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SAC roundtable flags communication gaps for outplaced students, first-responder training and DOC transition programs
Summary
Members raised concerns about communication breakdowns when students are placed out of district, discussed efforts to expand first-responder training for interactions with people with disabilities, and shared a Department of Correction initiative linking incarcerated students to paid training and transportation on reentry.
During the meeting’s roundtable, council members raised several operational concerns and community updates affecting students with disabilities, including gaps in district communication for outplaced students, proposed first-responder training on disability awareness and a Department of Correction reentry training partnership.
Laurie (last name not specified in the transcript), speaking from parent and advocacy perspectives, said parents report that when a student is placed in an out-of-district program families and students sometimes lose regular communication with their home districts and do not receive timely information about activities and school coordination. Council members noted this is a recurring concern and suggested adding it to the council’s priorities and recommendations for follow-up with CSDE and legislators.
Jeff (Cosker) described efforts to work with legislators and community partners to require or expand training for police officers when interacting with people who have disabilities, especially autism, and noted models in other states that include mandatory training. Council member Denise Drummond (Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity) referenced Conn. Gen. Stat. §7-294v, which directs the Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) to develop curricula for interactions with people who have mental or physical disabilities and related deaf/hard-of-hearing guidance; members said they will coordinate with stakeholders and legislative contacts to assess gaps and next steps.
Rita Halkis, director of special education for Unified School District No. 1 (Department of Correction), described new partnerships to support students prior to discharge. She said the district is working with MATCH (Manufacturing and Community Technical Hub) to bring paid training and dedicated transportation to reentry students, and emphasized the difficulty of connecting students to community resources when they are transient.
Council members agreed to consider these topics — outplacement communication, first-responder training for disability awareness, and DOC transition supports — when drafting recommendations for CSDE and legislators.
The council’s next full meeting is scheduled Feb. 26 (in person and virtual option); the legislative briefing will occur Jan. 22 at the Legislative Office Building.
