SEPAC SOMA MEETINGS & UPDATES
APRIL
Paraprofessional Appreciation Day is April 1st! SEPAC SOMA loves our SOMSD paras! We are grateful for their hard work, commitment to, and compassion for the children in our district. What do Paras do? The next time you see a paraprofessional at school, be sure to say THANK YOU!
APRIL
We’ll be at the Maplewood/South Orange Community Health Fair this Saturday in DeHart Park. (
INSIDE if the weather doesn’t cooperate.) We hope you’ll stop by and say hello. If you have questions about Special Education supports and resources in our community, our team would love to chat.
There will be free health screenings, along with preventive services such as mammograms & cholesterol screenings, plus free food, prizes, and giveaways.
Saturday 4/25 @ 10am-1pm
DeHart Park, 120 Burnett Ave, Maplewood
APRIL
LUNCH & LEARN with the Special Education Ombudsman
Parents and caregivers are invited to attend a free virtual learning session hosted by SEPAC SOMA and Tracy Gillespie, Special Education Ombudsman for the New Jersey Department of Education.
Lunch & Learn meetings are a new offering from the NJ DOE Office of Special Education, intended to strengthen collaboration and promote a shared understanding of special education processes with families of children with disabilities. This will be SEPAC SOMA’s first session with the Ombudsman — we hope you’ll join us! Take a closer look at the topics planned for this meeting.
Monday, April 27 @ 11:00-11:30am
▣ Join this virtual meeting
Microsoft Teams
Meeting ID: 212 261 552 828 49
Passcode: bm6Pb9vxDial in by phone:
+1 908-409-1022,,549066179#
MAY
CUP CHATS: Conversation, Connection & Community
Do you have a child in an out-of-district school?
Save the date for our next Cup Chat exclusively for parents and caregivers of neurodiverse students with an out-of-district placement, whether it’s through SOMSD, unilateral, or private.
Join our Out-of-District School SEPAC SOMA Liaison Jennifer Wiezorek for an informal discussion about common experiences, questions, concerns, and success stories. Connect and network!
Friday, May 1 @ 9:00am
◉ Community Center @ Founders Park, 317 Valley St, South Orange
Questions? Please email oodsoma.spedliaison@gmail.com
MAY
TRANSITIONS – Middle & High School
Starting 6th or 9th Grade means big changes! Join SEPAC SOMA to talk transitions for tweens and teens with disabilities with a panel of middle and high school experts.
◉ Monday 5/4 @ 7:00pm
In person! Location soon!
MAY
ACCOMMODATIONS & MODIFICATIONS
Join SOMSD Special Services Supervisors for an information session to learn more about strategies for supporting student success, adapting curriculum and environment, and helping every child thrive.
NEW DATE! Monday 5/18 @ 7:00pm
▣ Find the meeting link soon at SOMSD Webinars
Note: As of 4/23, the date has NOT been updated on the district site, but 5/18 is the correct date.
RESOURCE FAIR GUIDE
What a joy it was to see our SEPAC SOMA community making connections! Huge thanks to the families who stopped by, to the local providers, groups, and organizations who shared a Saturday afternoon with us, and to Together We Bloom, Beloved Bath, Lindsey Stone Homes, and the South Mountain YMCA for partnering with us. We’re already thinking about the 4th Annual Resource Fair next spring!
APRIL
RECAP: TRANSITIONING TO ADULT LIFE
JESPY House, a local provider based in South Orange, joined us in April to share info about planning, options, and resources for youth with developmental disabilities and their parents. Learn about the transition to adult life after high school or an 18-21 program. Housing, employment, recreational services … what’s next?
What is SEPAC SOMA?
The Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC) is a parent-led, state-mandated group focused on policies, programs, and practices within the South Orange & Maplewood School District. SEPAC provides parents with tools and information to work collaboratively with the school district and to be more effective advocates for their children with special educational needs. Families and caregivers of students with learning needs or students eligible for or receiving services under an IEP or 504 plan are encouraged to attend SEPAC Meetings. (Español / Kreyòl Ayisyen)
2025-2026 EXECUTIVE BOARD
President: Nicole Josey
VP, Policy Initiatives: Susan Nasberg-Abrams
VP, Family Engagement: Verna Holcomb
VP, Community Outreach: Dina Roskin
Programming Director: Ifeoma Nwigwe
Communications Director: Kelly Mortimer
Ex Officio: Beth Cosentino
info@sepacsoma.org
SEPAC Meetings
SEPAC hosts meetings throughout the school year to provide parents and caregivers support, resources and information relevant to students with special education programming. Our meetings consist of featured conversations and presentations, as well as support, resource sharing, and the ability to connect with other members of the special education community. Meetings with featured topics are our attempt to get those with similar concerns in the same room at the same time but all are always welcome!
At every meeting, we learn from one another, support each other, share resources and connect with others.
Connect with SEPAC SOMA
Stay informed about Special Education updates, advocacy efforts and upcoming meetings by subscribing to our mailing list.
SEPAC SOMA Advocacy
SEPAC SOMA works hard to support and advocate for Special Education families by identifying trending issues and elevating those concerns to district administration and the Board of Education. If you’re feeling stuck, please let us know by reaching out to your school’s SEPAC Liaison or emailing us at info@sepacsoma.org.
SEPAC SOMA 