South Dakota Parent Connection

Our mission is to connect families who care for individuals birth to age 26 with disabilities or special health care needs to information, training, and resources in an environment of support, hope, and respect.

South Dakota Parent Connection, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that was founded in 1985 by a group of dedicated parents and professionals to provide training and information statewide to meet the needs of parents and families caring for individuals with disabilities. 

Since 1985, South Dakota Parent Connection has served continuously as the state’s only Parent Training and Information Center. In 2005, South Dakota Parent Connection partnered with the South Dakota Department of Education, Special Education Programs, to establish the Navigator Program. In 2007, South Dakota Parent Connection received a grant to serve as the state’s Family to Family Health Information Center and continues to serve in these three roles for families in South Dakota.

For more than 40 years, we have worked with families of children from birth through age 26 with the full range of disabilities to:

• Assist families in obtaining an appropriate education for their children.

• Improve education results for all children.

• Train and inform parents and the professionals who work with their children.

• Connect families to community resources to address the unique needs of their children.

• Empower families to be the decision-makers for their children to make informed decisions.

• Develop collaboration with organizations and agencies that serve children and youth with special needs.

• Advocate for improved public and private policies and serve as a trusted resource on health care.

• Build partnerships among professionals and families.