ARPS SEPAC

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education wants to know how you feel about the special education your child receives in our district, and your involvement. Please follow this link to take a quick survey, or go to http://www.maparent2.com/. Thank you!

SEPAC gladly accepted an invitation to speak with Maria Geryk. Access the taped conversation by following this link here to our blog!

Does your child with disabilities have a passion for art? For science? For dinosaurs? For math? For poetry? For swimming? For ANYTHING?!! SEPAC strongly encourages you to apply to the Think Alive Foundation for financial support for your child to engage in those things that foster HAPPINESS! Monies granted can be as much as $500. The application deadline is 4/10, so act soon! Visit ThinkAlive.org today by clicking here .

Last week, U.S. Senator Tom Harkin introduced the Keeping All Students Safe Act, S.2020, to protect students nationwide from dangerous restraint and seclusion. As the GAO (U.S. Government Accountability Office) has found, restraint/seclusion are dangerous, resulting in deaths, injuries, and trauma to children nationwide. WE ARE SEEKING LETTERS IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL FROM PARENTS THAT CAN BE SHARED WITH SENATOR HARKIN’S STAFF AND PERHAPS OTHER SENATE STAFF. WE ARE ALSO INTERESTED IN STORIES OF CHILDREN WHO RESTRAINED OR SECLUDED AND WHO MIGHT HAVE BEEN HELPED IF THE BILL WAS LAW.

Attention parents/guardians, please join us for an important parent meeting scheduled on 1/9/12 (snow date 1/11/12) at the Bangs Community Center at 6pm.

This meeting is a rare opportunity to participate in a statewide movement to make the Commonwealth of Massachusetts including DESE and BSEA accountable for non enforcement of special education laws and regulations.
Light refreshments will be provided. Please contact Pat Ononibaku at 413 627 0043 if you need child care, transportation or translation service by 1/7/12.

Meeting Agenda

These attachments list the names and license status of Amherst regional special education employees as of October 2011. Comments regarding this list can be made on our blog: http://arpssepac.wordpress.com/2011/12/21/special-education-staff-qualif...

Please open the link below to read what's new at SEPAC!

Think Alive Foundation Grant

The Think Alive Foundation is a non-profit organization “dedicated to providing a financial means, through scholarships and achievement grants, for students and young adults to see beyond a disability and allow them to discover the courage needed to realize a dream.” Grants may be used to finance classes, lessons, equipment, travel expenses or other expenditures associated with trying a new activity or realizing a personal goal.

The Basic Rights workshop provides families with an introduction to their rights and responsibilities under:

•  Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 
• Massachusetts Special Education Law and
• No Child Left Behind (NCLB).

As many of you know, roughly 1.5 years ago the Amherst Special Education Department underwent two reviews from outside agencies. The PCG and CPI survey and analysis identified strengths and areas of improvement for the District.

The following is a request sent to all SEPACs in Massachusetts.

Dear SPEDWatch Members,
Attorney Michael Weisman is investigating the question:

Is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts currently meeting its duty to provide sufficient resources to support necessary special education services, particularly high cost special education services, whether those services are provided in-district or out-of-district?

Title SEPAC Board Meeting; all welcome to attend
Date and Time 7/31/2011, 4pm-7pm
Location The home of Melissa Paciulli, 141 Columbia Dr., Amherst MA
Agenda
• May 2011 business meeting debriefing
• Review May 2011 business meeting notes
• Discuss recruiting more board members
• Plan for next year activities
• Discuss Resource Handbook for parents and website
• Decide how to spend budget allocated to SEPAC by SC
• Discuss upcoming superintendent evaluation in terms of special education

Attention SEPAC Parents and friends of SEPAC!

Please join us for the end of the year SEPAC events on Thursday May 26, 2011 at the ARMS conference room.

~ Business meeting between SEPAC Board and the administration, 5:00PM-6:00PM
Agenda: Approve minutes, Discuss SEPAC budget, Evaluate SEPAC collaboration with the administration, Other issues.

~ SEPAC annual meeting and election, 6:00PM-7:00PM
Agenda: Discuss SEPAC accomplishments, recognition of current board members, Board election, conversation with Ombudsman, Mr Books.

The Amherst Pelham Regional Public Schools have initiated a project to enhance qualities 
of transition planning for special education students.  One critical aspect of this project is 
to enhance parent/guardian knowledge and involvement in the transition planning  
process.   
  
Through a collaborative approach, the Amherst Pelham Regional Public Schools and 
the Special Education Parent Advisory Council are co‐sponsoring a two‐part parent/
guardian series on Transition Planning.    
 The sessions will be held on Thursday, March 24th and Thursday, May 26th from 7:30 to 

The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) has released a Q&A document on some issues related to IEP evaluations & re-evaluations. You can find this very informative document at http://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/iep-qa-2010.doc.