What's New (Homepage)
Parental Consent for Use of Public Benefits or Insurance to Provide or Pay for Services Under IDEA Part B
The U.S. Department of Education (ED), Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, issued final regulations on February 14, 2013, that govern the use of a child's or parent's public benefits or insurance (e.g., Medicaid) to provide or pay for services required under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The final regulations became effective on March 18, 2013. On Tuesday, June 11th, they released a suggested model form for written notification of parental rights regarding the public benefits and insurance regulations. Learn more>>
Seeking Research Participants
Hyun Ju Kang, Doctoral student and Teaching Assistant in the Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education at University of Wisconsin-Madison, is conducing a research study designed to understand Korean-American immigrant parents' hopes, concerns and dreams about post-school outcomes for their adolescents with disabilities. Learn more about participating in the research>>
A Step in the Right Direction for One Hartford Charter School
A complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights on behalf of children with disabilities at a public charter school in Hartford last year regarding the suspension rate of students with disabilities in the school has led to a federal civil rights agreement. The school will now be required to train staff in the federal education requirements for disabled students, and in the characteristics of disabilities such as autism, mood disorders, attention deficit disorder, and childhood trauma. It has also agreed to develop a centralized data system to track removal of disabled students from classrooms. Read more about the agreement>>
CT State Department of Education Family Survey
Each year, the CT Bureau of Special Education conducts a survey of parents of students receiving special education services, ages 3 through 21 in a sampling of school districts throughout the state. The survey is the continuation of an ongoing collaborative effort between the Bureau of Special Education and the Connecticut Parent Work Group (PWG) to collect information on family satisfaction and parent involvement in their child’s special education program. Read more about the survey>>
Keeping Students Safe Act, HR 1893
On Thursday, May 9th, Congressman George Miller (D-CA), ranking member of the House Education & Workforce Committee and Congressman Gregg Harper (R-MS) introduced the Keeping All Students Safe Act, HR 1893, a bill to protect all students nationwide from restraint and seclusion. Learn more about KSSA>>
Revisions to the CT Special Education Regulations
On July 1, 2013, revisions to the Connecticut special education regulations that were approved on January 22nd will go into effect in Connecticut schools. Read more about the revised regulations>>
Annual Report on the Use of Physical Restraint and Seclusion in Connecticut
The Connecticut State Department of Education has released its Annual Report on the Use of Physical Restraint and Seclusion in Connecticut for the 2011-2012 school year. Read the report here>>
About (Homepage)
If your child has special needs... We are here to help!
Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center, Inc. (CPAC) is a statewide nonprofit organization that offers information and support to families of children with any disability or chronic illness, age birth to 26.
All of CPAC's Services are FREE for families. Contact us at 1-800-445-2722 or cpac@cpacinc.org.
Please take a few moments to let us know how we're doing: CPAC Satisfaction Survey
New Video on Students with Disabilities and Self-Advocacy
Thank you to the McCray, Fahey, Olko, Chavarro and Gallagher families for sharing your experiences and participating in our new video about students with disabilities and self-advocacy!
Featured Lending Library Resource
Mental Health Disorders in Adolescents: A Guide for Parents, Teachers and Professionals by Eric P. Hazen, Mark A. Goldstein and Myrna Chandler Goldstein provides information to help find effective ways to identify and treat psychiatric disorders that many teens face. The book is designed to help caregivers navigate the often confusing adolescent mental health system. Readers will find comprehensive information about when and how to seek help and the kinds of treatments that are available. To borrow this book, or other books in our Lending Library, please contact CPAC at cpac@cpacinc.org or 1-800-445-2722.
Upcoming Events (Homepage)
- June 18, 2013Finding and Financing Housing for Adults with Autism(Stamford, CT)
- June 19, 2013The Nuts and Bolts of Special Education(East Lyme, CT)
- June 27, 2013Turning Evaluation Recommendations into IEP Goals(Wallingford, CT)
- July 13, 2013CPAC Friends and Family Summer Picnic(Waterford, CT)
- July 28-August 2, 2013UCONN College Prep Program(Storrs, CT)
