The Eanes Parent Network will screen the award winning documentary “Including Samuel” Nov. 14 at 3 p.m. at the Laura Bush Community Library on Bee Cave Road.

“‘Including Samuel’ is a highly personal, passionately photographed film that captures the cultural and systemic barriers to inclusion,” said Cheryl Fries, one of the local parents who founded EPN. “(It) is an incredible examination of the inclusion of people with disabilities from the perspective of parents, educators and people with disabilities themselves.”

EPN is a parent organization focused on providing opportunities to connect, educate and support parents of children with special needs. Though the three founding parents live in Eanes, the organization is independent of the school district and is open to any parents.

“We are three moms – one in elementary, one in middle school and one in high school – who were talking about the fact that parents whose children have special education needs and disabilities have special needs themselves for information and connections that help us navigate the best possible paths for our kids,” Fries said. “So we decided to try to start a network that could accomplish that. We believe that opportunities that bring us together to to learn, discuss, support each other and become inspired will help us fill those needs.”

The other two EPN founding parents are Laura Avery and Nancy Brown.

Network organizers plan on holding a series of social events that can provide valuable information, not only to the parents of students with disabilities, but to educators and friends. The series of events will kick off with the movie screening Nov. 13. The screening is free and open to the public. Due to limited seating, EPN recommends that those who plan on attending make reservations by visiting www.eanesparentnetwork.org.

“EPN’s vision is to create a better world for special-needs children by helping their parents,” Fries said.

More information about the organization can be found at www.eanesparentnetwork.org.

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