A special education advocate is someone who works on behalf of a student and student's family to help the family obtain special education services. Some advocates are available to families at no charge; others are paid professionals. They have varying levels of experience and training.
Over the years SECAC has worked with many special education advocates both as participants in our advocate nights and as speakers at our meetings. Here is a list of those individuals and organizations.
Community Advocates for You - https://advocates4you.org/
Education Team Allies - https://educationteamallies.com/
Education Due Process Solutions - https://www.educationdps.com/
Loud Voices Together - https://loudvoicestogether.org/
Cara Phillips - https://caralphillips.com
Any services provided by and costs of these advocates to families are between the advocate and the family. This is merely a place for families to come to find quality special education advocate that we have worked with.
The MDSE division of Early Intervention and Special Education Services provides leadership and guidance for all local school systems. Their publications and technical assistance bulletins are available for parents and staff to learn about best practices and latest research.
Maryland Assessment, Accessibility, & Accommodations Policy Manual
The HCPSS Department of Special Education website contains staff contacts, the Special Education Strategic Plan, programs such as Extended School Year (ESY) and Project SEARCH among others.
The Parents Place of Maryland offers resources for families with children with disabilities or other health concerns.
410-768-9100
ESY Fact Sheet
HCPSS Resource List (also available below)
Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) provides free legal services to Marylanders of any age with all types of disabilities who live in facilities, in the community or who are homeless.
Their resources page contains downloads and links to many of their own publications and other disability rights information from the Maryland State Department of Education and other disability advocacy sites.
In January 2017 the Supreme Court of the United States took up the case of Endrew F. vs the Douglas County School District. The parents of Endrew F. thought that under the country's Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), he was entitled to more services under his IEP than he was getting. The school district argued that he was only entitled to minimal benefit from his IEP. In March 2017 SCOTUS unanimously disagreed with the school system stating that the education for children with disabilities should be set an a higher bar. See SCOTUS blog's review of the case with documents on the judgements issued.
Howard County SECAC Flyer 21-22 (pdf)
DownloadSECAC By Laws - (revised 2020) (docx)
DownloadOSEP Guidance COVID-19 (pdf)
DownloadDSE Update to SECAC 10.27.20 (pdf)
DownloadHCPSS Parent Questionnaire for Transition (docx)
DownloadHCPSS Transitioning Youth High School Timeline (doc)
DownloadHCPSS Adapted Physical Education Referral and Assessment Process (pdf)
DownloadHCPSS Parent concern form (pdf)
DownloadHCPSS Endrew F Special Ed Forum By Ashley vanCleef (pdf)
Download2019-2020 Flyers (zip)
DownloadState of Dyslexia (Sept 2018) (pdf)
DownloadDifferent is the new Cool - AES/K. Alfonso (pdf)
DownloadSMART Goals April 2018 (pptx)
DownloadSECAC Bylaws (revised 2017-18) (docx)
DownloadBCBA Special Ed Forum - Kim Lund (pptx)
Download2017-2018 Agendas (zip)
DownloadFamily Support Resource Ctr (pdf)
DownloadParent Guide to 504 and IEP Services 4.29.2020 (pdf)
DownloadParent Guide to Special Ed - Chinese (pdf)
DownloadParent Guide to Special Ed - Korean (pdf)
DownloadParent guide to Special Education - Spanish (pdf)
DownloadParent Guide to Special Education 3.15.2021 (pdf)
DownloadParent Guide to Specialized Transportation (pdf)
DownloadHoward Public Schools Resources PPMD (pdf)
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