SELPA News
May 21, 2024
CAPTAIN PROGRAM RECOGNITION
Mrs. Patti Bangs, SELPA Program Specialist, made a presentation on the California Autism Professional Training and Information Network (CAPTAIN), and presented an award to District SPED TOSA, Ms. Marty Northrip for her work on the Autism Program Environment Rating Scale (APERS). Credit: Soledad Unified School District Board Meeting Updates.
May 1, 2024
SELPA Administrators of California hosted Legislative Sharing Day 2024 on May 1, 2024, in Sacramento. Each spring, SELPA administrators, parents of students with disabilities, and other educational leaders meet together with their legislators to advocate for special education issues impacting students, families, and educators. The event was also co-sponsored by the Coalition for Adequate Funding of Special Education.
Adriana De Los Santos, Monterey County SELPA Community Advisory Committee (CAC), Chair, and parent of a child with a disability, shared her experience advocating for nearly 800,000 students across California. She is also a parent representative from Salinas City Elementary School District. Jessica Chandler was an inspirational key note speaker who is a national advocate for children and families involved in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. The program also included honoring the advocacy of Assemblymember James Gallager, and remarks from Dr. Rachel Heenan, California Department of Education, Director of Special Education Division. After a governmental relations briefing, SELPA administrators and parents met with legislative staffers at the State Capitol swing space. SELPA Executive Directors were grouped with nearby counties, and staff from the offices of Assembly Speaker, Robert Rivas, Senator John Laird, and Assemblymember, Dawn Addis were available to discuss legislative priorities and address questions. Many other parents and families attended, and shared their stories on why it was important that every student with a disability receive an appropriate education. Adriana delivered handwritten letters in support of AB 2173 Reducing Stigma in Education Act, and AB 2026 Disabilities: Person-first Terminology to staff representatives.
Kenyon Hopkins, Monterey County SELPA Executive Director;
Adriana De Los Santos, Monterey County SELPA CAC Chair;
Jessica Little, North Santa Cruz County SELPA Executive Director;
Chris Lompa, San Benito County SELPA Director;
Amber Gallagher, San Luis Obispo County SELPA Director;
Thorjia Vaughn, Templeton Unified CAC Rep;
Alyse Holder, Atascadero Unified CAC Rep;
Tricia Lomino, San Luis Obispo County SELPA Program Specialist;
Elizabeth Marzili, Boulder Creek CAC Rep
Adriana De Los Santos, Monterey County SELPA Community Advisory Committee Chair; and Jessica Chandler, MSW, ACSW, Keynote Speaker
April 17, 2024
On April 17, 2024, twenty-five Speech-Language Pathologists completed their Tier 2 AAC Implementation coursework through the Open Access project sponsored by Placer County SELPA/COE. This amazing group of professionals received 24 hours of training and at least 7 coaching sessions. They were from the following school districts: Alisal USD, Soledad USD, Carmel USD, Pacific Grove USD, Salinas Union HSD, CSUMB- Graduate Program, Monterey County Office of Education, San Benito County Office of Education, Mount Diablo USD (all pictured above) and seven participants from Sonoma County. They were supported by the following Open Access Leads from Monterey County: Sandeep Sunny, Merin Jose, Ginnie Guidotti and Patti Bangs; from San Benito County: Natalia Silva Sepulveda; from Sonoma County: Christy Riddell and our Open Access Coordinator from Placer County SELPA - Jennifer Wright. This was the third cohort and largest cohort of SLPs to "graduate" from Monterey and San Benito Counties. Kudos to all of them for a job well done! Now onward to completion of two assessments and a CAP in order to earn your certification.