SPAN Parent Leadership E-News
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Dear Parent Leaders,
Our newsletter is designed to support individuals who passionately represent the needs and perspectives of all parents. Parent leaders become role models for parent engagement, advocating not only on behalf of their own children but for ALL children!
~ START-Engaging Parents of Students with Disabilities in Schools (START-EPSD) Project Team
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Inclusion Training Series
"INCLUSION: WHAT PARENTS CAN DO!"
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Free Two-Part Training Series
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Participants will apply the knowledge they acquire in this hands-on training. They will learn to create more inclusive opportunities in schools and communities for
ALL
children.
Part 1
: Learn how planning for MEANINGFUL Inclusion can make a difference. Let's make a plan to include.
Part 2
: Learn how Strength-Based IEPs and SMART Goals can help support students with disabilities.
To register by phone or for more information:
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CENTRAL NEW JERSEY
When?
Part 1: September 10,
6:30-8:00 PM
Part 2: September 24, 6:30-8:00 PM
Where?
Hamilton Public Library
1 Justice Samuel A Alito Way
Hamilton Township, NJ
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NORTHERN NEW JERSEY
When?
Part 1: September 23, 6:30-8:00 PM
Part 2: September 30, 6:30-8:00 PM
Where?
Clifton Public Library
292 Piaget Avenue
Clifton, NJ
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This Inclusion Training Series piloted in August with workshops taking place in Millville, Cumberland County. Parents and professionals from Southern NJ counties reflected on their views about Inclusion, discussed barriers to Inclusion and offered solutions to enhancing Inclusive practices for families, communities, and schools. In addition, participants engaged in planning a vision for a meaningful, Inclusive life for their children and learned how to develop strength-based IEPs and SMART goals to help support students with disabilities.
What did these participants say were the best features of this training?
"Parent/professional/advocate interaction"
"Informative and helpful!"
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NEW TOOL for Your Leadership Toolbox
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Quick Guide "What is the Process for
Staring a SEPAG?"
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It takes time, effort, and patience to build an effective Special Education Parent Advisory Group (SEPAG). A well-structured process when starting a parent group boosts positive parent input and effective partnerships.
*Download them ALL:
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Cinnaminson Township Special Education Parent Advisory Group (SEPAG)
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Cinnaminson Township, which is a small school district in Burlington County, had a well-established SEPAG in the past but as children graduated, parent leaders moved on.
The parents
currently in the district
wanted an advisory group that addressed system-level challenges affecting students with disabilities and their families
—in other words, a Special Education Parent Advisory Group (SEPAG).
In 2017,
parents reached out to the START-Engaging Parents of Students with Disabilities (START-EPSD) Project
at SPAN Parent Advocacy Network to request assistance in forming a SEPAG. Over the last two years, the Parent Group Specialist from the START-EPSD project has worked with the group of parent leaders to
begin a SEPAG by building their capacity
through
workshops
and
team building activities
, and by providing opportunities to
network with parent leaders
from other SEPAGs.
As a result, the Cinnaminson SEPAG has
established ground rules
for their meetings,
agreed on a mission and vision statement
, and
created and distributed a parent survey to all families
of the district. In addition, SEPAG leaders discussed, prioritized, and
addressed systemic issues
concerning special education. Because of this dialog, the district added a SEPAG link to the parent tab on the Cinnaminson Township Public School website. They also
created outreach materials, increased parent involvement, and collaborated with the Child Study Team
to present a training focused on parental rights in the IEP process.
All of the parents and the new Child Study Team Director, Darlene Llewellyn, play a vital role in the success of the SEPAG. They
work together to
bridge communication between families, schools, and the community
to ensure students with special needs reach their fullest potential.
Also,
please visit and “like” the
Cinnaminson SEPAG Facebook page
where you can view meeting minutes, complete the parent survey (if you are a Cinnaminson resident), and hear about upcoming events.
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Union Special Education Parent
Advisory Group (SEPAG)
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A Special Education Parent Advisory Group (SEPAG) gives parents the opportunity to
provide direct input to their school district about policies, programs, practices, and services
that have an impact on students with disabilities and their families. An effective SEPAG can
increase the proactive involvement of families by inviting input
that can be used to shape local special education policy.
In Spring 2017, a group of parents from Union Public Schools met to begin creating such a group. A Parent Group Specialist from SPAN came and did a workshop for parents and staff on
how to run an effective SEPAG
. By August, the Union SEPAG was up and ready to go. The executive board is comprised of five parents: Elsie Mackey and Carla Vicari (Co-Chairs), Suehay Monge, Chastity Santana and Kara West.
Since launching, the Union SEPAG has been
instrumental in providing workshops to the community
on such topics as Restraint and Seclusion, Parent Rights in Special Education, and IEP Bootcamp. The
advocacy tools and education
provided have helped parents and guardians become more knowledgeable, manage their child’s disability, and understand they are the key piece to their
children’s success
. Additionally, meeting regularly has created a
stronger community
. The Union SEPAG and the BOE have built a
dynamic relationship of collaboration and communication
to help create a road map of success for children and families with disabilities. This has placed SEPAG in the community as
a key participant in discussions and activities that addresses systemic issues
.
When asked about what has contributed to their success, the team said that their success lies in
communicating and working clearly and effectively
, not only as a team, but with parents/guardians, Special Education Administration, the Superintendent, and Assistant Superintendents. They believe in
creating change
, and each of them
represents various perspectives
of raising children with disabilities: diabetes, autism, anxiety, and ADHD, to name a few. Their children range from Pre-K to High School so they feel they are
able to connect with all.
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Short Survey: "How Could SEPAGs Build Diverse Family Engagement?"
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Please help us identify effective and creative strategies, techniques, or tips to increasing culturally responsive practices when it comes to engaging culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) families on SEPAGs.
* For the purpose of this survey, the following definition of culturally and linguistically diverse families is used:
Culturally and linguistically diverse families are families who come from a home environment where a language other than English is spoken and whose cultural, ethnic, social values, and background may differ from the mainstream culture.
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START-EPSD Project
2019 Archived Webinars
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"Inclusion: What Parents Can Do!"
Webinar Recording
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On June 19, 2019, the START-EPSD Project presented the "Inclusion: What Parents Can Do!" webinar.
In this one-hour webinar, the audience learned about the benefits of inclusion for ALL students. The participants had the opportunity to hear from family members self-advocates as they shared their experiences with inclusion.
Remember
#InclusionMeansAll
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"New Jersey Tiered System of Supports"
Webinar Recording
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"New Jersey Tiered System of Supports" Lunchtime webinar aired on June 27, 2019. The webinar discussed why it is important that parents understand what New Jersey Tiered System of Supports (NJTSS) is, how they can get involved in the NJTSS process, and what effective strategies parents can use at home.
For additional information, please contact Monique Dujue Wilson, NJTSS Programs Coordinator, at
mdujue@spanadvocacy.org
or (201) 932-6585.
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"Let's Read Together!
Tips to make story time fun and frequent!"
Webinar Recording
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The webinar “Let’s Read Together! Tips to make story time fun and frequent!” was held on August 14, 2019. We discussed behaviors
and actions that parents can engage in at home to support their children becoming successful and motivated readers. Parents learned about the skills that build good readers, and we gave them tips so that they could
calmly
address some of the more challenging story time behaviors.
For additional information, please contact Debbie Esposito, Literacy Programs Coordinator, at
desposito@spanadvocacy.org
or (201) 873-6473.
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Let's Read Together!
STORY TIME BOOT CAMP
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NJEA Teacher convention weekend is a time for teachers to sharpen their skills and stay current in their subject areas. Well, guess what? As our children’s’ first teachers, we parents need to sharpen our skills too!
This child-friendly, interactive workshop will give you the chance to stay up to date on ways to build vocabulary and reading skills at home. You are invited to bring your children to this half-day workshop, where together you will both:
- Practice reading together in a way that honors your child’s age and stage
- Learn ways to make your time together even more enjoyable
- Learn to make shared reading time a two-way conversation
- Create crafts and play games that build vocabulary and print awareness
Choose one of three locations:
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CENTRAL
Date:
Thursday, November 7th
Time:
10am-1pm
Location:
Learning Resource Center-Central
200 River View Plaza
Trenton, NJ
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NORTH
Date:
Friday, November 8th
Time:
10am-1pm
Location:
Clifton Allwood Branch Library
44 Lyall Rd
Clifton, NJ 07012
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SOUTH
Date:
Saturday, November 9th
Time:
10am-1pm
Location:
Pleasantville Library
33 Martin Luther King Ave
Pleasantville, NJ 08232
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Facebook LIVE Event:
"SEPAG - School District's Best Kept Secret"
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SEPAGs Bring Parents to the Table
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Debra Jennings, executive co-director of SPAN Parent Advocacy Network, speaks informally about the New Jersey's SEPAG Guide and the development of the National Advocacy in Action guidebook in a
Facebook LIVE event.
New Jersey Administrative Code states:
Each board of education shall ensure that a special education parent advisory group is in place in the district to provide input to the district on issues concerning students with disabilities.
6A:14-1.2(h)
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SPAN Parent Advocacy Network -
Our Vision
is that all families will have the resources and support they need to ensure that their children become fully participating and contributing members of our communities and society.
Our Mission i
s to empower and support families and inform and involve professionals interested in the healthy development and education of children and youth. Our foremost commitment is to children and families with the greatest need due to disability or special health/mental health needs; poverty; discrimination based on race, sex, language, immigrant or homeless status; involvement in the foster care, child welfare, or juvenile justice systems; geographic location; or other special circumstances.
Our Motto
is, "Empowered Parents: Educated, Engaged, Effective!"
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SPAN Parent Advocacy Network | 35 Halsey Street, Newark, NJ | 1-800-654-SPAN
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