northwordnews - SEPTA Blog

NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2015-2016 SEPTA EXECUTIVE BOARD

4/21/2015

Dear SEPTA Membership,
Our nominating committee is now accepting nominations for the 2015-2016 SEPTA Executive Board. Please consider volunteering your time to help serve our mission of advocating for children with special learning needs and their families, providing quality educational opportunities, and facilitating communication between families and the special education administration and staff.

Serving on the Executive Board offers you the opportunity to:

gain an in-depth understanding of how special education services are delivered in our district
have a direct impact on issues which effect special education
provide support and education to other families who may benefit from your knowledge and experience
work closely with a dedicated group of volunteers who help and support one another as well as the community

Our Executive Board positions include:

Co-President (2)
Co-Vice President of Events
Co-Vice President of Membership
Co-Vice President of Public Relations and Outreach
Treasurer
Corresponding Secretary
Recording Secretary

If you are interested in nominating yourself for a position or would like additional information, please contact:

Linda LaMarca
SEPTA Nominating Committee Chair
linlamarc@hotmail.com
(516) 277-1400

Thank you for considering volunteering your time and effort for this worthy cause. The general membership will vote on the slate of candidates at the May 20th meeting.

Reminder for our meeting tomorrow night:
Wed April 22, 7:30 pm, HS Library
New Directions in Understanding and Treating Social Competence in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Matthew Lerner, Ph.D.
Lerner Social Competence Lab
Stonybrook University

Sincerely,
NS SEPTA Executive Board
nssepta@gmail.com

SPECIAL EDUCATION AND OPTING OUT OF TESTING

4/11/2015

Dear SEPTA Membership,
This email contains information to answer questions you may have regarding opting your child out of taking the 3rd-8th grade NYS ELA and Math Assessments. North Shore school district has stated publicly and in writing that there will be no adverse consequence or reduction in access to services if a classified child opts of the assessments. Relevant documentation and information is provided below for your information. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions or concerns.

Sincerely,
Linda LaMarca
SEPTA Co-President
linlamarc@hotmail.com

The NS Board of Education testing resolution
http://www.northshore.k12.ny.us/Board_of_Ed/Policies/ResolutionHighStakesTesting.pdf

Northword News coverage of Dr Melnick's comments at the Board of Education
http://www.northwordnews.com/boe-athletics-review-boe-meeting-31215.html

Video of the the entire BOE meeting where opting out was discussed
http://www.northshoreschools.org/Board_of_Ed/Board_Videos.html

NYSUT's fact sheet on opting out
http://www.nysut.org/~/media/files/nysut/resources/2015/january/factsheet_150127_optout.pdf?la=en

NYS PTA statement about recent legislative decision that impact education
http://nysptapresident.blogspot.com/2015/04/a-sad-day-for-education-in-nys.html

UPCOMING MEETINGS

3/18/2015

Here is a list of our upcoming meetings, which are held at the North Shore High School Library, 450 Glen Head Road, Glen Head NY 11545 :

Wed March 25, 7:30 pm - NS SEPTA
The College Selection and Application Process for Special Education Students
Christina Cacioppo Bertsch
College Advisor
Co-Author of “Life After High School: A Guide for Students with Disabilities and Their Families”
www.collegeboundsuccess.com

Wed April 22, 7:30 pm - NS SEPTA
New Directions in Understanding and Treating Social Competence in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Matthew Lerner, Ph.D.
Director, Stony Brook Social Competence and Treatment Lab
Stony Brook University
http://www.lernerlab.com/

EVENTS OF INTEREST:

3/18/2015

Sunday March 22 - 10:30-12:00
"Harnessing the Law for Your Child's Benefit:
An Introduction to Special Education Law"
by Bonnie Spiro Schinagle, Esq.
Free, Mid-Island JCC, Plainview
to register call 516-822-3535 x 303

Monday, March 23 - 8:30 pm
"Mindfulness and ADHD"
immediately following the adult and child 7:30 support groups
Nassau County CHADD
East Meadow Jewish Center

Saturday, April 25th - 8:30 am - 4 pm
"Issues in Independent Living for Adolescents and Adults on the Spectrum"
Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism Association (AHA)
Adelphi University, Ruth S. Harley University Center
http://www.ahany.org/

Upcoming trainings for Dyslexia and Special Ed law:
http://dyslexiatraininginstitute.org/class_special-ed-law.html

INFORMATION AND RESOURCES:

Here is an article on how exercise can help ADHD:
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/09/exercise-seems-to-be-beneficial-to-children/380844/

ADHD Tips for Teachers:
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/14c23be4df932185

Information about grade retention:
http://www.wrightslaw.com/nltr/15/nl.0317.htm

One of our SEPTA members recommended this website for parenting technique training events and resources:
http://celebratecalm.com/

CHANGES IN NYS SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW:
Section 4402 of the Education Law has been amended by adding a new subdivision, effective July 1, 2015, requiring public schools to notify every parent of their rights regarding referral and evaluation of their child for the purposes of special education services or programs upon their child’s enrollment in public school. The field advisory provides information on this change which includes the legal citation(s), a summary of the changes, an effective date, and the corresponding statutory language. The field advisory can be found at: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/timely.htm

Please email nssepta@gmail.com with any questions.

Next Meeting - Wednesday 2/25/15 - Guest Speaker, Marian Boehm, MS, CCC-SLP

2/23/2015

Events, Resources and News

2/22/2015

LOCAL CALENDAR OF EVENTS:

2/26/15: Twice Exceptional (2E) Meet-up in Sea Cliff, to RSVP contact Melissa Sornick, LCSW teca01@optonline.net
Exceptional Children and Family Network, LLP

3/4/15: Special Education Law and Planning for Your Child's Future: Basics for Parents (free), Uniondale
http://www.farrellfritz.com/event/special-education-law-planning-childs-future-basics-parents/

3/11/15: Nassau BOCES Preparing for Life After High School: A Transition Expo, 6:30-8:30 pm
Department of Special Education, George Farber Administrative Center
71 Clinton Road, Garden City, NY 11530

3/16/15: Financial Planning and the ABLE Act, Brentwood Public Library (free)

3/25/15: NS SEPTA meeting - College Transition for Students with Special Needs

4/22/15: NS SEPTA meeting - New Directions in Understanding and Treating Social Competence in Autism Spectrum Disorders, Matthew Lerner, Ph.D., Stonybrook University Lerner Social Competence Lab

5/14/15: Wrightslaw Conference at JFK Airport, Special Education Law and Advocacy Training ($250)
https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07ea8azz21f1be4e0a&oseq=&c=&ch=

RESOURCES:

The Family Center for Autism in Garden City http://www.thefamilycenterforautism.org/
offers paid programming for families who have children with autism
Parent to Parent New York State Long Island Office http://www.ptopnys.org/offices/long-island/
offers free parent support groups, eblasts of local events, and 1:1 support parents
Nassau County Police Activity League (PAL) Special Needs Unit http://www.specialneedspal.org/
offers paid programming for children with special needs of all types

PTA NEWS FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION IN NEW YORK STATE:

Federal government memo to school districts regarding their obligation to ensure that students with disabilities are not subjected to bullying http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/bullying-students-disabilities-addressed-guidance-america%E2%80%99s-schools

Schools must provide both what is needed to teach students according to IDEA and Section 504 and also must ensure effective communication http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/dcl-faqs-effective-communication-201411.pdf

New York State Ed. Dept. model certificate for the NYS Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS) Commencement Credential http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/gradrequirements/home.html

SEPTA Resources

1/27/2015

Dyslexia: Definition of Dyslexia - Click Here for Decoding Dyslexia - NY website

Advocacy: 10 Ways to be an effective advocate for your child: Click Here for article.

Hope to see you soon!
The NS SEPTA Executive Board

Upcoming SEPTA Meetings

1/27/2015

All Parents Are Welcome to attend North Shore SEPTA Meetings!

The next North Shore SEPTA meeting will be Wednesday, February 25, at 7:30 pm, at the High School Library and will feature a presentation about the development of speech and language skills and how impairments impact learning and everyday functioning.

The March 25th SEPTA meeting will host a knowledgeable college transition expert, Christina Bertsch. Click here for her website. In the meantime, here are some other valuable resources to assist parents and students with the transition to college:

"Peterson's Guides" puts out a guide for colleges for students with LD and ADHD. Click here for more information on Amazon
K&W Guide to Colleges for Students with LD, 10th edition (College Admission Guides by Princeton Review) 2010
There are many resources on line and books than might be of help, specializing in LD, post-secondary students or transitional issues. Here are some:

www.ahead.org

www.heath.gwu.org

www.ldam.org

www.eric.ed.gov

www.landmarkoutreach.org/pub.htm

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A CSE PARENT MEMBER?

1/27/2015

SEPTA would like to announce a FREE in-district PARENT MEMBER TRAINING on Friday, February 6, 2015 from 9:30 am - 1:30 pm, likely to be held at Sea Cliff Elementary School. This one-day training conducted by the LIU Long Island Parent Center is required in order to serve as a CSE Parent Member for our school district. Refreshments will be served. Please call the Special Education Department at 277-7900 to register by 1/30/15.

Parenting Children and Teens with ADHD

1/26/2015

ADHD Couch Cindy Goldrich, Ed.M., spoke at the January 21st SEPTA meeting. If you would more information about her services click here for her website.

SEPTA
Board Members

Co-Presidents: Linda LaMarca & Gayle D'Aversa
Co-Vice President of Membership: Eileen Murphy
Co-Vice President of Public Relations and Outreach: Carolyn Peterson
Co-Vice President of Events: Jeanine Feuerborn
Treasurer: Mandee Zapken
Recording Secretary: Deborah Ilberg
Corresponding Secretary: Effy Jable

Special Education Parent-Teachers Association (SEPTA)

The Special Education Parent Teachers Association (SEPTA) brings together parents, teachers, administrators, learning specialists, and professionals with an interest in the education of children in our school district who have special needs. The SEPTA Board is comprised of parents from every school level (elementary, middle, and high) and represents the needs of students across the educational continuum (K-12), as well as preschoolers with disabilities. Through membership dues, fund-raising efforts, and grant opportunities, SEPTA seeks to fund and facilitate many worthwhile programs for the benefit of special education and regular education students and their families. Most significantly, SEPTA works to arrange for speakers with vast professional knowledge of special education and related disciplines to help parents understand and navigate their child’s educational process in the most effective manner possible.

The SEPTA Board welcomes new members. Please visit the North Shore Schools website for more information about SEPTA. The SEPTA Board encourages you to contact the school district with questions and concerns about the special education program. You may feel free to contact any of the SEPTA Board Members to talk about questions or concerns that you might have. Please contact them at the following email address:

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