Stafford SEPTA
Back To School
TIPS
http://staffordsepta.com
Tips Once School Has Started
1. Communicate with Teacher
· Help the teacher get to know your child via providing a letter to your child’s teacher to ensure she is aware of his/her strengths and weaknesses and likes/dislikes
· Learn what needs the teacher is identifying
· Consider a communication log or something similar
· Make sure you properly plan and are fully prepared for School Meetings
o State the purpose of the meeting
o Find out who will be attending the meeting
o Identify concerns and list problems
o What do you want from the meeting?
o What does the school want from the meeting?
o What action do you want them to take?
o Propose solutions to problems
o Identify any frustrations of your child
o How motivated are they to give you what you want?
o What will prevent them from giving you what you want?
o How can you alleviate their concerns?
o Identify issues and problems that are not resolved
o Make sure you improve the parent-school relationships
· If you have a dispute or disagreement, expect the school to put their defenses in place
o Try to discover the basis of their refusal
o Do not argue
· After meetings write or dictate your recollection about what happened
· It is recommended to use a small tape recorder to dictate your recollections
2. IEP
· If parents do not agree with the decisions of the IEP team, the parent should decline to sign the IEP and take steps to resolve concerns
· Parents do not have to sign the IEP at the meeting. You are allowed to sign and return after you have taken a thorough look
· Collaborative IEPs are capacity based, they focus on what a student can do and are not dominated by constant reminders of what a student cannot do
· Collaborative IEPs are supportive of placements based on knowledge of the individual student and are not based on specific disability labels.
· Ensure your child’s IEP addresses his/her academic, developmental and functional needs.
· Ensure the goals are measurable and attainable
· If a student has a positive behavior support plan, the IEP could address the need for staff to be trained in positive behavioral support
· Make sure you monitor progress and make changes as needed to keep the student making progress
3. Provide or continue to use a visual schedule
· Discuss with the teacher if a visual schedule would be beneficial in school
4.Identify a possible “school buddy”
· Identify peers that maybe be ideal for play dates after school
· Establishing friendships outside of school can help provide support from peers in school
5. Consider any materials that may facilitate success in the classroom
· Fidget items
· Special seat cushions
· Sensory items
6. Be Consistent
· Commit to use of visual schedule, bed time routines, etc.
7. Creating Paper Trails
· Keep a log of your contacts with the school (i.e. telephone calls, messages, conversations, and correspondence
· Keep copies of all letters, reports and consent forms
· Train yourself to write things down (i.e. journals, logs or calendars). It will come in handy during disputes with the school
Helping the School Community Understand Autism
Autism Speaks has created a “School Community Tool Kit” to help increase learning for all members of the school community. The kit is designed to help provide useful information about autism, useful tools and strategies to help the school community better understand and support students with autism in the school setting. If interested visit the Autism Speaks website athttp://www.autismspeaks.org//family-services/tool-kits/school-community-tool-kit
Parental Resources
Parent Resource Center (PRC)
37 Stafford Avenue
Stafford, VA 22554
540-658-6710
POC: Rebecca Leggitt – Educator Coordinator
POC: Joyce Resh – Parent Coordinator
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday 8:30 – 4:30
The Parent Resource Center is an information center for Stafford County families and others concerned with the education and care of children with disabilities. The center is open to any family who resides in Stafford County. The primary goal of the PRC is to promote the parent/teacher partnership in all activities. The PRC offers yearly workshops throughout the school year.
Note: SEPTA will begin advertising events with the PRC.
Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)
The Stafford County Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) is organized and functions in accordance with the regulations Governing Special Education Programs in Virginia, as defined by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). The committee's functions include the following:
· Advise the local school division of needs in the education of children with disabilities;
· Participate in the development of priorities and strategies for meeting the identified needs of children with disabilities.
· Submit periodic reports and recommendations regarding the education of children with disabilities to the division superintendent for transmission to the school board.
· Assist the local school division in interpreting plans to the community for meeting the needs of children with disabilities for educational services.
· Review policies and procedures for the provision of special education and related services prior to submission to the school board.
· Participate in the review of the local school division’s annual plan.
Meetings are open to the public and are held the 3rd Monday of each month at 7pm at the
POC: Dr. Susan Clark, Executive Director of Student Services
Alvin York Bandy Complex
31 Stafford Ave.
Department of Student Services
disAbility Resource Center (DRC)
409 Progress St
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
540-373-2559
POC: Tennie Gratz
The disAbility Resource Center located in Fredericksburg, VA, is a Center for Independent Living (CIL) that serves people with disabilities, their families and caretakers, and community members. CILs are community-based, cross-disability, cross-lifespan, non-profit organizations. CILs are unique in that they operate according to a philosophy of consumer control, wherein the majority of its staff and Board are people with all types of disabilities. The dRC adheres to the philosophy that every individual has the right, the opportunity and the choice to maximize their abilities to live as independently as possible and to participate in the community as fully as they choose.
Autism Society of Northern Virginia (ASNV)
The Autism Society of Northern Virginia is dedicated to serving as an advocate for citizens of all ages with autism; providing support for their families and caregivers; ensuring access to education, vocational training, housing, transportation, recreation and other lifespan needs; aiding in the collection and dissemination of information about autism to parents, professionals, policymakers, community leaders, employers and the general public; and fostering and reinforcing awareness and respect for the rights of autistic adults, parents and siblings as the primary case managers in the lives of people with autism.
The Autism Society of Northern Virginia serves individuals and families in the region who have been touched by autism by providing a range of services and supports including information and referral assistance, advocacy and education, family fun and respite, and Intervention Assistance Fund mini-grants
ASNV Contact Information
Email:
Website:http://www.asnv.org
Phone: 703-495-8444
Fax: 703-563-6099
Executive Director: Sarah Peterson
Email:
Development and Communications Associate: Elizabeth Roy
Email:
Phone: (703) 855-2165
Office Hours: Tuesday through Thursday 10am-2pm
Address: 2755 Hartland Rd. Suite 200, Falls Church, Virginia 22043
Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC)
The Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center believes that children reach their full potential when families and professionals enjoy an equal, respectful partnership. PEATC believes that:
Families are children's first and best teachers;
Information and training enrich and empower families and professionals to build strong partnerships.
All children deserve the opportunity to live, learn and participate fully in their communities;
Children with disabilities can achieve independence and make valuable contributions to society.
The Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center builds positive futures for Virginia's children by working collaboratively with families, schools and communities in order to improve opportunities for excellence in education and success in school and community life. Our special focus is children with disabilities.
We do this by providing:
Services and support for families and professionals;
Easy-to-understand, research-based information and training; and
Opportunities for strategic partnerships and advocacy for systemic improvement.
100 N Washington Street, Suite 234
Falls Church, VA 22046
703-923-0010 (phone)
800-869-6782 (toll free)
Virginia Department of Education Special Education – Special Education
The Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA) guarantees a free appropriate public education to all eligible children with disabilities. The steps in the special education process include:
1. Identification and referral
2. Evaluation
3. Determination of eligibility
4. Development of an individualized education program (IEP) and determination of services
5. Reevaluation
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/special_ed/
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/special_ed/parents/parents_guide.pdf
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/special_ed/regulations/state/procedural_safeguards/english_procedural_safeguards.pdf
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/special_ed/iep_instruct_svcs/index.shtml
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/special_ed/resolving_disputes/due_process/legal_advocacy_groups.pdf
POC: Assistant Superintendent for Special Education and Student Services,
Phone 804-786-8079, Text Users Dial 711 (Virginia Relay)
Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services
STATE BOARD OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES
The State Board of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services is a policy making body comprised of nine citizens from across the Commonwealth. At least one third of the members must be consumers or family members of consumers, with at least one being a direct consumer of services. The Board has the statutory authority for the establishment of policy for the Department, State Facilities and CSBs. Members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the General Assembly.
http://www.dbhds.virginia.gov/
State BHDS Board
P. O. Box 1797, Richmond VA 23218-1797
Office: (804) 786-3921 Fax: (804) 371-2308
Contact Us
President – Dali Burgado
Vice President – Vacant
Secretary – Regina Mike
Membership – Jill Tatter
Public Relations – Angela Lundy
Special Events – Kara Brault Stup
Treasurer – Marilyn Matula
Fundraising – Vacant
Next Meetings
Meetings are held at the Stafford Hospital Center Basement Private Dining Room
Tuesday, Oct 14 7:30 pm
Tuesday, Nov 11 7:30 pm
Tuesday, Dec 9 7:30 pm
4 SEPTA Back To School Tips