SELAC Contact Members...
Michelle Taylor
401-762-6426
Mary McDonald
401-766-7123
NS SPECIAL EDUCATION LOCAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SELAC)
SELAC is a parent-run group that is joined by the Director of Pupil Personnel, School Administrators, and faculty representatives.
Our mission is to:
• Advocate for children with special needs
• Provide support to parents
• Advise School Administrators and the School Committee
• Educate the community about special needs
Meeting Schedule
Most meetings are held the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 7-9:00 PM in the Halliwell School Library.
Upcoming Meetings:
- March 10, 2004
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973: Learn what this law means and how it affects children with disabilities. Parent and student rights in identification, evaluation, and accommodations are explored along with a comparison of how this law relates to other laws protecting children and youth with disabilities.- April 14, 2004
Bullying 101: Learn how to identify the issues, developmental characteristics and concrete actions that adults and students can take to address concerns and prevent bullying.- May 12, 2004
- June 9, 2004
Concerns
- Continue to expand inclusion through the 12th grade.
- Implement an Alternative Learning Program for grades 7–9.
- Reduce class size for Inclusion classes to a maximum of 18–20 students.
- Implement "Responsive Classroom" in grades pre-K–8. http://www.responsiveclassroom.org/
- Notify the Director of Pupil Personnel for every school suspension.
- Provide quiet areas at all schools for children to have a place to go to cool down before their behavior escalates.
FEDERAL LAWS THAT PROTECT INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES:
The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
- Children ages 3–21 who are determined by a multidisciplinary team to be eligible within one or more of 13 specific categories of disability and who need special education and related services
- Special education means "specially designed instruction, at no cost to the parents, to meet the unique needs of the child with a disability...." Related services are provided if students require them in order to benefit from specially designed instruction. States are required to ensure the provision of "full educational opportunity" to all children with disabilities.
- IDEA requires the development of an Individualized Education Program (IEP) document with specific content and a required number of specific participants at an IEP meeting.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
- Section 504 is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. Section 504 ensures that the child with a disability has equal access to an education and may receive accommodations and modifications.
