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Orange County Special Needs Advisory Council outlines parent training, outreach and accessibility plans

Orange County Schools Community Engagement Committee · December 10, 2025

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Summary

OSNAC presenters told the Community Engagement Committee that the Special Needs Advisory Council (OSNAC) will focus on parent training, transparency and accessibility, launching a quarterly OSNAC page and emphasizing interpreter and sign-language supports at meetings.

Representatives of the Orange County Schools Special Needs Advisory Council described plans to train parents, expand outreach and maintain accessible meetings during a presentation to the Community Engagement Committee.

The presenter said OSNAC — described as a collaborative council of parents, educators and community members — has met monthly since May to strengthen support for students with special needs. The council’s stated goals include increasing awareness of services, enhancing engagement, ensuring accessibility and maintaining transparent processes for parents and educators.

OSNAC plans to launch a quarterly web page with updates and to use social media and district communications to publicize meetings and resources. Presenters emphasized accessibility: interpreters and sign‑language supports will be provided at parent nights and OSNAC meetings, and the council aims to use plain language in parent materials.

The presenter described OSNAC’s structure as parent representatives, teacher representatives, EC teachers and school principals who bring issues back to their sites. OSNAC indicated it will start small to build consistent membership and confirmed meetings are typically scheduled on Mondays between the first and second Monday each month from roughly 5 to 7 p.m.

Board members asked about demographics of the parent representatives and whether background‑check requirements could limit voluntary participation; presenters said membership has been voluntary and interpreters have been provided at meetings, and the board’s background‑check policy was discussed as a standing requirement in some circumstances.