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Special Education PAC urges inclusion-first approach, offers district recommendations
Summary
The Special Education Parent Advisory Council (CPAC) presented its annual report, advocating for inclusion practices, improved access to records, support for co-teaching and outreach to families of younger children with disabilities.
Abe Gutierrez and Amanda Bailey, co-chairs of the district Special Education Parent Advisory Council, presented the CPAC annual report to the Acton-Boxborough Regional School Committee on Monday and urged the district to prioritize authentic inclusion and clearer pathways for students with disabilities.
"Our mission is to ensure understanding, respect, support, and the appropriate education of all children in our community," Gutierrez said, summarizing CPAC’s advisory role to the district on special-education matters.
CPAC described projects undertaken this year: monthly meetings with special-education leadership, participation in the chronic-absenteeism task force, a rolling feedback form to collect family reports on staff who made a difference, contributions to the Student Opportunity Act feedback, and the development of inclusion recommendations. CPAC defined inclusion for its work as "students with disabilities being part of and participating meaningfully in everyday activities with non-disabled peers," and argued that inclusion decisions should begin in general education and move to more separate settings only when all appropriate supports have been exhausted.
The group recommended five priority areas for the coming year: practices in general-education classrooms (teaching disability history and peer-interaction strategies); professional development at the school level; district-level audits of accessibility and communications; co-teaching as a strategic element; and expanded outreach and workshops for families of young or newly diagnosed children. The council also said it will continue advocacy around PowerSchool access and IEP progress-report availability.
CPAC asked the committee to continue including the council in policy conversations, particularly when the district discusses strategic planning and budget matters; members also urged continued prioritization of special-education funding and state-level advocacy. The committee thanked CPAC for its work and volunteers and noted opportunities to coordinate outreach at community events.
