Events
Using Supported Decision Making in Employment
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
10:00 to 11:00 OR 6:00 to 7:00
Cost: This is a no cost event
Location: Online
DRCT is hosting an online viewing of our recently developed video series “Using Supported Decision Making in Employment”. Please join us for one or all of the four sessions. Descriptions of the sessions, dates, times, and registrations can be found in the link below. We hope to see you there.
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Back-to-School Advocacy: What Every Parent Needs to Know
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST
Cost: This is a no cost event
Location: Online event
Date: Tuesday September 9th 7:00 p.m. EST
Register here on Zoom: https://bit.ly/48B301
Join us for an informative and empowering event designed to support families as they navigate the transition back to school. Whether your child has an IEP, 504 plan, or you're simply looking for guidance and advocacy tools, this session is for you.
Hosted by Marisa Espinosa, founder of Nurtured Learners of Guilford, CT, this conversation will feature guest speaker Lawrence Berliner, a CT special education law attorney with extensive experience helping families advocate for their children’s educational rights.
Special Guest: Lawrence Berliner, Esq
Lawrence Berliner is an experienced attorney with 40 years in the field focusing on special education and disability rights law. He represents families throughout Connecticut involving IEPs, 504 plans, due process hearings, evaluations, and placement decisions. Attorney Berliner is a host of the community webinar series for parents of special education students, Finding Your Voice as a Parent and has presented at numerous parent workshops. He has a deep understanding of the legal framework and real-world challenges families face. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/49A221
About the Host: Marisa Espinosa
Marisa Espinosa is a certified K–6 educator and former public school teacher with over 17 years of classroom experience. She is the founder of Nurtured Learners, a tutoring and educational advocacy center based in Guilford, CT. Marisa specializes in supporting students with learning differences, and she is passionate about equipping families with the tools they need to effectively partner with schools.
To submit questions for this webinar or for general questions, please email Marisa Espinosa at [email protected]
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CT Youth Advisory Board Meeting
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
6:00 PM
Cost: This is a no cost event.
Location: Online event
Youth and young adults ages 14-26, join us for our next meeting on
September 9, 2025
Hosted by the CT Parent Advocacy Center (CPAC) Youth Team -
by Youth (and Youth Allies) for Youth!
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Finding Your Voice as a Parent Webinar
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. EST
Cost: This is a no cost event
Location: Online event
Finding Your Voice as a Parent Webinar: Special Education Law and Advocacy Roundtable
Date: Tuesday September 16th 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. EST.
Register here on Zoom: https://bit.ly/6442A
Co-hosted online with the Stamford JCC (Stamford, CT).
Speakers:
Attorney Lawrence Berliner, Connecticut Special Education Law
Jane Faherty, Stamford JCC JumpStart Program Executive Director & Special Education Advocate
Allie Grafman, Special Education Advocate at ABC Advocacy LLC
Bringing Advocacy to the Table:
Taking Ownership of Your Child’s Educational Journey
• Managing Back to School issues that have evolved over the summer
• Addressing Parents’ Input and Concerns in assessing their child’s progress
• Top 10 Strategies for Back to School
• Eligibility Issues: Section 504 Plan vs. Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
• Strategizing and Preparing for the year ahead
• Parent observations, input and concerns
• Preparing for the first of the year PPT meeting
• Comprehensive evaluations and the IEE, review of progress and accountability
• Turning Point: Next Steps – How to create a plan of action if your child is still struggling and the school is not responding to your child’s needs
• Q & A
For questions about this webinar, please email Rachel Berliner, Public Relations Assistant at [email protected]
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Next STEPS: Parent Leadership Training Series
*Virtual FALL Session*
Thursday, October 16, 2025
Cost:
Location: Virtual
Next STEPS: Parent Leadership Training Series
*Virtual FALL Session*
This intensive nine session series is designed to help parents and professionals gain the skills and knowledge necessary to be effective members of the Planning and Placement Team (PPT). This training series will prepare participants for a variety of roles at the school, district, regional, and state levels.
Dates:
October 16, 23, 30
November 6, 13, 20
December 4, 11
Classes will meet on Thursday evenings at 5:30
Registration is required!
Upon registration, you will receive a confirmation email containing details about the class and the link to the training
For an application:
Call: 860-739-3089 Email: [email protected]
or visit us at: https://cpacinc.org/programs-next-steps.aspx
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