my special education resume

SPECIAL EDUCATION TRAINING

Mother of a child with significant special needs.

Massachusetts Families Organizing for Change Leadership Program, 2014.

Federation for Children with Special Needs Advocacy Training, Winter, 2011.

MassPAC Training for new SEPAC leaders, 2009.

FRAMINGHAM SPECIAL EDUCATION PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL (F-SEPAC)

On steering committee to restart the SEPAC, 2007.

F-SEPAC Secretary - 2007, 2008.

F-SEPAC Co Chair - 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013 - present.

Meet with Special Education Director and Superintendent to discuss issues brought to our attention by parents.

Annual presentation to school committee about F-SEPAC.

Made a statement on behalf of children in special education during a Reorganization Task Force meeting.

Camp Expo - Co Chair of the expo for the first two years, 2008, 2009.

Created initial website - Content and design of website (current website is not designed by me).

Created brochures for F-SEPAC in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

PERKINS LOWER SCHOOL PARENT ADVISORY GROUP (LS-PAG)

Restarted the LS-PAG in 2008.

LS-PAG Co-chair - 2008 - 2015.

Set up workshops and monthly newsletters.

Created Advise the Advisory Group meeting for parents to discuss ideas

and issues that needed to be brought to administration's attention.

Met regularly with the Lower School Director, Superintendent and President of the school

to discuss parents’ issues and ideas for improving the Lower School program.

Created the ‘Year Review and Planning Form’ for parents to write down what administration should consider when planning their child’s schedule for the next school year. Year Review and Planning Form

Created events involving staff - Welcome Back Pizza Party in August during staff training, Holiday table in December and Thank You Appreciation Table in June where parents send in cards and food for the staff to enjoy.

SPECIAL EDUCATION SURROGATE PARENT PROGRAM VOLUNTEER

Represented five children in DCF custody in their I.E.P. meetings.  The children range in age from 7 to 22.

PRESENTATIONS

Presented the parent perspective at the Massachusetts Statehouse for the Circuit Breaker Coalition to the legislature, 2015.

Perkins School for the Blind - Vision Statement Presentation, 2012. Handout

Care Coordination Presentation, 2012. Web of Care Coordination

Federation for Children with Special Needs Vision of Community Conference 2011. Power of PACs Presentation

Presented to Somerville SEPAC about growing their SEPAC, 2010.

OTHER

Member of the Board of Directors, Federation for Children with Special Needs, 2015 - present.

Corporator, Perkins School for the Blind, 2015 - present.

Chairperson, Federation for Children with Special Needs Annual Gala,  2013 - present.

Represented Massachusetts Families Organizing for Change at meeting by Department of Developmental Services and other agencies to better their programs for young adults with disabilities, 2015.

Parent participant at the CHIPRA Coalition, 2013. Presented to coalition the parent perspective of coordinating my son’s care.

Served on Superintendent Search Screening Committee for the Town of Framingham, 2012.