Families that have or work with children with special needs had the opportunity to learn more about resources and support available in the county and surrounding areas at Justice Elementary School Thursday night.

Justice also provided food, guest speakers and door prizes.

Susan Hillman, principal at Justice, said this is the first year the school has put on an official Resource Fair event.

Hillman said it’s essential for families to be aware of the support and resources available.

About 30 percent of students in the school district take special education classes ranging from speech to students with severe disabilities, Hillman said.

“We can hook them up with services outside of school that they might need or benefit from,” she said.

Clark County Public Schools offer various classes and services to children with disabilities who have been placed or recommended for special education classes, according to its handbook.

Classes include:

— speech improvement classes for students who have disorders in language or speech

— learning disability classes for students who show a severe discrepancy between ability and performance in the classroom.

— mild mental disability and functional mental disability classes for students who differ from the average child in mental ability to such a degree that they need special education services.

— emotional/behavioral disorder classes for students with significant emotion/behavioral problems, which interfere with academic progress

— hearing impaired/visually impaired services for students with hearing disabilities.

Hillman said it’s important to have these events and show the community that the schools care deeply about their students.

“It takes a village to raise a child,” she said. “…The more therapy they can get and the more resources, the better it supports the family, better it supports the kid and more successful they can be at school.”