northwest PA: 866-987-0736

Southwest PA & Pittsburgh: 800-998-2906

Philadelphia: 215-248-4321

Harrisburg: 717-234-0665

The central office, located in York, PA, maintains an 800 V/TTY telephone line (1-800-522-5827 within PA; 717-845-9722 outside of PA) and an 800 telephone line for Spanish speaking parents (1-800-441-5028), staffed by our Bi-lingual/Minority Coordinator.