Welcome Families!
Virtual Workshop on COVID-19 Compensatory Services
Please join us on Thursday, December 3rd, 2020 from 7-8pm. Massachusetts Advocates for Children (MAC) Leslie Hughes will talk about the state special education guidance regarding COVID-19 compensatory services for students with disabilities. This is a chance to learn and ask questions about how districts will determine whether children need compensatory services due to the unexpected school closures required because of COVID-19. This workshop will be helpful for parents of children with all types of disabilities. Please contact us at somervilleparentstogether@gmail.com if you would like interpretation. We hope to see you!Join Zoom Meeting: https://k12somerville.zoom.us/j/83802449149?pwd=WTA4V3pzOFVleXVWTkpPOEZ4VWdhdz09
SEPAC Business Meeting and Social Hour
Thursday, September 24, 2020, 7:30 - 9:00 pm. Please join us. Learn more and find videoconferencing links on the flyer in English, Spanish, Portuguese, or Haitian Creole.
SEPAC Meeting: Fall Reopening for Students with Disabilities during COVID-19
Thursday, August 27th, 2020, 8:00 - 9:00 pm. Join the Somerville Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) as we welcome Massachusetts Advocates for Children (MAC) Attorney Julia Landau who will talk about state guidance for fall opening of schools for students with disabilities. This is a chance to learn and ask questions about current guidance regarding special education services in the fall. This workshop will be helpful for parents of children with all types of disabilities.
SPECIAL EDUCATION TOWN HALL
Thursday, August 6th, 2020, 7:00 - 8:30 pm. Watch the Video Recording for this meeting. SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) Leadership - Michele Lippens, Lucy DeToledo, Lianor Hillerstrom, invite you to a Virtual Town Hall specifically for families of children with special needs. We welcome Christine Trevisone - Director of Special Education; Chad Mazza - Assistant Superintendent; Carrie Normand - School Committee Chair; and Laura Pitone - School Committee Member, to join us for an update and facilitated discussion on Planning Efforts related to Special Education. We welcome all voices and look forward to hearing your thoughts.
REMOTE MEETING
May 18, 2020. Somerville SEPAC Meeting: The Somerville Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) invites you to their first remote SEPAC meeting on Monday, May 18, 8:00-8:45pm. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect with other parents of students with special needs in Somerville, and meet your new SEPAC officers. A presentation by Massachusetts Advocates for Children, Special Education during the Coronavirus Era, and Q&A will follow. Please register HERE. You will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join.
"Every child is gifted. They just unwrap their packages at different times."
Somerville SSEPAC Officers
Brochures and Documents
2016 - 2017 SSEPAC Brochure in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Haitian Creole.
SSEPAC By-Laws [last updated 10/2019]
2019 Notice of SSEPAC Special Election
Information for Families
Disability Definitions
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Disability Definitions
Useful Websites for Families
Federation for Children with Special Needs http://www.fcsn.org
Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/
Mass Advocates for Children http://massadvocates.org/
Massachusetts Special Education Law http://www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/
Federal Law http://idea.ed.gov
Wright's Law www.wrightslaw.com