SOMERSET PUBLIC SCHOOLS P.A.C.E. Site
** please note change of meeting dates, on this website, to the last thursday of the month beg. 9/06-5/07
http://www.somerset.k12.ma.us/SchoolFrontEnd/pace.htm
CONCORD SPECIAL EDUCATION PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL
"The Concord Special Education Parents Advisory Committee is a positive and solution oriented committee that has grown to over 150 members.As a state mandated, system wide volunteer organization, we serve as a resource and advisor to parents of children with special needs from preschool through high school, serving all Concord schools. We work closely with the Concord Public School and Concord-Carlisle Regional School District administration to identify areas of needs and act in an advisory role to the School Committee. Over the past, the SPED PAC played an integral role in the research behindthe Concord Education Fund reading and writing grants."
NOTICE OF PROCEDURAL SAFEGUARDS (formerly known as the "Parent's Rights Brochure")
http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/prb/nps.pdf
SPECIAL EDUCATION LAWS AND RELATED DOCUMENTS (from the MA DOE website)
http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/laws.html
PROBLEM RESOLUTION SYSTEM(from the MA DOE website)
http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/prs/
ADHD LINKS:
"Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), is a national non-profit, tax-exempt (Section
501(c) (3) ) organization providing education, advocacy and support for individuals with AD/HD."
AUTISM LINKS:
"The Asperger's Association of New England (AANE) is made up of individuals with Asperger's Syndrome (AS), their families, friends and
professionals. We are dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with AS and related conditions. Our mission is to foster awareness,
respect, acceptance, and support for these individuals and their families."
ARI,"a non-profit organization, was established in 1967. ARI is primarily devoted to conducting research, and to disseminating the results of
research, on the causes of autism and on methods of preventing, diagnosing and treating autism and to other severe behavioral disorders of
childhood. We provide information based on research to parents and professionals throughout the world."
"Autism Society of America (ASA) is the leading voice and resource of the entire autism community in
education, advocacy, services, research and support. ASA, a chapter and member-based organization, is committed to
meaningful participation and self-determination in all aspects of life for individuals on the autism spectrum and
their families. ASA accomplishes its ongoing mission through close collaboration with a successful network of
chapters, members, supporters and organizations."
Autism TV and Audio channels. Site sponsored by ARI and the Center for the Study of Autism
"Generation Rescue was formed by parents of children who have been diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Through our own research and initiative we have discovered a truth that we feel every parent should know: Autism,
Asperger's, ADHD, ADD, PDD-NOS, other learning disabilities, and many auto-immune disorders including asthma,
juvenile onset diabetes, and anaphylactic food allergies are all caused by and symptoms of mercury poisoning
primarily induced by a vaccine preservative called Thimerosal (which is 49.6% ethlymercury by weight.) An
overwhelming amount of evidence exists in the scientific and medical literature, however, the information has been
slow to disseminate to the general public and to those who need it most: Parents of mercury-poisoned children."
"The mission of the National Alliance for Autism Research is to aggressively fund global biomedical research accelerating the discovery of the
causes, prevention, effective treatments and cure for autism spectrum disorders and to educate the public on the critical role research plays in
achieving these goals."
Canine Companions for Independence, http://www.caninecompanions.org/index.html
Canine Companions for Independence is a national nonprofit that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly-trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships.
Center for Special Education Finance - The Special Education Expenditure Project, http://www.csef-air.org/
"The mission of the Center for Special Education Finance (CSEF) is to address fiscal policy questions related to the delivery and support of special education throughout the United States and disseminate up-to-date information to stakeholders at all levels. The Special Education Expenditure Project (SEEP) represents a major focus for CSEF. It is the first comprehensive, nationally representative study of special education spending to be undertaken in more than a decade."
Concord Special Education Parent Advisory Council, http://concordspedpac.org/
"The Concord Special Education Parents Advisory Committee is a positive and solution oriented committee that has grown to over 150 members.
As a state mandated, system wide volunteer organization, we serve as a resource and advisor to parents of children with special needs from preschool through high school, serving all Concord schools. We work closely with the Concord Public School and Concord-Carlisle Regional School District administration to identify areas of needs and act in an advisory role to the School Committee. Over the past, the SPED PAC played an integral role in the research behindthe Concord Education Fund reading and writing grants."
Council for Exceptional Children, IDEA Practices, http://www.ideapractices.org/
"The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities, and/or the gifted. CEC advocates for appropriate governmental policies, sets professional standards, provides continual professional development, advocates for newly and historically underserved individuals with exceptionalities, and helps professionals obtain conditions and resources necessary for effective professional practice."
DMR, Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation, www.mass.gov/dmr
"DMR provides assistance in job placement, transportation, housing, or intense levels of treatment, monitoring and care. DMR provides these services through state-operated programs and with 265 provider agencies across the state."
DOES MY CHILD NEED SPECIAL EDUCATION? Flow chart, http://www.ssepac.org/resources/First%20Steps-2.pdf
Easter Seals Massachusetts, http://ma.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=MADR_homepage
"Easter Seals provides services to ensure that children and adults with disabilities have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play."
Federation of Children with Special Needs, http://www.fcsn.org/
"The Federation is a center for parents and parent organizations to work together on behalf of children with special needs and their families. We can help! Organized in 1975 as a coalition of parent groups representing children with a variety of disabilities, the Federation operates a Parent Center in Massachusetts which offers a variety of services to parents, parent groups, and others who are concerned with children with special needs."
IEP, Individualized Education Process (from the MA DOE website), http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/iep/
LDW, Learning Disabilities Worldwide,http://www.ldam.org/
"Join LDW and help us create a world where all persons with LD are supported in their endeavors and feel empowered to achieve their maximum potential. As a member you will find information on such disabilities as central auditory processing, dyslexia and reading disabilities, dyscalcula, nonverbal learning disabilities, sensory integration and attention deficit disorders."
MASSPAC, Massachusetts Association of Special Education Advisory Councils
"The mission of MASSPAC is to maintain a state-wide network of parents, professionals, and school-based councils in a shared effort to understand, respect, and support appropriate education for all children with special needs in our respective communities. We need you to make this work."
Notice of Procedural Safeguards (formerly known as the "Parent's Rights Brochure")
http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/prb/nps.pdf
Parents' P.L.A.C.E. Parents Learning About Children's Education Massachusetts' Statewide Parent Information Center
Problem Resolution System (from the MA DOE website)
http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/prs/
Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (from the MA DOE website)
http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/links/sec504.html
Somerset Public Schools P.A.C.E. Site
http://www.somerset.k12.ma.us/SchoolFrontEnd/pace.htm
Special Education Laws and Related Documents (from the MA DOE website)
http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/laws.html
Special Education Links and Resources (from the MA DOE website) http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/links.html
