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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:  

New officers and members to SPaN Board of Directors for 2009-2010 announced.  Click here to see the full list of the Board of Directors.
New York Times:  Court Says Parents of Special-Education Students Can Seek Reimbursement By TAMAR LEWIN  Published: June 22, 2009 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, even if they have never received special-education services in public school…. 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. The Facilitated IEP process has experienced a great deal of growth on the national level and new programs are being implemented in many states. Though most IEP team meetings flow smoothly, and do not need the assistance of a facilitator, sometimes conflicts arise, impasse occurs, issues are new and complex, or other problems develop and outside assistance is useful to remain focused on the development of a sound IEP for the student. The Bureau of Special Education Appeals (BSEA) is entertaining requests for a facilitator to attend an IEP team meeting. School districts and parents who agree to request a facilitator may call the BSEA and request facilitation. The BSEA's intent is to help special education planning teams who may be experiencing difficulty stay directed toward a discussion of the student's needs, to make decisions, and to reach agreement. All federal and state laws related to the development of the IEP still apply. The facilitator will not be the neutral person who later might be involved in mediation, if it goes beyond the facilitated team meeting. Our goal is to assist IEP teams to stay focused on developing a satisfactory IEP; to help members to develop lasting relationships through consensus building; and to resolve any disputes or disagreements as they arise in the meeting. To request an IEP Team Meeting facilitator from the BSEA, call Marc Sevigny, Coordinator of Mediation at 781-338-6443.
SPaN Member Lucie Chansky Honored.  In honor of Developmental Disabilities month, members of the legislature and advocates gathered at the State House to celebrate the upcoming name change of the Department of mental Retardation...  (click here to continue...)
Transiton Hearing:   The following is important information regarding a favorable decision in a  recent BSEA hearing regarding Transitional services.  click here         Read the decision here:       http://www.doe.mass.edu/bsea/decisions/08-5330.pdf
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
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
New Levels of Membership Categories:  The Board of Directors is pleased to announce that we have established New Levels of Membership Categories.  We hope to encourage the participation of group practices and outside agencies as members of SPaN.  Please click here to see the membership categories and associated costs.
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                       This In-Brief Policy Analysis is based on a survey sent to all special education units of state education agencies and interviews with eight states. Findings are synthesized for types of supports provided, frequency of resolution meetings, factors that impact the use of resolution meetings, and states' needs to support the implementation of resolution meetings. Conclusions are drawn based on the survey results.
The following is important information regarding the Governor's recent vetoes on various line items affecting funding for disailities in Massachusetts.  Governor signs budget and issues vetoes Good News! Important veto overrides from Beacon Hill!  More    Governor signs Transition Age Bill More
Major Step Forward in Improving College Opportunities and Supports for Students with Disabilities Taken with Higher Education Act Reauthorization.   More
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (formerly DOE)   New Mandated Forms for Specific Learning Disability Eligibility  . . . learn  more Students with Disabilities Annual Report 2006 - 2007 http://www.doe.mass.edu/research/reports/1107sped.pdf
Massachusetts Advocates for Children (MAC): New Advocates looking for Extra Training?   click here  MAC is NOW looking for Phone Volunteers!