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:
We are now accepting
2010-2011 membership applications. Join SPaN now.
SPaN
Board President announces the results of the election of the SPaN Board of Directors for 2010 – 2011. The
following newly or re-electedBoard Members are welcomed:
Vice-President
of Programming:Mehrzad Araghi
Membership Secretary/Chair:Cynthia Moore
Members-at-Large:
Jennie Dunkley
Cheryl Follett
Lisa Marie Noke-Kearney
Karen Laufer
Teresita Ramos
Mary Sheridan
Janet Thibeau
Marilyn Weber
Gratitude for support and service throughout the
year is expressed to the outgoing Board Members: Kathleen Bach, Catherine Mayes, Mindy Mazur, Marie Sigman, Ruth Smith.
Dena Steiling and Majorie Walsh.
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!
Revisions for the
SpedEx program have been approved and are now in effect; this includes the change in eligibility to access
the program that Alec Peck discussed at the SPaN meeting last month. Requests for this due process option can now be made
after an IEP has been rejected or a hearing request has been filed. See the attached for the new informational document from ESE.
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.
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
We hope you enjoy this site and visit often as we continue to build
and offer expanded services
Dedication To the children without
whom we may never have shared, learned or met SPAN would like to acknowledge and thank Donna Murphy
as this site's original creator, and Renee B. Williams as its present designer
