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A Special Education PTA or SEPTA/SEPTSA is a unit organized for those interested in the issues of educating special needs and/or gifted and talented children.
SEPTAs are designed to build strong partnerships amongst parents, teachers, administrators, existing PTA’s and the community, for the benefit of families and children receiving special education services.
All SEPTA’s conduct regular business meetings during the school year just like any PTA. SEPTAs bring awareness and information about special education services, educational laws and community supports to our members. Our hope is that children receiving special education services will be better understood, integrated, and embraced by schools and their community.
Go here for more information about SEPTAs!
See this NYS Education Department Office of Special Education Page.
Check out this NYS Education Department Assistance for Parents Page with information.
Also, see here for information about Pathways to Graduation Options for Students with Disabilities.
Read here about the IEP Facilitation Program that is available to families.
You can also seek assistance from a number of Education Department Regional Offices.
Also, check out this information from Autism Speaks. There are ample resources to review related to autism.
Parent to Parent of NYS also has support for parents and families of students with disabilities.
Also, check out The Center for Parents Information and Resources.
UFT, the teachers union in NYC also has a good parent resource page.
The Self Advocacy Association of NYS also has relevant information for families of those with developmental disabilities.
New! Supporting Individuals with Autism Through Uncertain Times resource page from Autism Focused Intervention Research & Modules (AFIRM).
Parent Training and Information Centers (PTICs) provide parents and families of children (birth -21) with disabilities assistance, help, and referral services for no cost.
Your county is served by one of many PTICS (for information purposes only, this is not a referral):
Statewide (expect for LI and NYC)
Putnam, Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster Counties
Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Wyoming, Genesee, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany Counties
National PTA Special Education Toolkit
NYS Education Department Office of Special Education
NYS Education Department Advisory Panel on Special Education
NYS Department of Education NYS School for the Deaf
NYS Education Department NYS School for the Blind
NYS Education Department Early Childhood Direction Centers
NYS Education Department Gifted and Talented Education
National Center for Learning Disabilities
Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder
National Center for Learning Disabilities
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Resource Center
Protecting Students with Disabilities
Information for Families and Communities (NICHCY)
Parent Technical Assistance Center Network
NY State Association of Counties
NY State Department of Education
NY State Office of the Comptroller
Federal Legislation Information