PICC LEAH is a network of parents home schooling, or thinking about home schooling, their handicapped child. The parents of any child who would be labeled by the Committee on Special Education of the public school system would be invited to join PICC. We have members who have children with a wide range of handicapping conditions (learning disabled, attention deficit, cerebral palsy, blindness, hearing loss, Downs Syndrome, microcephalous, etc).
Parents of children with handicapping conditions don't have a lot of time for extra meetings, so PICC LEAH doesn't have meetings. Instead, we have the PICC LEAH Directory and a bi-monthly newsletter. If a family joins PICC LEAH ($15 annual membership - check made payable to NYS LEAH; If you are currently an active NYS LEAH member in another NYS LEAH Chapter, membership to PICC LEAH is free, BUT you STILL MUST fill out this membership form and mail it to PICC LEAH.), they get a copy of the Directory. The Directory is completely confidential, not given to non-members. Then, when families need help or encouragement, they can call someone with a similar circumstance for encouragement or information. PICC LEAH members also get discounts of 15% off HSLDA (Homeschool Legal Defense Association) membership, 20% off the LEAH Regulatory Manual, discounted admission to LEAH Conventions, and the quarterly LEAH Messenger newsletter.
PICC LEAH also has a lending library for use by its members. The lending library contains a wide variety of books, audio tapes and video tapes which can be borrowed for a small fee.
PICC LEAH is a source of legal information and an advocate for these families. PICC makes available information concerning current NYS regulations, curriculum, and resources for special needs children in New York State.
PICC was founded in 1988 by Dawn and Philip Wolcott of Marathon, NY.
In 1986, Dawn and Philip were home schooling their son Joshua, but had placed their son Michael in the public school special education program. Michael has cerebral palsy and is non-verbal. They had felt a tugging in their hearts to home school Michael as well, but had many questions to answer in their minds first. They heard that the Mulveys, of Fulton, NY were home schooling their daughter Sarah (who has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and is visually impaired). Sarah had been in the public school special education system until she was 9 years old. One afternoon in the winter of 1986, the Wolcotts and Mulveys sat down together and talked about home schooling a child with handicapping conditions. A wonderful friendship began that day.
In 1988, Dawn started PICC to offer to other families whose children have special needs the same encouragement the Mulveys offered them. In the years since, PICC has answered hundreds of phone calls, mailed out thousands of pieces of literature, and helped parents of handicapped children throughout New York State find resources and network with other families who have decided to home school their child with special needs.
In 1994, after years of dedication and service, the Wolcotts retired from PICC, but the Mulveys continued on in their place. In February 2008, the Mulveys took a well deserved retirement and passed the PICC torch to Mary Fratianni, the New York State Loving Education at Home (LEAH) Special Needs Coordinator. The New York State LEAH Board of Directors approved PICC as a LEAH chapter. PICC LEAH is the Special Needs support chapter of NYS LEAH.
The swan and cygnet logo was chosen as a reminder of the story of The Ugly Duckling who was, in reality, a beautiful swan.