1. Services Offered For Parents

• helps families with special needs children find the appropriate educational, medical, and therapeutic services.

• informs parents about programs offered in various international and bilingual schools.

• refers newly arrived and resident families to appropriate specialists for assessments, therapy, medical specialists, and remediation.

• refers departing families to specialists abroad.

• connects parents to support networks.

• helps parents understand the French educational and healthcare system. (See our help page here.)

Members of SPRINT have expertise in many aspects of special needs, including, but not limited to: developmental delay, autism, communication and learning problems, physical handicaps, adjustment and behavioural difficulties, attention deficit disorder, giftedness and tutoring.

EKIPP is a parent information and support network for families of children with special learning needs, who are differently abled, have chronic medical conditions, or who have other special needs. They welcome families with autism, Down syndrome, and other visible or invisible needs. EKIPP was previously known as SPAN (SPRINT’s Parents Action Network).

• Monthly parent information meetings

• Information on medical assessments and diagnoses, therapist options and funding sources

• Free weekly playgroups

• Private facebook group

• Help in naviguating the MDPH system

• Help in explaining medical forms and documents

• Parent get-togethers and annual family picnics

• Information and support regarding school choice and in-school accommodations in both the French public and Anglophone private systems

Contact : Facebook page & emails to ekippinparis@gmail.com

Each year, depending on the funds available, the SPRINT Bursary Fund offers two awards of 500€ to clients known by SPRINT members, on application. This grant is a bi-annual award given in autumn and spring, which aims to help families in need access evaluation and/or caregiver training to support their children.

More information on this dedicated page: SPRINT Mini-Grant.

2. Services Offered For Schools

SPRINT offers the following services for schools and teachers:

• Informing teachers regarding new techniques.

• Support in integrating children with special needs.

• In-service training for teachers and learning support assistants.

• Consultation for schools regarding child-parent interactions.

• Talks for students on a variety of topics (e.g. eating disorders, social skills, organizational skills…).

• Support for school staff in addressing challenging situations with children (e.g. suspected abuse).

• Helping teachers determine whether a child needs a referral or evaluation.

• Places for three school representatives per school to participate in SPRINT meetings.

SPRINT France works in partnership with member schools to help improve services for special needs kids.
The video presentation below aims to outline more information about how this partnership works.

Services Offered for Professionals

SPRINT offers the following services for all professionals working with children with special needs :

• An opportunity for professionals to share ideas and new developments in the field.

• Monthly meetings for networking and discussing specific topics.

• An opportunity to meet with a range of professionals outside your own speciality.

• Facilitation of teamwork when several professionals are involved with a child or family.

• Visibility on our social networks via member lists.