Welcome to the Pleasanton PTA Council Special Needs Committee
The Pleasanton PTA Council Special Needs Committee (SNC) is made up of dedicated parent volunteers committed to making a difference in the lives of our special needs students and their families. Committee members include PUSD administrators from Special Education and PBIS as well as Parent Liaison. Our goal is to foster and maintain positive relationships between parents and PUSD, and spread awareness as well as acceptance of ALL abilities within our community.
SNC sponsors free evening speaker events with well-known local authorities on topics such as learning and behavioral challenges, anxiety in children and teens, ADHD, understanding the Individual Education Plan (IEP) and 504 processes, and building blocks to a successful collaboration between parents and schools. We also sponsor the Ability Awareness Week program with participating schools throughout the district. Students learn about the challenges a child with special needs faces on a daily basis, and learn how to ACCEPT–UNDERSTAND–SUPPORT everyone and their differences.
SNC defines “special needs” as a term that applies to children who are gifted learners, any child with a learning or processing difference, physical disability, cognitive delay, speech & language delay, behavioral challenges, social or emotional difficulty, and those with food allergies.
 Disclaimer: PUSD or the PTA Council does not necessarily endorse or sponsor the content of any written or electronic material displayed or provided. This information is provided for your convenience. Parents/guardians are responsible for determining the potential merits of the information posted.
If you would like to provide feedback regarding these listings, please email Belle Musfeldt, Communications.
Click on the Live Images & Flyers Posted Below
Updated 11-15-18
9:30 - 11:30 a.m. PUSD District Offices 4665 Bernal Avenue Kottinger Room     The Special Needs Committee would like to thank our Vintage Hills School Representative Sara Walls for her time, effort and creativity to make Ability Awareness Week a success. As a result of her efforts, Vintage Hills students have had the chance to experience hands-on activities simulating various challenges, participate in group discussions, and most importantly, to have the opportunity to ask any questions that they may have.
An additional big thank you to Noreen Senner, Cary Fukada, Libby Werba and Rashmi Prasad for their leadership throughout the week. The goal of Ability Awareness Week is to make students more aware and more empathetic about the diverse range of student abilities in our schools. The program would not be possible without dedicated volunteers so THANK YOU for helping Vintage Hills “Celebrate All Abilities.”
Regina Stoops was born and raised in a town called Normal, though her humor is anything but. Regina has her own unique perspective on what most might consider the mundane details of ordinary life: raising three boys, being married (or not), aging parents, health care, navigating the world of special education, mini-van motoring and the grocery store.
Regina has created a blog called NORMAL NOTES which is filled with humorous ramblings that are heartfelt, touching and insightful. To read her latest rambling, click the image below or the logo above to navigate to her site.
Just The Facts Ma'am
  Click anywhere on the flyer to download a copy or
for a Chinese or Vietnamese version.
  The Special Needs Committee would like to thank our School Representative, Stephanie Rauscher, for all of her amazing work at Donlon Elementary School. Stephanie has organized Abilities Awareness Week at Donlon for the past four years. As a result of all her efforts, Donlon students have had the chance to experience hands-on activities simulating various challenges, engage in adapted PE classes, participate in class discussions, and most importantly, they have the opportunity to ask any questions that they may have.
Stephanie has volunteered countless hours to bring The Abilities Awareness Program to Donlon. She's done a great job updating the program each year to ensure that it continues to be fun and engaging for the students while still focusing on our message to Accept–Support–Understand everyone regardless of their differences.
On behalf of the entire Special Needs Committee, thank you, Stephanie!
  To download the flyer in pdf, click anywhere on the document image.
SNC Receives PUSD Champion of Change Award
10/23/18
 SNC executive team in the bottom row from left to right: Rashmi Prasad-Chair, Belle Musfeldt-Communications, Michele Plunge-Events,
Regina Stoop-Ability Awareness
Cary Fucada-Treasurer, Linda Fazzio-Membership
Regina Stoops was born and raised in a town called Normal, though her humor is anything but. Regina has her own unique perspective on what most might consider the mundane details of ordinary life: raising three boys, being married (or not), aging parents, health care, navigating the world of special education, mini-van motoring and the grocery store.
Regina has created a blog called NORMAL NOTES which is filled with humorous ramblings that are heartfelt, touching and insightful. Click on the image below to read her latest rambling, or the logo above to navigate to her site.
Happy Halloween, Get Out the "Mapp"
By Regina Stoops
 An Update from The
Director of Special Education
To download the full document, click on the document image below.
 
SNC needs your help! We still have some positions open for the school representatives listed below. We'd love to have you, so come and join us and make a difference in the lives of our special needs families!
School Representative
Hearst Elementary Mohr Elementary Harvest Park Middle Village High
If you wish to be a representative for your school, please complete the Membership Form or contact Linda Fazzio if you have questions.
 The Key to Improving How IEP Teams Support Children’s Social and Emotional Needs by Mona Delahooke, Ph.D.
Click on the image to be directed to the article.
      The Livermore Special Needs Parent Group is made up of parents and guardians in the Livermore area whose children have various special needs. It was established by parents, for parents. Our group has monthly meetings on the 3rd Wednesday of each month (except for December, June, July, and August) from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm. Address and meeting topics listed below.
Livermore Valley Tennis Club
2000 Arroyo Road
Livermore, CA 94550
2018-19 Meeting Topics
September 19 – Special Education
(for parents whose child attends Livermore Unified)
October 17 – Behavior
November 14 – Depression
January 16 – Screen Time
February 20 – IEP
March 20 – Alternative Therapies
April 17 – Transitions
May 15 – Summer Strategies
Your Child’s Class May Participate in the Tri-Valley SELPA Special Olympics. Check with Your Teacher, Save The Date to Your Calendar and Come Out and Cheer!
    There’s a Big Difference Between “Bad Behavior” and “Sensory Overload”
      PUSD Facilitated
Individualized Education Plan (IEP) Training for District Staff
Two half-day IEP Facilitated Stakeholder Trainings were offered on Tuesday, August 21st. The Kottinger training room was filled both sessions with teachers, administrators, district leaders, psychologist, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, and other support staff. Dr. Joyce Little, from www.Key2Ed.com presented on the rationale and process of a Facilitated IEP; how to be an effective participant and team member; how to set a meeting up for success from the onset; roles and responsibilities of all team members; preventative measures; effective communication strategies; as well as, pre-and post-meeting success strategies. A survey is being conducted of attendees for more specific feedback; however, initial responses from many staff leaving the training were positive with some staff seeking additional more in-depth training.
WOULD YOU LIKE AN INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND IN PLEASANTON?  Exciting news! The City of Pleasanton is considering building an inclusive playground. Conversations have just started and the city is seeking direct input from the community members whose families would benefit from an inclusive playground. Please let the City know how an inclusive playground can benefit all families by emailing the following individuals at the Parks and Recreation Commission:
Heidi Murphy
Terry Snyder
A Welcome Back Letter from the Director of Special Education
 Deej
'Every child deserves the chance to achieve literacy and become fully educated. Competence must be presumed. Whenever possible, autistic children should be included in regular classes and not, as DJ has put it, in "segregated classes of easy lessons."'
“Deej is the best film on autism I’ve ever seen. So much of DJ’s experience resonates deeply with me; it feels authentic from start to finish. Deej is an important film for anyone who wants to understand autistic lives.”
Brent White
Brent White
Adult Transition Program Director,
Ala Costa Centers, Berkeley, CA
   A Warm Welcome to Our
New Special Ed Director!
June 12, 2018
Dear Site Administrators, Special Education Teachers, Instructional Assistants and SPED support staff,
During the Board meeting tonight, Mary Jude Doerpinghaus, was approved to serve as our Director of Special Education. Please join me in welcoming Ms. Doerpinghaus to PUSD, the Special Education department and to the Leadership team.
Ms. Doerpinghaus joins us from the San Carlos School District where she is currently serving as the Interim Superintendent. Over the last 10 years in San Carlos, she also served as the Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, Director of Student and Educational Services, Director of Special Education, and Coordinator of Special Education. In the Palo Alto Unified School District, Ms. Doerpinghaus served as a speech-language pathologist for approximately 11 years. I anticipate that Ms. Doerpinghaus will officially join the district on July 1.
I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to our Interim Director, Doris Kwok, and our Acting Assistant Director, Emily Knaggs. Ms. Kwok and Ms. Knaggs have both provided exceptional leadership to the special education department during this year of transitions. Many thanks to both of these outstanding educators.
Please feel free to forward this email to your student’s parents/guardians, so they are informed of our personnel changes. I will also ask Patrick Gannon to send out a communication to our Pleasanton community regarding the appointment of Mary Jude Doerpinghaus.
I hope you enjoy your summer break!
Sincerely,
Ed Diolazo
Assistant Superintendent
Student Support Services
Pleasanton Unified School District
925-426-4290
Ryan's Poem
Just because I have Autism, please don’t stereotype me.
I have Autism and that makes me different.
It does not make me stupid.
It does not make me weird.
Because I have Autism, I have Superpowers.
I can memorize TV and movie lines.
I can remember lots of things like the name of every kid at my Middle School.
I have great eyesight.
I can tell the difference between a Cessna and Beechcraft airplane
when they are high in the sky.
I can also tell the difference just by hearing the engine.
Autism makes it hard for me to keep track of things like homework.
It makes it hard for me to talk to other kids and
sometimes I don’t know what to say.
I am a regular guy who wants to make friends.
I am just a regular guy who has Autism.
 To learn more, click anywhere on the program flyer.
 | Contact the Special Needs Committee:
SNC Events Please check back often as we will be adding new events when they are confirmed! August 20 General Meeting Kottinger Room September 5 Welcome Back Families of Students with IEPs and 504 Plans September 13 General Meeting Bernal Room September 24-28 Donlon Elementary Ability Awareness Week October 3 (New!) IEPs and 504s–The Basics and Beyond October 11 General Meeting District Board Room November 5-9 Vintage Hills Ability Awareness Week November (New Date & Time!) General Meeting 9:30-11:30 a.m. Kottinger Room December 5 (New!) SNC FREE Parent Event Sibling Panel December 13 General Meeting Kottinger Room January 10 General Meeting Kottinger Room February 14 General Meeting Kottinger Room March 14 General Meeting Kottinger Room April 9 (Tuesday) General Meeting Kottinger Room May 9 General Meeting Bernal Room Join SNC!  Stay Connected!  Sign up below to receive current news and events information from SNC, your school, the District and SELPA.
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roup is parent-moderated and free. The San Ramon Valley Council of PTAs’ Special Needs Committee is partnering with us to host this group.
