SEPTAS

www.cpacinc.org

 

WHAT IS A SEPTA?
Special Education Parent Teacher Association

 

ANNOUNCEMENT: November 15, 2008, the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism and the Young Audiences Arts for Learning is sponsoring a statewide forum on "Careers in the Arts for People with Disabilities". They are inviting artists with disabilities and artists who are interested in working with artists with disabilities to participate.
CLICK HERE for more information and the "call for artists".


SEPTA is a PTA within a school district. SEPTA brings together people who are interested in special education and children with special needs.
SEPTA supports, strengthens and promotes the welfare of children with special needs.
SEPTA promotes an understanding of special education and strives to enrich the lives of children with special needs.   


ARE THE GOALS OF SEPTA?

To ensure that all children receive an education that allows them to reach their full potential.

To bring together parents, families and teachers of children with special needs in order to share their experiences.

To educate parents about special education, including the identification and placement procedures for children with special needs.

To inform legislators, school boards, and the community about the importance of special education programs.

To improve the lives of children by providing cultural, social and physical enrichment.

To advocate for children with special needs and their right to a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment.

 

WHO ARE SEPTA MEMBERS?

Anyone that has an interest in the welfare of children with special needs.

Parents, families, teachers, school administrators, students, friends.

Membership is open to all.

 

HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT SEPTA?

Join a SEPTA

Attend meetings

Participate in programs

Volunteer your time

GET INVOLVED!

 

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

If you suspect your child has a disability that interferes with learning, you can ask to have your child tested by your school district at no cost to you. You can do this even if your child does not attend public school.

You can see your child’s school records and get a copy of the school records at no cost to you. If your child’s school records contain incorrect or misleading information, you can ask to have the information corrected.

When your child is evaluated for special education, the school must explain the tests your child has been given. If you disagree with the school’s evaluation, you can ask for additional testing or an independent evaluation at no cost to you.

You must be treated as a full and equal member of your child’s Planning and Placement Team (PPT). You should be included in every decision about your child’s special education.

If you disagree with decisions about your child’s special education, you have many rights, including the right to mediation and due process.

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!

SEPTAs IN CONNECTICUT

We are fortunate to have several SEPTAs organized in Connecticut.  Below we've provided some basic contact information.  If you need more information regarding any of these organizations, contact the CT PTA office.

 
 

OTHER RESOURCES

There are many resources available to parents of special needs children.  Here are just a few:

AUTISM SOCIETY OF AMERICA
800-3AUTISM

AUTISM SOCIETY OF CT (ASCONN)
P.O. Box 1404
Guilford, CT 06437
888-453-4975
www.autismsocietyofct.org

CONNECTICUT ASSOCIATION FOR CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES (CACLD)
25 Van Zant Street, Suite 15-5
East Norwalk, CT 06855
203-838-5010

CONNECTICUT PARENT ADVOCACY CENTER (CPAC)
338 Main Street
Niantic, CT 06357
800-445-2722

Council for Exceptional Children
Phone: (888) CEC-SPED or (703) 620-3660
Fax: (703) 264-9494 -
http://www.cec.sped.org

CREC HEARING IMPAIRED PROGRAM
129 Hartford Avenue
Wethersfield, CT 06109
860-529-4260

LEARNING DISABILITIES ASSOCIATION OF CONNECTICUT
999 Asylum Avenue
Hartford, CT 06105
860-560-1711

National Association of State Directors of Special Education, Inc. (NASDSE)
http://www.nasdse.org/home.htm

NATIONAL INFORMATION CENTER FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES
800-695-0285

SPECIAL EDUCATION RESOURCE CENTER (SERC)
25 Industrial Park Road
Middletown, CT 06457-1502
860-632-1485
800-842-8678

Yale Academic Skills Clinic
(Assessment clinic for children and youth with individual learning needs)
Yale Child Study Center
230 South Frontage Road
New Haven, CT. 06520
(Locations in New Haven and Greenwich)
To schedule an appointment: 203-785-4239
For more information: Consult their brochure or contact Tina Newman

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

SEPTA Region Towns/Cities Contact Information *
Connecticut SEPTA Council

Founded in 2003, the Connecticut SEPTA Council is a statewide organization that exists to support local SEPTAs and encourage the development of new SEPTAs.

Kevin Daly
Allies Place 3 East Haven Lili A. Kressen
Angel Network Weston SEPTA 4 Weston Jean Barnes
Avon SEPTA 4 Avon Kristine Roark
Berlin SEPTA 5 Berlin Sally Scheyd
Easton SEPTA 4 Easton Stacy Varvaro
Fairfield SEPTA 4 Fairfield Elaine Davis
Website:
www.fairfieldsepta.org
Farmington SEPTA 5 Farmington Chris McCluskey
Website: www.fpsct.org/page.cfm?p=27
Glastonbury SEPTA 1 Glastonbury  
Helping Hands SEPTA 1 Glastonbury Karen Smith
Litchfield County SEPTA 5 Litchfield Hayley Kelley
Newington SEPTA 1 Newington Liz Palaia
Newtown SEPTA 4 Newtown Wendy J. Suckow
Orange SEPTA 3 Orange Cristy Jones
Website: www.orangesepta.org
Plymouth SEPTA 5 Plymouth Pat Diagle
SEPTA Network 3 Stratford, Milford, Trumbull, Shelton, and West Haven Susan St. Pierre
Website:
www.septanetwork.org
Southbury-Middlebury SEPTA 5 Southbury/Middlebury Jacqueline McMahon
Website: www.region15septa.org
Thomaston SEPTA 5 Thomaston Terri Laliberte
Tolland SEPTA 1 Tolland  
West Hartford SEPTA 1 West Hartford Mary Hardy
Westport SEPTA 4 Westport Monica Chusid
Windsor SEPTA 1 Windsor  
Woodbury/Bethlehem SEPTA 5 Woodbury Diane Stockwell
Website: www.wbsepta.org
* For more contact information, including phone numbers,
contact the CT PTA office