Director's Update
What's Going On In Special Education In Bedford
Collaboration During the Evaluation Process
The evaluation process for students, particularly in the context of special education, is typically a collaborative effort between parents and the school. While parents' input and concerns are important, the specific assessments used for evaluation are usually determined by the school's multidisciplinary team, which may include special education professionals, psychologists, and other relevant experts.
Here are some key points to consider:
1. Legal Requirements: The evaluation process for special education services is often guided by federal and state laws, such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in the United States. IDEA mandates that schools assess students in all areas related to a suspected disability.
2. Multidisciplinary Team: The evaluation is typically conducted by a multidisciplinary team, which may include educators, psychologists, speech therapists, and other specialists. The team works collaboratively to gather comprehensive information about the student's strengths and needs.
3. Standardized Assessments: Schools often use standardized assessments as part of the evaluation process to gather objective data about a student's academic, cognitive, and functional abilities. These assessments are selected based on their reliability, validity, and relevance to the student's needs. It's important to note that there are often multiple assessment tools available that examine the same skills. Administering multiple tests that assess the same skills may not be in a child's best interest unless additional data points are needed for a comprehensive understanding.
4. Addressing Referral Questions: The multidisciplinary team will choose assessments that specifically address the referral questions raised during the evaluation process. These questions are typically formulated based on the concerns expressed by parents, teachers, or other stakeholders.
5. IDEA's Requirement: IDEA requires schools to assess students in all areas related to the suspected disability. This comprehensive evaluation helps in identifying the presence of a disability and determining the need for special education services.
6. Efficiency and Focus: The school-based evaluation process can take multiple hours over many sessions, potentially pulling the child out of the classroom and disrupting their access to regular instruction. Therefore, there is a need to ensure that evaluations are not only comprehensive but also efficient and focused.
7. Parental Input: Parents have the right to provide input during the evaluation process. They can share their concerns, insights, and any assessments or information they may have from external sources, such as private evaluations. However, the final decision on the assessments used rests with the school's multidisciplinary team.
8. Collaboration: Collaboration between parents and school professionals is crucial. Bedford’s Special Education teams work collaboratively with parents to ensure a holistic understanding of the student's needs and to develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that addresses those needs.
It's important for parents to communicate openly with the school, share their concerns, and actively participate in the evaluation process. The multidisciplinary team's selection of assessments, guided by IDEA, aims to comprehensively assess students in all areas related to a suspected disability.
Massachusetts Partnership for Youth (MPY) Parenting Solutions Library
Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY) is pleased to announce its new, free MPY Parenting Solutions Library. To date, over 2,200 videos have been borrowed. MPY is offering the MPY Parenting Solutions Library in partnership with Peace At Home Parenting Solutions, a non-profit located in Mansfield, Connecticut. Peace At Home Parenting Solutions is a dynamic hub of trusted knowledge and compassionate support that inspires parents to create positive change for their children, their families and themselves. Through this new partnership, MPY is pleased to offer proven resources to help students’ families thrive.
Peace At Home Parenting Solutions specializes in empowering parents with evidence-based strategies to foster nurturing connections that safeguard their children's mental well-being. When parents grasp the interconnection between the brain, body, and behavior, they experience reduced stress levels, resulting in less stress for their children.
The Peace At Home Parenting Solutions team, comprised of experts with advanced degrees, stays abreast of the latest advancements in child development. With more than 30 specialists focused on child and adolescent development, including specific issues such as difficulties in school, mental health challenges, neurodiversity, LGBTQ+ identity formation, handling racism, navigating grief, and other matters parents and our partners identify. These experts present easy-to-use strategies for long-lasting change.
Parents can watch or just listen to experts who get right to the point solving big and small challenges. The 24 library presentations focus on the topics below. Each presentation includes a 10-minute videos and handouts.
· Inspire School Success for Elementary, Middle and High School Students
· Parenting Principles for Progress Not Perfection
· Mental Health Knowledge and Skills
· Support Your Anxious Child Library
· ADHD and Autism: How to Help Your Child Thrive
The Home Parenting Library may easily be accessed using the link on MPY’s home page (www.mpyinc.org). No log in or passcode is needed.
Please contact MPY Executive Director Margie Daniels at margie@mpyinc.org with questions.
Bike & Ski Opportunities
If you are looking for extracurricular activities for your child, below are two opportunities that have been passed along to us from Nashoba Learning Group.
Emerson Health iCan Shine Bike Camp
Date: April 15 - 19, 2024
Location: Lawrence Academy Hockey Rink, Groton, MA.
The bike camp is for kids (older than 8 years of age) through adults who are diagnosed with a disability and are able to side-step and walk without assistive devices.
Link to site: https://icanshine.org/ican-bike-groton-ma/
Links to forms:
- rider registration: https://forms.gle/44w236xNjaeMo2TF7
- volunteer sign up: https://forms.gle/A4xyu21uLuixNMCy7
LEARN TO SKI – Brait W.I.N.G.S Scholarship
The Brait W.I.N.G.S. Scholarship aims to provide a unique opportunity for first-time students who identify as having autism. This scholarship encompasses a stay & learn to ski package for about 30 NEW student-athletes.
The objectives of this scholarship are:
- Increase awareness of adaptive sports opportunities available for individuals with autism
- Provide an opportunity for individuals with autism to participate in adaptive sports in a safe and supportive environment
- Create opportunities for families of individuals with autism to engage in outdoor sports together.
The scholarship includes:
- 2 nights of lodging at the Mountain Club on Loon
- 2 days of lessons with NEDS, equipment & ski ticket included
- $100 gift card for food expenses
The scholarship allows flexibility for recipients, with the choice of any two days of the week, depending on availability. It is an incredible chance for individuals to embrace the joy of skiing while fostering personal growth and development. Family members or caregivers accompanying the student who wish to ski will be responsible for their own lessons, equipment, etc.
Application Details:
Interested candidates can find learn more about this opportunity and/or apply by contacting Jack Daly by email: jjddaly@gmail.com or phone: (603) 348-6555 or (603) 745-2329.
Visions of Community
The Federation for Children with Special Needs has just opened their registration for their annual statewide conference, “Visions of Community” to be held on Saturday, March 9, 2024. Our virtual conference will feature more than 45 workshops with language strands in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Haitian Creole, Korean and Somali.
They have an exciting pre-week of activities including our Meet the Commissioners event on Thursday, March 6th at 5PM. DESE will present an introduction to the new IEP Form on Tuesday, March 5th for conference attendees. Everyone who registers will have access to the virtual platform for 3 months after the conference to view all recorded workshops.
For more information and our conference agenda, please visit our website - https://fcsn.org/voc/
Current MassPAC District/SEPAC members receive 2 free registrations to our VOC Conference:
1 SEPAC Parent
1 District Educator.
We are a MassPac District. If you are interested in attending, please send me an email letting me know. One parent and one educator will be chosen at random in a lottery system to attend.
Special Education Parent Advisory Counsel (SEPAC)
BEDFORD SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council)
SEPAC is a group of parents & caregivers of children receiving special education support and/or children with disabilities. All parents & caregivers welcome! We meet for support, education, networking and resource sharing.
Bedford SEPAC General Meetings: Virtual
Come and discuss special education programming in Bedford and how we can best support our children.
Thurs, Feb 15, 2024 at 7:30 PM
Thurs, Mar 14, 2024 at 7:30 PM
Wed, Apr 24, 2024 at 7:30 PM with guest Marianne Vines
Thurs, May 16, 2024 at 7:30 PM
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/4172275285?pwd=OTZaeHZOM3lSY1h4Z0J5SndVMTk0Zz09
Meeting ID: 417 227 5285
Passcode: 333333
Email: bedfordmasepac@gmail.com
Web: bedfordmasepac.org
Facebook group: https://www.facebook. com/groups/BEDFORDMASEPAC/