Educational Support Group
ABOUT THE EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT GROUP
We are DSCBA parents supporting each other with knowledge and information needed to meet the educational needs of our children. We share information and resources on many topics related to educating our children, from best practices to rights and advocacy. In addition we host guest speakers from various professions to help contribute expert knowledge, answer questions, and provide resources to our support group parents.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
You are invited to join us at our monthly meetings, where we discuss current topics and share resources, or join us online in our ongoing Yahoo discussion group.
Monthly meetings are held the third Wednesday of each month, 7:30pm to 9pm at the Connection in Danville. A typical meeting includes discussion of current issues, support and resources from other parents, and Q&A sessions with guest professionals, such as behaviorists, special education consultants, etc. See our meeting schedule under Calendar for more information.
If you would like to join our Yahoo group, or be added to our monthly meeting email list, please contact our Director of Advocacy, Martha Hogan, at marhogan@sbcglobal.net or 925.362.8660, and she will be more than happy to get you started.
CALENDAR
| February 16, 2011 | 7:30 p.m.– 9 p.m. monthly meeting |
| March 16, 2011 | 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. monthly meeting
Guest speaker, Jennifer Cooper, MA Ed, Special Education Placement Consultant. Click here for more info on Jennifer Cooper. |
| April 20, 2011 | 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. monthly meeting
Guest speaker, Zarah Gosiengfiao, OTR/L Clinical Director, Therapy at Play www.therapyatplay.com |
| May 18, 2011 | 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. monthly meeting
Guest speaker, Julia Barraza, Education Advocate DREDF, Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund www.dredf.org |
| June 15, 2011 | 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. monthly meeting Guest speaker, Carly Christopher JD Legal Advocate, Special Education Collaboration Project www.specialedcollaboration.com |
| July 20, 2011 | 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. monthly meeting |
| August 24, 2011 | 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. monthly meeting |
| September 21, 2011 | 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. monthly meeting |
| October 19, 2011 | 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. monthly meeting |
| November 16, 2011 | 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. monthly meeting |
| December | No meeting scheduled |
RESOURCES
| Educational Rights | |
| – | Special Education Rights and Responsibilities Handbook Online: www.disabilityrightsca.org/pubs/504001specedindex.htm This
is a very helpful Q&A format for learning how education laws apply to our children. |
| – | Wrightslaw website: www.wrightslaw.com An abundance of information about special education law and advocacy. The ‘Topic’ list on the left of the main page is a great place to start.An abundance of information about special education law and advocacy. The ‘Topic’ list on the left of the main page is a great place to start. |
| – | Disabilities Rights Education and Defense Fund
(DREDF): www.dredf.org DREDF is a Parent Training and Information Center (PTI) funded by the US Department of Education. They are a great free resource if you need to speak to an education advocate about issues you face within your child’s school program. Use the topics on the left of their home page to navigate to Special Education. DREDF also holds workshops on understanding the special education process: www.dredf.org/programs/PTI.shtml And DREDF has a wealth of parent training materials: www.dredf.org/special_education/trainings.shtml |
| Educational Advocacy | |
| – | Disabilities Rights Education and Defense Fund
(DREDF) Education Advocate:
www.dredf.org/special_education/law_and_special_edu.shtml On the above web page, call the 800 number listed to get your name on a wait list to speak to a DREDF education advocate. There is typically a wait of 3 days or so, but worth it if you need help. They also have a list of paid advocates and special education attorneys available if you need it. |
| – | Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates: www.copaa.org COPAA is a non-profit national organization, where you can find a list by location of special education attorneys and advocates committed to protecting the rights of children with disabilities. |
| – | The California Department of Education has a help line for questions about educational rights:
Procedural Safeguards and Referral Services provides technical assistance information and resources for parents, school districts, advocates, agencies and others of procedural safeguards regarding students between ages 3 and 21 with disabilities and their educational rights. • Phone: 800-926-0648; TTY 916-323-9779; Weekdays, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. • E-Mail: speceducation@cde.ca.gov |
| – | Disability Rights California: www.disabilityrightsca.org/index.htm This is a federally mandated state program which protects and advocates for the rights of Californians with disabilities. Here is a list of the services they provide free of charge: www.disabilityrightsca.org/connect/what.htm |
| – | Community Alliance for Special Education: www.caseadvocacy.org CASE provides attorney and non-attorney representation on a sliding fee basis, as well as free technical assistance consultation on your child's educational program. So all parents-no matter what their child's disability -have access to the resources and services they need. We can help you with: Assessment and Records Review, Classroom program and placement concerns, The Individual Education Program (IEP) process , Mediation with public school agencies, Due Process Hearings, Compliance Complaint Process. Here is a list of their services: www.caseadvocacy.org/services.html |
| Compliance Complaints and Due Process | |
| – | From the California Department of Education website:
A tri-fold brochure providing an abbreviated summary of the complaint process under federal and state laws Helpful Hints When Requesting Direct State Intervention Request for Complaint Investigation Form for filing compliance complaint that alleges violation of state or federal special education laws. Due Process Information from DREDF: /www.dredf.org/special_education/dueprocess.pdf |
| Best Practices | |
| – | Down Syndrome Education International, and USA. A great resource for publications, educational tools and materials, and research-based methods and practices: www.downsedusa.org/en/us/ www.downsedusa.org/en/us/default.aspx |
| – | Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas, manual of best practices: www.dsact.com/DSACTEducation.html |
| Recommended Publications | |
| – | From Emotions to Advocacy: The Special Education Survival Guide, Pete and Pam Wright: www.amazon.com |
| – | Special Education Law, Pete and Pam Wright: www.amazon.com |
| – | The Complete IEP Guide: How to Advocate for
Your Special Ed Child, Lawrence Siegel: /www.amazon.com |
| DSCBA Parent Resources | |
| – | Contact Martha Hogan, if you’d like to be connected
with a DSCBA parent who may have knowledge and experience with a question
or issue you have. Martha can be reached at marhogan@sbcglobal.net
or 925.362.8660 |
| Home School Options | |
| – | California Virtual Academy (CAVA), online free
public school: www.k12.com/cava |
| – | Home School Association of California: www.hsc.org/143.php |
