History
About Special Kids was incorporated as the Indiana Parent Information Network, Inc. in 1987 by two parents and two professionals who represented the perspectives of a family with developmental disability, a family of a child with serious chronic illness, medical social services, and special education. The founders and their families provided the initial funding for the organization and About Special Kids (then the Indiana Parent Information Network or IPIN) received its first grant on July 1, 1990 to train parents of children with special needs to be partners on First Steps Local Interagency Coordinating Councils. On October 1, 1990, About Special Kids (then IPIN) received its first federal grant from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau to implement the Indiana Parent Education Project. This project set the foundation for a statewide network of parents trained as Parent Liaisons to provide information, peer support, and training to other families. About Special Kids continues to provide information, peer support and training to parents and professionals throughout Indiana.
Some notable milestones that the organization has experienced are:
| 1987 | Founding and incorporation of the Indiana Parent Information Network, Inc. (now About Special Kids). |
| 1990 | About Special Kids received first grant to train parents of children with special needs to be partners on First Steps Local Interagency Coordinating Councils. |
| 1990 | Received first federal grant from Maternal and Child Health Bureau to implement the Indiana Parent Education Project. |
| 1991 | Published first Directory of Indiana Parent Leaders of Children with Disabilities and Chronic Illness. |
| 1994 | Introduced Parent Liaison Training program for families of children with special needs, thanks to grant from Indianapolis Public Schools. |
| 1994 | Launched initiative to produce computerized central directory of Indiana's First Steps Early Intervention System. Introduced CD version in 2003. |
| 1998 | Developed model that promotes medical homes for Indianapolis area children with special health care needs. Created model through collaboration with Wishard Health Services / North Arlington Community Health Center and the Indiana University School of Medicine. |
| 2003 | About Special Kids celebrates 15 years of service to families of children with special needs and professionals in Indiana |
| 2003 | About Special Kids receives funding from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to become Indiana’s Family to Family Health Care Information and Education Center. |
| 2004 | About Special Kids launches its website www.AboutSpecialKids.org |
| 2006 | About Special Kids receives funding from the United States Department of Education to became a Community Parent Resource Center (with a focus on the near east side of Indianapolis) |
| 2007 | About Special Kids celebrates 20 years of service to Indiana families and professionals!! |