EPSD CAN-DO

Easthampton Public Schools CAN-DO!

Sharing Resources for Our Families, Advocacy for Our Kids, and Insight for Our District

Welcome!

CAN-DO Support Meeting Schedule

When: from 7 to 9 pm, once a month

Access All Zoom Meetings:
https://epsd-us.zoom.us/j/81657197221?pwd=VRIGGr9xbHtrhPxg7FuO8e5xBfH2Eg.1

What: During our Support Meetings, people can speak with EPSD Special Education leadership, learn about Disability Services offered in our schools, & be empowered by a variety of presentations and learn about local resources.

September 19th Welcome! Presenter: Mary Schreiber, Coordinated Family and Community Engagement Program at CES

October 18th Basic Rights Workshop: Understanding the IEP with the Federation for Children with Special Needs.

November 16th Easthampton Public Library Director Katya Schapiro & Children’s Librarian Emily Prabhaker

December 19th Children, Learning, and Trauma with Jessica Tierney, Child & Family Support Coordinator of the Treehouse Foundation

January 17th DDS 101: Learn about the Department of Developmental Services for children & adults with developmental & intellectual disabilities! with Sam Hunter

February 15th The RSI Next Steps transition program, with Sarah Chaplin, using Zoom link above

March 19th Understanding the New IEP Forms with Antigoni Lively, EPSD’s Director of Special Education, using Zoom link above

April 23rd *6pm* Executive Function Presentation: Sarah Ward, M.S., CCC-SLP, a multi-SEPAC-hosted virtual event with Canton SEPAC Not to be missed!

May 16th Caregiver Roundtable: our last SEPAC support meeting of the year https://epsd-us.zoom.us/j/81657197221?pwd=VRIGGr9xbHtrhPxg7FuO8e5xBfH2Eg.1

Read our blog below to learn more about past topics and presenters!

BUSINESS MEETINGS

In our Business Meeting, we discuss the leadership and planning needs of our Advisory Council. The general public is welcome to attend from 8:30-9pm. Bring your questions and ideas

Access All Zoom Meetings:
https://epsd-us.zoom.us/j/81657197221?pwd=VRIGGr9xbHtrhPxg7FuO8e5xBfH2Eg.1

2023-24 Meeting Dates:

September 14

October 12

November 9

December 14

January 11

February 7

March 11 – please note date change!

April 11

May 9

June 6th: our final Business Meeting

Access meetings via Zoom:

https://epsd-us.zoom.us/j/81657197221?pwd=VRIGGr9xbHtrhPxg7FuO8e5xBfH2Eg.1

Announcements

Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year!

DDS/DESE Residential Prevention Program Open Interest Forms are now available. This is a program for kids ages 6-21 with a developmental disability who are at risk of residential placement. There are certain assessed criteria for the program, and forms submitted between now and March 31. The best way to access both the online form (recommended) and the paper form is this website:
https://www.mass.gov/lists/desedds-program-open-interest-period-2023
We’re still in need of an Outreach Coordinator & a Treasurer! Have an interest? Email can-do@epsd.us
Here are Quick Links for the district calendar
District Offices at 50 Payson may be reached at 413-529-1500
Our School District has a new Special Ed Director! Welcome Antigoni Lively to her new role. email: alively@epsd.us
Maureen F. Binienda is our Interim Superintenant. email: superintendent@epsd.us

The Caregiver Advisory Network for Disability Opportunities is Easthampton School District’s Parent Advisory Council (PAC). We call ourselves CAN-DO in order to better reflect the full constellation of families that we serve, and the positive orientation of our goals.

Who can CAN-DO?

CAN-DO is a volunteer organization made up of families and caregivers of students with and without disabilities within the Easthampton Public School District. This includes Mountain View School, Eastampton High School, and Easthampton students at private or out-of-district placement schools.

Have a question? Noticing something wrong with the site? Let us know:

CAN-DO GOALS:

Meet regularly with families to provide a safe space to talk about successes and challenges with the special education department
Offer workshops for families related to disabilities and resources in our community
Work with school personnel to ensure accessibility in event planning, media sent home to families, etc.
Collaborate with Family Engagement, PTO, and other members of the Easthampton Public School community

What is an Advisory Council?

“…The school community of any city, town, or school district shall establish a parent advisory council on special education. Membership shall be offered to all parents of children with disabilities and other interested parties. The parent advisory council duties shall include but not be limited to: advising the school committee on matters that pertain to the education and safety of students with disabilities; meeting regularly with school officials to participate in the planning, development, and evaluation of the school committee’s special education programs…”

(Section 3 of Chapter 71B MA special education law)

Disability Services Basics

FAPE: Free and Appropriate Public Education for children with disabilities is guaranteed under IDEA, our Federal Special Education Law.

Click here to learn how to get your child evaluated for disability services.

STEPS toward SERVICES

To get Disability Services at school for your child, you’ll want to follow these steps:

In writing, send a letter to the Director of Special Education in your district (ours is Antigoni Lively, see above) explaining why you believe your child needs services. This letter should include detail to support your reasons, and include letters, test data, or letters of support from the professionals working with your child. It’s important to be specific! And to say, “I give consent for my child to be evaluated.”
While you’re waiting for a reply, make sure you’ve got all your paperwork in order. Read through the website above (6 Steps to Request a Free School Evaluation) so that you’re familiar with the process. Here’s the link: https://www.understood.org/articles/6-steps-for-requesting-a-school-evaluation
If the school agrees that the evaluation process should begin, you’ll meet as a Team to determine what evaluations should be given. Know that at that table of experts in education and special ed, you’re the “expert” of your child with important information. Know that you’re a peer at that table! Also, you may invite a supportive guest who can give important information about your child, like an Advocate or other professional, a relative, etc.
Here’s a good article about preparing for evaluations https://www.understood.org/en/articles/preparing-for-an-evaluation and what to expect, https://www.understood.org/en/articles/the-evaluation-process-what-to-expect
What if your request is denied? Here’s some things you can do: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/9-steps-to-take-if-your-request-for-evaluation-is-denied