Category Archives: Uncategorized

Individualized Education Programs and 504 Plans help get your child what they need to thrive at school, but what about at home? Caring for a child with behavioral, mental health and emotional challenges, or intellectual and developmental disabilities, can be overwhelming. The Children’s System of Care (part of New Jersey’s Department of Children and Families)Continue reading “January 2022: PerformCare Fact Sheet”

SEPAC SOMA is happy to announce two recent additions to our SEPAC SOMA Executive Board: Nicole Josey, Vice President of Equity and Inclusion Michelle Reback, Vice President of Parent Support Nicole is the Special Education Liaison at Jefferson Elementary, and has previously served as our Vice President of Parent Support. Michelle is a former SpecialContinue reading “Announcement: New SEPAC SOMA 2021-2022 Board Members”

The following letter submitted by SEPAC was read during the public speaks portion of the SOMSD Board of Education meeting on 10/18/21. Good evening Board of Education members, I’m speaking to you on behalf of the board of SEPAC SOMA — the Special Education Parent Advisory Committee — to bring your attention to TWO criticalContinue reading “Letter Read at BOE Meeting (10/18/21): EBR Staffing Shortages and MMS Elevator”

The following letter submitted by SEPAC was read during the public speaks portion of the 8/16/21 Board of Education meeting. Good evening Dr. Taylor, Administrators and BOE Members, The Executive Board of the Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (or SEPAC) here in our district is advocating for you to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for all schoolContinue reading “Letter Read at BOE Meeting (8/16/21): Vaccination Mandate”

The following letter was submitted on 8/11/21 on behalf of SEPAC to SOMSD Superintendent Dr. Ronald Taylor, the members of the SOMSD Board of Education and other Maplewood/South Orange community leaders. Greetings Dr. Taylor, Administrators, BOE Members and South Orange – Maplewood Community Leaders,  I hope this email finds you well and enjoying your summer. Continue reading “SEPAC Letter to Dr. Taylor & BOE (8/11/21): Vaccination Mandate”

For our January 2021 SEPAC Meeting, we discussed IEPs – goals, meetings and accommodations, for both in-person and virtual. Our co-VP of Programming Nicole Stewart, made up a Tip Sheet – attached below, to help with your child’s IEP.

Nicole Stewart and Cheryl Irwin, of Solutions for Exceptional Children, put together a slide presentation in conjunction with our December 1, 2020 Meeting. Find it HERE.

At the December 1, 2020 SEPAC Meeting, the focus topic was Mental Health and Behaviors during Distance Learning. There was panel discussion that included Arelis Tapia-Vargas, the School Social Worker from Clinton, and Laura Prato, one of the School Social Workers at Columbia High. They prepared a presentation for the evening that included resources forContinue reading “Mental Health Presentation from December 1, 2020 SEPAC Meeting (12/13/20)”