Workshop for Families with Children With Special Needs on April 11

The following information was provided by the Parent Advisory Committee.  

Raising a child is a big and often worrisome responsibility, but for parents, guardians, and other caregivers of children with physical or emotional problems, learning disabilities, or social difficulties, these challenges can feel even larger.  In Summit, the Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC), a parent-led group, has been working with Summit Public Schools and others in the community to help support families and others who face these challenges every day.

SEPAC’s mission is to support parents whose children have unique challenges, whether or notthey receive special education services; and to advise the district on matters related to special-education policy and programs. SEPAC does this by hosting meetings for parents and other caregivers, sharing information about resources in the community, and sharing its views on selected program and/or policy changes and other relevant initiatives being considered by the district.  Meetings include presentations from knowledgeable speakers on a wide range of topics, or simply informal coffee gatherings to allow caregivers to share ideas, network, and bond and support one another.  SEPAC also forwards information on community resources to families on its email list. 

SEPAC, along with the Summit special-education department, is hosting a parent workshop about helping kids improve their social skills.  It will include informative presentations by school district staff (including a behaviorist, psychologists, social workers and psychology interns) and will address social skills and making friends.  The workshop will be held on April 11 at 9:30 am at the Wilson Primary Center , 14 Beekman Terrace in Summit . The presentations will be relevant to helping children of all ages as well as information specific to elementary, middle, and high-school students.  All interested parents and other caregivers are invited to attend this free event.

SEPAC is also hoping to add more members to its group, which is open to all families, whether they live in Summit or not.  In addition, SEPAC needs more volunteers to help lead the group.  Time commitment required of leaders is minimal, and even a short commitment can make a big difference for many children.   To discuss volunteering or simply to get on the SEPAC family confidential email list, contact Amy at sepac4@gmail.com. You are also invited to visit the SEPAC Facebook page: SEPAC Summit NJ.