Welcome
to the Special Needs Advocacy Network (SPaN)
We have created
our Web site to provide information and resources to advocates, parents, and other professionals. Upcoming Events / News:
Open Research Studies
Lesley University's
6th Annual Focus on Autism Spectrum Disorders Conference
Thank for your interest in attending Lesley University's Autism Spectrum Disorder Conference and Book Signing.
All proceeds go directly to support the Massachusetts Advocates for Children http://www.massadvocates.org/autism-center.php#Autismconference - Planning for Life After Special Education in Massachusetts:
A Transition Services Online Manual (October 2011) is now available at http://www.dlc-ma.org/manual/
Bullying Prevention and Intervention Resources Bullying Prevention and Intervention Resources:
Chapter 92 of the Acts of 2010, An Act relative to Bullying in Schools, required the Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education to publish guidelines for the implementation of social and emotional learning curricula in kindergarten to grade
12 inclusive. The guidance and related resources can be found on our Bullying Prevention and Intervention web page under #9: Social and Emotional Learning (SEL).
Massachusetts
State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump will release three final audits August 31st on the Merrimack Special Education Collaborative,
the Southeastern Massachusetts Education Collaborative, and the READS Collaborative. All three audits can be found by visiting
the website, www.mass.gov/auditor, August 31st at 8 AM.
In response to the serious issues raised by these audits concerning state and local oversight,
governance, teacher certification and fiscal management, Auditor Bump, will also announce her recommendations in an effort
to reform the entire statewide system of educational collaboratives. These recommendations will be also posted online at
www.mass.gov/auditor after 1 PM September 1st.
For more information on Circuit breaker funding, click here
ADDP and The Arc of Massachusetts
are pleased to announce that we have been notified by Governor Deval Patrick's office that, through a combined effort of the
Governor, EOHHS Secretary JudyAnn Bigby and Education Secretary Paul Reville, funding will be restored
to the DESE/DDS family support program that will allow the program to continue its FY 11 operations for the remainder of the
fiscal year.(The ARC of Massachusetts)
Dept of Justice Announcement:The Department of Justice has scheduled three public
hearings on its regulatory proposals concerning
the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These proposals, or Advance Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRMs), seek public comment on the possibility of revising the ADA regulations to address accessible Web information
and services, movie captioning and video
description, accessibility of Next Generation 9-1-1, and accessible equipment and furniture. The ANPRMs were published in the Federal Register on July 26, 2010, and
the comment period for them closes on
Jan. 24, 2011. For more information click here ada.gov/anprm2010.htm.
- Got a rejected IEP or hearing request? Consider
SpedEx! SpedEx is the NEW, CHILD-CENTERED, and QUICK alternate dispute resolution
model offered to schools and parents by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE), which sponsors
and funds this INNOVATION!
Click for more information
Click here to read more about SPEDEx
Breaking News: Congress Introduces Bipartisan Seclusion Restraint Legislation Yesterday the Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions of the US House of Representatives introduced
new bipartisan legislation aimed at curbing the abuses of seclusion and restraints as behavior management techniques. The press releases notes that the victims of the abuse
of seclusion and restraint are often children with disabilities. The legislation is summarized
here. Here is a video of the press conference by Chairman George Miller (D- CA). If adopted, the bill
would require minimum standards for seclusion and restraint. It also requires each state to adopt procedures and systems
for monitoring and enforcing the safety provisions. Before it becomes law, the bill must first pass the House and Senate
and be signed by the President. If you have strong feelings about abuse and restraint, write to your representative
and senators.
The MEMBERS ONLY section of our web site is now OPEN. Please click on the Members Only link to sign up for an
account. Once your membership status has been verified, you will be granted access.
Please submit any resources, sample documents or suggestions for this area to pic@spanmass.org. Not yet a member? Visit our Payment
Center to join today.
- SpedEx is a dispute resolution pilot project that
will be available after a hearing request has been filed. It (a) is designed to assure that a child receives a free appropriate
public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE); (b) is voluntary and will build trust between parents
and schools; (c) is expedient; (d) involves a......... Click here to learn more about the Spedex pilot.
- You will not want to miss the SPaN workshop presented by Dr. Alex Peck, administrator of the SpedEx pilot project,
Click Here
- Massachusetts Advocates for Children is looking for
phone volunteers. Interested parties, or new advocates looking for training are needed. Click here for more information.
- New York Times: Court Says Parents of
Special-Education Students Can Seek Reimbursement. In a decision that could cost school districts millions
of dollars, the United States Supreme Court ruled on Monday that parents of special-education students may seek government
reimbursement for private school tuition ... http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/23/education/23special.html
- Facilitated IEP Team Meeting
IEP team meeting facilitation is a voluntary process that can be used when the parties to an IEP meeting agree that the presence
of a neutral third party would assist them in communicating and in the successfully drafting an IEP for a student. (click to continue)
- New Project Forum@NASDSE Document - Resolution Meetings:
State Supports and Practices The following Project Forum document was recently prepared under Federal Cooperative
Agreement H326F050001: download document
- BCBS Neuropsychological Testing
There had been confusion in some advocacy circles regarding the effective dates on the prior authorization for neuropsychological.
testing for BCBSMA patients. The attached memo will clarify that and more.
click here to download BCBS file
- BSEA Observation Ruling. Following
is information on the Bureau of Special Education Appeals ruling ordering that a district provide a parent with up to 13 hours
of access to her child's program for observation.... . . Read the decision here: http://www.doe.mass.edu/bsea/rulings/09-1335.pdf
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PROGRAM UPDATES (updated 5/16/2012) Early registration for tomorrow eveing's
program "Panel Discussion of School and Family Attorneys moderated by Reece, Erlichman, BSEA Director" is closed.
There are, however, walk-in spaces available at the cost of $50.00 payable at the door. Cash or check only is accepted. We hope to see you on this important evening. For
more information click on the link below.
For more information or to register click here.
Weather/Cancellation Policy
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We hope you enjoy this site and visit often as we continue to build
and offer expanded services
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