CAC for Special Education

CAC MONTHLY UPDATES

August, September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April, May

June CAC Update:

Happy Summer! This is our last update for the school year and we want to thank everyone for reading these updates, joining us at our meetings and working hard to support inclusion in our district.  The CAC is currently planning our meeting topics for next year and would love your input. Please help us out by completing this survey.

Our hearts are with the families who have lost loved ones to the senseless tragedies in Buffalo New York and at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. It’s time to move past thoughts and prayers.  We need policy change.  For ways to get involved, please visit the Everytown for Gun Safety website.  On Monday, June 6th at 5pm, Support for Families is hosting a Community Conversation on Emergency Preparedness at School for Families with Children with Disabilities. (Register Here). Here are some additional resources for you and your children:

• Understood.org - How scary news can impact kids who learn and think differently.
• Autistic Self Advocacy Network - Make Real Change On Gun Violence: Stop Scapegoating People With Mental Health Disabilities
• National Black Child Development Institute - Helping Children Respond and Cope
• A Day in Our Shoes - Emergency Evacuation Plans for kids with IEPs 

At our May CAC meeting, we reviewed the special education department budget and service plan which are part of SFUSD's Local Plan for Special Education. Meeting participants shared the special education issues that are most important to them. If you have input you would like to share please email the CAC at cacspedsf@gmail.com or share your comments at the June 14th presentation of the Special Education budget at the Board of Education meeting.

The CAC, SFUSD and Support for Families are continuing our legislative advocacy. We are excited to share that SB1113: Inclusive Education and Universal Design for learning has passed the state senate and is now being voted on in the state assembly. We still need community members to reach out to their legislators to support this bill as well as a cost of living increase for special education and ask that students with disabilities are fully integrated into the LCAP. Most importantly, ask your legislators to reject the Governor’s proposal to shift Educationally Related Mental Health Services funds from SELPAs to LEAs on July 1, 2022. 

• Here is the SELPA Administrators Letter for more information
• Sample script – for a quick and easy call to elected officials
• A Template Letter that can be edited or personalized
• The link to Legislator Contacts

Read the rest of the update here

CAC GENERAL MEETINGS - June 23:  Social Thinking! Register Here

Please join the June CAC meeting for a presentation on social thinking, which helps children understand themselves and others to better navigate the social world, build relationships, and improve their performance at school and at home. Ryan Hendrix, MS, CCC-SLP from Social Thinking will be sharing an overview, core concepts and some useful skills with parents and caregivers. This presentation is appropriate for students on the autism spectrum, those with attention or anxiety issues and those who are just shy or awkward.

CAC meetings are held on the fourth Thursday of each month (except July, November, and December) from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. via Zoom and recorded live on the CAC Facebook page. CAC Meetings are hosted by Support for Families of Children with Disabilities. Visit the CAC meetings page for more details, including how to reserve interpretation.

Meetings are open to the public and everyone is welcome to attend.  Joining the CAC gives community members an opportunity to have their opinions heard and make a difference in the way special education is conducted in our area. Find out more on the CAC membership page.

CAC 2021-2022 Meeting Calendar   Español | 中文 | Tiếng Việt | عربي | Tagalog | Gagana Sāmoa 

August 26:  Re-Opening/SpEd 101
September 23:  Mental Health Supports
October 28:  Dyslexia Instruction featuring Kareem Weaver of the Oakland NAACP
November 18:  Student Assignment Workshop
December 6-10:  Inclusive Schools Week
January 27:  IEP / 504 / RTI
February 24:  Community Conversation on SFUSD Budget and Local Control Accountability Plan
March 24:  Understanding Twice Exceptional Students (high-ability students with learning disabilities)
April 28:  CAC Advocates Worthy of Excellence Awards
May 26:  SFUSD Local Plan: Special Education Department Budget and Service Plan
June 23: Social Thinking

PURPOSE OF THE CAC

The purpose of the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for Special Education is to champion effective special education programs and services and advise the Board of Education on priorities in the Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA).

The State Education Code mandates that each SELPA have a CAC and that a majority of CAC members are parents of students with disabilities. 

For more information about the Community Advisory Committee for Special Education read the article: Making Special Education Work for All Students by Disability Rights of CA or visit CACSpEdSF.com