Sending your
child to school seems like a straightforward task. They get on the bus, your
heart breaks a little and off they go. They come home and tell you how their
day went, empty their backpacks and ask for a snack.
But what
happens when you have a child with a disability? All of a sudden sending your
child to school is not so straightforward.
You might be
asking questions such as: How do I get the services my child needs? Who do I
call if I have a concern about my child’s learning abilities? Am I the only one
dealing with these issues?
These are
all common questions parents ask themselves. It may seem difficult to find
support and the answers that you need. SEPTAs are a great way to gain that
support and get access to the answers that you seek.
What is a SEPTA?
SEPTA stands
for Special Education Parent Teacher Association. Like traditional PTAs, their goal is to support
parents and their children through the education process. They differ in that
they specialize in helping families advocate for their children receiving
special education services or related services, such as speech therapy,
occupational therapy and physical therapy.
SEPTAs offer
resources like parent support groups, monthly meetings, workshops on various
topics related to special education such as co-teaching, 504 plans, physical
therapy and much more. They help parents connect with administrators directly
related to the special education process, known as the Committee on Special
Education.
Most
importantly, they help connect parents of students with a disability to each
other.
“It helps me
to know that there are other parents out there,” says David Goodwin of Marlboro,
who has a son in the Arlington school district.
Goodwin is a
member of the Arlington SEPTA. He has attended SEPTA workshops on IEP diplomas,
CSE meetings and BOCES.
“I feel that
our SEPTA has helped me be a better advocate for my child,” he says.
READ MORE: 6 ways to prepare your special needs student for the upcoming school year
How do I find out if my district has a SEPTA?
First you
can start with your local PTA. Go to a PTA meeting and ask if there is a SEPTA.
If there is not, contact the New York State PTA office to find a local chapter.
If all else fails, consider starting your own SEPTA.
Jennifer
Brennan of Poughkeepsie did just that in the Arlington Central School District,
and she is currently the president of Arlington’s SEPTA. When asked how she
became involved in running a SEPTA, she says, “As a mother of a son with a
disability, I felt there were no resources in the schools for students with
disabilities and their families.”
This
motivated her and others to organize the Arlington SEPTA, which officially
became a charter in May of 2013.
Being one of
a few SEPTAs in the area, the group is open to parents from other districts.
Brennan notes that even though they tend to focus on district issues, many of
their issues are universal. Arlington SEPTA has their monthly meeting the
fourth Thursday of every month. For more information, visit acsdsepta.org.
Heather
Cavanaugh of Marlboro felt a lot like Brennan. When asked how she became
involved, she says, “As a parent, it was challenging not knowing where to go
when I needed information.”
So she helped
to start the Marlboro school district’s SEPTA.
“We want to
get more information out to parents with children who have any different types of learning needs,” she says.
READ MORE: Positive and caring organizations for families with special needs
I’d like to start my own SEPTA. Now what?
Contact your
district’s PTA. Talk to the PTA board about possibly starting a SEPTA. Not sure
how? Contact others who have started SEPTAs. They’ve been there, done that and
can answer many of your questions.
If starting
a SEPTA chapter is just not possible, go to another district’s SEPTA meetings.
This can be a great way to gain information, connect with other parents going
through similar situations and attend workshops on various topics that pertain
to you and your family. Talk to your child’s teachers and service providers.
They are a wealth of information and may be able to lead you to other groups in
your area.
Negotiating
special education services, laws and parental rights can be daunting and
overwhelming. Special Education PTAs can be critical for families who have a
child with a disability or other learning needs. They offer resources,
trainings and much needed support.
Kelly Auriemmo is a mom, blogger, and special
education teacher who lives in Poughkeepsie.