Special Ed Parents Launch Lecture Series

Norwalk’s Special Education Parent Action Committee launches a monthly lecture series, starting this Wednesday, designed to educate parents.  “Parents of special needs children need knowledge so they can advocate for their children,” says Natalie Alonso, president of the PAC, which is working with the school district’s special education department. Alonso says approximately15 percent of NPS students are identified as special needs.  “I believe that number is going to go up in the future,” says Alonso, mother of two children at Cranbury Elementary School.

The October 20 lecture will feature an overview of Special Education services presented by Pauline Smith, the recently hired department director.  On November 10, theConnecticut Parent Advocacy Center(CPAC), gives a talk about children’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). Other speakers planned include a developmental psychologist, a family therapist and a reading specialist.  Visit the website for the spearkers' schedule for the rest of the school year.

“We are trying to educate parents on what are the questions to ask:  What are the best practices for including children with special needs in the classroom? What does good co-teaching look like?  How do you address the needs of a child with autism?,” Alonso says.

Started in June 2009, the Special Education PAC was created as a result of the CREC report. It offered a critical assessment of the special education department and highlighted communication problems as a major area in need of improvement. Last year, the newly formed group created a parent handbook and sent out a parent survey.  “The lecture series came about because of what we read on the parent surveys,” says Alonso.  Next, the PAC is working to expand its membership.

Alonso is excited about the future of Special Education in Norwalk, especially because of the district’s new leadership. Smith started as the district’s new Director of Special Education in July.  “Pauline is on board.  She is the key element we were missing.   She is approachable and collaborative.  She's also very knowledgeable and knows the law.” Alonso is also optimistic about the district’s new superintendent, Susan Marks.  “I have a renewed hope and excitement about our schools.  This is our time to turn things around.”    

All lectures are free and open to the public:  

October 20, 2010, Wednesday,7:00 to 9:00 pm- NORWALK PUBLIC SCHOOLS SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. This is an opportunity for Norwalk parents to MEET AND GREET some of the central office staff in charge of special education services in Norwalk.  Department staff will give an overview of services. The forum will take place at Norwalk City Hall, 125 East Ave., Norwalk and is sponsored by Norwalk Public Schools- www.portal.norwalkps.org. Questions? (203) 854-4126.  The forum is free and open to the public.

November 10, 2010, Wednesday, 7:00 to 9:00pm- CONNECTICUT PARENT ADVOCACY CENTER at cpac@cpacinc.org will present on DEVELOPING THE IEP.  Training will focus on how parents can be actively & effectively involved in the development of their child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). Participants will learn the key components of an IEP and will become familiar with the new Connecticut IEP forms. Registration is required. Please contact CPAC at (800) 445-2722 or Norwalk Public Schools at (203) 854-4126. The forum will take place at Norwalk City Hall, 125 East Ave., Community Room, Norwalk and is co-sponsored by Norwalk Public Schools www.portal.norwalkps.org and Connecticut Association for Children and Adults with Learning Disabilities-CACLD- www.cacld.org.  January 19, 2011, Wednesday, 7:00 to 9:00pm- TODD KELLOGG, MA, LMFT at toddkellogg@positivefamilybehavior.com will discuss SOCIAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT FOR CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES: MAKING AND KEEPING FRIENDSHIPS.  Mr. Kellogg is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice at Positive Family Behavior, LLC in Trumbull.  He specializes in providing structural family and behavioral therapy to resolve challenging behaviors in children both at home and at school, to build partners between home and school and to increase parenting skills. Mr. Kellogg also worked at the Greenwich Autism Program (GAP). While at GAP, he developed a series of social skills groups for children with Aspergers and high-functioning Autism. 

February 16, 2011, Wednesday, 7:00 to 9:00pm - MICHAEL WEISS, PH.D., Consulting Developmental Psychologist, Adjunct Professor at Fairfield University, will present THIRTEEN ELEMENTS THAT INFLUENCE BEHAVIOR, an in-depth look at factors that influence children's behavioral growth and development. He will discuss these factors in a context of elements that should be reflected in a child's Individual Education Plan (IEP). The over-arching point of this discussion is that an integrated set of services, therapies and approaches to education, along with a thoughtful set of behavioral strategies, is what promotes a child's self-control and ability to relate well to others. This discussion will be framed around children with diverse diagnoses ranging from AD/HD to autism spectrum disorders. The forum will take place at Norwalk City Hall, 125 East Avenue, Community Room, Norwalk. Registration highly recommended: rsvp@spednetwilton.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 203-563-9994. Co-sponsored by SPED*NET Wilton, .www.spednetwilton.org.

March 16, 2011, Wednesday, 7:00 to 9:00pm- SHARON McCLOSKEY, Director, Constellation School Based Therapy at www.constellationhs.com will discuss issues involving OCCUPATIONAL AND PHYSICAL THERAPY.  

April 13, 2011, Wednesday, 7:00 to 9:00pm- MUNCIE KARDOS,   will discuss TRANSITIONS options for public school students ages 18-21. Included will be a discussion of the range of options for students who have completed their high school program and will be transitioning into adult services when they leave public education. 

May, 11, 2011 Wednesday, 7:00 to 9:00pm- DR. MARGIE GILLIS will present FROM BRAIN SCAN TO LESSON PLAN: READING RESEARCH INFORMING INSTRUCTION. Dr. Gillis received a Doctorate of Education from The University of Louisville in Special Education and a MEd from the University of Connecticut where she studied with Isabelle Liberman, the scientist who discovered the role of phonemic awareness in learning to read. She was the Co-Principal Investigator of a first grade professional development research project, Mastering Reading Instruction, at Haskins Labs in New Haven www.haskins.yale.edu.  In this applied research initiative she directed Haskins Literacy Specialists as they mentored and trained first grade teachers in districts throughout Connecticut. Dr. Gillis is a Senior Scientist at Haskins Laboratories and the President of Literacy How, Inc. www.literacyhow.com, promoting the science of teaching reading through comprehensive professional development, coaching and classroom support. In this work she directs PreK through middle school professional development projects. She is cofounder and vice-president of Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities and the Northeast Regional Representative of the International Dyslexia Association www.connbida.org.  The forum will take place at Norwalk City Hall, 125 East Ave., Community Room, Norwalk  and  is co-sponsored by Norwalk Public Schools-www.portal.norwalkps.org, SPED*NET Wilton- www.spednetwilton.org,  Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities- www.smartkidswithld.org and CACLD- www.cacld.org. Registration highly recommended: rsvp@spednetwilton.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 203-563-9994.