By GREG VINE
For the Athol Daily News
ATHOL — Two local parents appeared before the Athol-Royalston Regional School District School Committee this week to provide an update on the activities of the Athol Royalston Special Education Parent Advisory Council.
SEPAC co-chair Meghan Cote said the group is meant to help parents of special needs students get their children the education and services they need and deserve.
“As a parent,” she said, “I was familiar with questions posed by myself and other parents, such as how do I keep my children well and get them the education that they need. I really think (SEPAC) will allow us to build a great relationship between schools, children, and parents.”
Danalynn Stockwood, chair of the newly-formed group, said, “Our role is to build a strong relationship between SEPAC and pupil services, to provide our families with workshops – and for the community as well, for that better understanding, provide outreach and resources to families, to facilitate communication between parents and school officials, and to encourage and promote understanding, acceptance, and inclusion for students with disabilities.”
Other goals include promoting a network of parents of children with special needs and provide a forum for information-sharing. SEPAC also hopes to advise the district, including the Director of Pupil Services and the School Committee on operations, development and evaluation of special education programs and staff training needs.
Stockwood added the organization would promote communications between SEPAC members, local, state, and national organizations, councils, and other groups, and would promote a network of parents of children with special needs and provide a forum for sharing information.
Cote said the next meeting of SEPAC will be held on February 27 at 5 p.m. at the Athol
Royalston Middle School library. She said a representative of the Dept. of Public Health “will discuss what the DPH has to offer in resources.” The DPH presentation will take place from 5 to 6, with the regular SEPAC meeting to follow.
“We certainly want to invite parents and educators to these meetings to share any ideas they may have on how to better serve students with special needs,” said Cote.
Cote told the ADN, “Our mission is very dear to our hearts and we are truly looking forward to making a positive impact and support system for our children and families with special needs.
We are very empathetic and mindful of the difficulties and emotionally taxing experiences that come with being a parent of a child with special needs.”
“We are looking forward to bringing positivity, inclusion, acceptance and awareness of children with special needs,” she concluded, “while empowering their voices and providing parents and community members with supportive resources. Our children are at the forefront of our mission and always will be.”
State law requires all public school districts to maintain a Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) available to all parents of students with disabilities, and other interested parties.