The Office of Student Services oversees special education, English as a New Language (ENL) students in temporary housing and DASA (the Dignity for All Students Act).

Trainings

The Community Support Network at Westchester Institute for Human Development will host its “Special Education 101: Training of the Parent Member” virtual training four times is 2024.

In these four-hour sessions, participants will learn about the entire Committee for Special Education process, and those eligible can join committee meetings as a volunteer Parent Member. This is an opportunity to build community, support other parents, and learn more about the CSE process to support their child.

While this training is open to anyone who would like to learn more about special education, parents or guardians whose child has or had an IEP in the last five years, will receive a certificate for submission to their school district to serve as a Parent Member at CPSE/CSE meetings.

The January sessions will be from 4-6 p.m. over two dates, Thursdays, Jan. 4 and 11. The three other sessions will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a one hour break for lunch, on Wednesdays, April 24 or July 24, or Tuesday, Oct. 8, Four hours must be completed to receive certification.

Register at the links below:

• Registration for the January session.
• Registration for the April 24 session.
• Registration for the July 24 session.
• Registration for the Oct. 8 session.

The Community Support Network at Westchester Institute for Human Development is the Hudson Valley’s resource for individuals with disabilities, their families and the professionals supporting them. The CSN operates Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Centers for the NYSED OSE Partnership.

For more information, email csn@wihd.org or visit www.wihd.org/events.

Resources

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Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at SUNY Albany

The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) offers distance education opportunities for professionals and parents on topics related to autism.
Sessions are offered at no cost and each lasts 60-90 minutes. Sessions include lectures, multimedia examples, case studies and research studies. A complete schedule of CARD sessions is available here.

Migrant Education Program

The Migrant Education Program is authorized by the Every Student Succeeds Act and provides educational services to families who work in agriculture, regardless of nationality or legal status. This program is free to eligible families and may include tutoring, student meals, educational field trips, summer programs, parent involvement activities, emergency needs and referrals. For more information contact Deborah DeGraw at ddegraw@libertyk12.org.

Westchester Institute for Human Development

WIHD operates Early Childhood and School-Age Family And Community Engagement (FACE) Centers which are part of the NYS Education Department Office of Special Education Educational Partnership network of support. The centers assist families through workshops, educational resources and direct consultation and referral. Learn more on the WIHD website