Stay Connected & Informed
Special Education Family & Caregiver Newsletter~October 2021
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What is SSES?
Supplemental Special Education Services (SSES) are $1,500 one-time on-line grants for parents/caregivers of eligible students served by special education that have been impacted by COVID-19 school closures.
Families of students with disabilities in Alief ISD can apply for these funds to obtain educational materials, resources, and/or services such as additional speech therapy or other specific services.
These funds were previously for students with significant disabilities, but that has changed to ALL students with disabilities (even Speech Impaired or OHI for ADHD) that have been impacted by COVID. To be eligible for the SSES grant, your student must currently be:
- enrolled in a Texas public school, (e.g., Alief ISD)
- enrolled in PreK - 12th grade,
- and a student with a disability served through Special Education.
These funds will be available on a first-come first-serve basis beginning November 1st so complete the on-line grant application now. If you have additional questions or need help with the process, email them at ssesinfo@tea.texas.gov or call SPEDTex at 1-855-773-3839.
Additional Information from TEA about SSES funds released November 2021:
- SSES Program Overview: ENGLISH | SPANISH | VIETNAMESE | ARABIC | SIMPLIFIED CHINESE
- SSES Overview Video: ENGLISH | SPANISH
- SSES Parent Webinar: ENGLISH | SPANISH
- Link to SSES homepage and to apply: ENGLISH | SPANISH
- Link to all resources available on TEA SSES website: ENGLISH (landing page with Spanish and other languages resources included)
- Link to FAQs: ENGLISH | SPANISH
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Is ARD meeting and IEP meeting the same thing?
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Do you ask questions at your child's ARD/IEP Meeting?
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Do you ask your child "How was your day?"
Do you want to know what is happening at school but can't seem to get much out of your child? Get a sense of your child's life at school by asking questions that require more than a one-word response or are so broad that your child has a hard time organizing their thoughts. Skip the way-too-open-ended “How was your day?” and try one of these after-school conversation starters instead.
- Tell me about the best part of your day.
- What was the hardest thing you had to do today?
- What did you hear or see today that made you laugh?
- Tell me about what you read in [any subject] class.
- Who did you play with today? What did you play?
- Do you think math [or any subject] is too easy or too hard?
- What's the biggest difference between this year and last year?
- What rules are different at school than our rules at home? Do you think they're fair?
- What’s one thing you did today that helped a friend or your teacher?
- Can you show me something you learned (or did) today?
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How to use Assistive Technology in the Home
Parents will learn how to use low tech assistive technology tools in the home and in the community. This session will be recorded and posted on the special education website and published in our parent newsletter for future access.
Wednesday, Oct 20, 2021, 12:00 PM
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Communication Systems and Visuals in the Home
This training is intended to provide families an understanding of how to set up communication systems and use visuals for their students with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Tuesday, Oct 26, 2021, 09:30 AM
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What is an LSSP? What is an MHS?
This training is intended to provide parents with information specific to the role of the Licensed Specialist in School Psychology (LSSP) and Mental Health Specialist (MHS). Parents and/or Guardians will receive information on how these providers are utilized and the services provided to their children. Q and A is encouraged.
Tuesday, Oct 26, 2021, 06:00 PM
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Speech Parent Meeting
This training is intended to provide families practical ways to support their student’s speech and language development in the home.