Special Education Family Newsletter
|
Welcome to the Special Education Family Newsletter. Please share the SpEd Newsletter with others, and send comments to [email protected]. If someone forwarded the Special Education Family Newsletter to you, sign up here. |
Sign up for family workshops: How to help your child with special needs, transition into adult life
|
Again this year, Seattle Public Schools is partnering
Open Doors for Multicultural Families to provide a series of workshops for families and professionals. The first series of workshops will focus on helping families, of children who receive Special Education Services, to understand the Transition Process in developing vocational, social, and independent living skills so that they may transition to adult life as productive community members.
Transition planning and services begin by the age of 16 or sooner. All families are welcome to join the workshop.
Wednesday, November 9
6 - 8 p.m.
Speaker: Sheila M. King, Special Education Teacher, Seattle Public Schools
Location: Original Van Asselt Building, 7201 Beacon Ave. S., Seattle 98108
Wednesday, November 16
6-8 p.m.
Topic:
Learn about Person Centered Planning for Transition into Adulthood
Speaker: Debora Maclean, WISE
Location: Original Van Asselt Building, 7201 Beacon Ave. S., Seattle 98108
FREE supervised children's activities
FREE food and refreshments
FREE language support
Please register online or over the phone, by NOVEMBER 2, 2016 at:
Or contact:
For registration assistance in other languages:
Spanish: 253-495-6394 (Janet)
Somali: 253-394-8945 (Safio)
Korean: 253-391-9151 (Min)
Japanese: 253-391-6004 (Miho)
Russian: 253-216-4479 (Olga)
Vietnamese: 253-880-7912 (LeVinh)
Khmer: 253-258-5158 (Jenny)
Farsi: 253-457-5064 (Darya)
Cantonese: 253-886-4237 (Valerie)
|
The New Special Education Parent Partners Program
|
The Special Education Parent Partners Program is a new approach by Seattle Public Schools to assist parents and guardians of students with an IEP (Individual Education Plan), to navigate SPS, the IEP process, and to access community resources. This program connects trained and experienced Parent Partners with parents and guardians who want support in their child's IEP and special education process. It is the goal of this program to foster an atmosphere of family/professional collaboration in special education in Seattle Public Schools.
To request the services of a Parent Partner or to get more information about the program, contact Margo Siegenthaler, Special Education Ombudsperson at
[email protected] or 206-252-0794.
|
SPS seeks volunteers for Special Education Advisory and Advocacy Council (SEAAC)
|
The purpose of this Council is to advise the SPS staff on issues of Special Education.
There will be five meetings during the 2016-17 school year:
- Tuesday, November 8, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, December 6, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, February 7, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, April 4, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, June 6, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Interested individuals who wish to apply, should fill out and submit the Nomination Form and return it to [email protected], no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 21, 2016. (You may also nominate another person.)
|
The New Special Education Website
|
The new organization of the website has the following categories:
Orientation: You can get an Overview of Special Education in Seattle Public Schools, Learn about the Role of the family/guardian, the Federal and State Laws, District Policies, as well as Parent Rights and Responsibilities that guide the way Seattle Public Schools provides services to children with special needs.
Evaluation & Eligibility: Learn how to make referrals and what is involved in evaluations to determine eligibility and services for students with special needs.
Services, Placement, & Assignment: Once a child is found eligible for services, find out about the kinds of services that are available, learn about the IEP (Individual Education Program) process for each student, how the IEP Team determines which services a student will receive (called "placement"), and how school assignments are determined.
Exiting and Transition: You will learn about services available to help your student transition into adult life and how to develop a transition plan.
Related Services & Topics: You will find links to "Related Services" (including Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Transportation, etc.), "Related Departments" (such as English Language Services, Highly Capable Cohort, Health Services), and "Specific Topics" (including Discipline, Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services, Vision Services, Problem Solving Resources, and more.)
|
SPS is designing a new approach to help youth address barriers to accessing their education
|
Academic Achievement,
Behavioral Skill Development,
Social-Emotional Wellbeing:
Coordinated Intervention
For the last three years, Seattle Public Schools has been working on developing a new approach to help students with challenging behaviors that are impacting their ability to reach their full academic potential. In the summer of 2016, Seattle Public Schools began to serve a small group of late elementary and middle school students in a temporary contract with a local agency that has experience providing similar services in Oakland, CA. The services have continued into the school year.
|
Series of Trainings for Families about Transition
Transition planning and services begin by the age of 16 or sooner.
Special Needs Trusts, hosted by Ryther's Aspiring Youth and the Arc of King County Saturday, October 15, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Ryther, 2400 NE 95th St., Seattle 98115 Learn about resources for teens and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Speaker: Denise Redinger, Redinger Law Offices Overview of Transition Services in Seattle Public Schools
Wednesday, November 9, 6 - 8 p.m.
Original Van Asselt Building, 7201 Beacon Ave. S., Seattle 98108
Person Centered Planning for Transition
Wednesday, November 16, 6-8 p.m.
Original Van Asselt Building, 7201 Beacon Ave. S., Seattle 98108
Thursday, December 1, 6:30-8 p.m.
Original Van Asselt Building, 7201 Beacon Ave. S., Seattle 98108
Come learn about Seattle Public Schools' special education transition programs for young adults with
disabilities ages 18-21. Meet transition teachers, adult-service agency providers, and ask questions.
|
SPS Special Education PTSA Meetings
The
Special Education PTSA is an advocacy organization for families whose children receive special education services. You are invited to come to their monthly meetings.
Upcoming meetings:
Tuesday, November 1, 7 - 9 p.m.
JSCEE Auditorium, 2445 3rd Ave., S. Seattle, 98124
|
SPS Special Education Advisory and Advocacy Council Meetings
The Seattle Public School District's
Special Education Advisory and Advocacy Council (SEAAC) consists of members that include parents/guardians, teachers, and community advocates. The council's goal is to collaborate with the district to achieve full participation for students with disabilities.
Upcoming meetings:
Tues., November 8, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., JSCEE, Room TBD
|
Easy access to information for all families in Seattle Public Schools |
To ensure information is accessible for all families in
Seattle Public Schools, the district has methods for community members to request communications assistance for district sponsored programs, events and activities. These services will be provided in an accessible format at no cost to the requester.
|
Special Education Contacts
|
The Special Education Advisory and Advocacy Council (SEAAC) invites you to submit comments and concerns that you have about special education services in Seattle Public Schools.
Special Education Anonymous Feedback Form
|
|
|
|
|