REORGANIZED!!!!

Special Education Linking Families (SELF), the Special Education Committee of the Unified Council of PTSA’s, is pleased to announce its newly reorganized structure!  Starting with the 2006-2007 school year, SELF will be focusing its efforts on impacting our Federal, State and local representatives on current and proposed legislative actions.  These will include IDEA funding, the new 2004 IDEA proposed regulations, the California High School Exit Exam and other legislative issues as they may arise.  To accommodate our new structure, SELF business meetings will be held QUARTERLY, and we will encourage all our SELF reps and interested parties to participate in Council’s legislative team meetings, held monthly.  Dates are tentatively set and are available on SELF’s website at www.selfspecialkids.org.  SELF will continue to support its representatives with disability awareness programs, liaison responsibilities and District updates.  SELF will also continue to expand its website and listserve information and we encourage our reps to spread the news about these sources.

The CAC, the Education Code mandated advisory committee, will be rolling out its new Parent Education Seminars (see article in this newsletter) in the fall.  They will continue their focus on the Special Education Local Plan and furthering parent education on related issues.  The CAC is comprised of parents, community professionals and educators.  We welcome and need additional volunteers to become involved in this program.  If you would like more information, please contact Cheryl Zelden, CAC Chair.

Finally, the Parent Support Network will remain available to help support the emotional needs of parents with special needs children.  Volunteers are trained and closely matched with those individuals requesting support.  Further information about the Parent Support Network can be found in this newsletter.

We are excited and looking forward to our new goals and directions!  We feel that by clearly delineating the responsibilities of these three groups, that we will become much more effective advocates for our children.  Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or input!  We would love to hear from you!

Visit our website at www.selfspecialkids.org!

Sincerely,

Juli Warnick and Chris Browning, SELF Co-Chairs

rswjdw@cox.net or cbrowning@cox.net

Cheryl Zelden, Chair  and Marianne McAuley, Vice Chair CAC

elsbosco@cox.net or mcauleythree@cox.net

Rachael Lewis, Coordinator CUSD Parent Support Network

ralewis@capousd.org

Click here for 2006 - 2007

Special Education Representatives Meeting Dates