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 on this site. Parents and guardians are responsible for determining the potential merits of the information provided.If you would like to provide feedback regarding these listings, please email Belle Musfeldt, Communications.
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Updated 4-18-19
Online Submission Form Deadline Extended to April 26! Give a MAD Award to Your Favorite Teacher, Aide, Related Service or Private Provider!  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 Bothwell Arts Center, Livermore April 17 – Transitions May 15 – Summer Strategies  SNC Needs Volunteers During Abilities Awareness Week at Hearst Elementary School April 22-April 26 5301 Case Ave. Pleasanton, CA 94566 We will Celebrate All Abilities the week of April 22nd - 26th. We hope this fun filled week of activities will promote awareness and also educate students about how to accept, understand and support their fellow students. We are looking for volunteers to walk our students through hands on activities that briefly simulate different abilities during their Science Lab. Training and scripts will be provided. We are also looking for people to sign up for lunchtimes in the garden. Do you or someone you know, have a different ability that you would feel comfortable talking to the children about? We would love you to come in and give our students the opportunity to learn, how to respectfully ask questions, be compassionate and understand how to communicate effectively. Please feel free to sign up for multiple slots! Thanks for making our week a success! Important Notice: You must be cleared by the school district before volunteering. To Volunteer  Thursday, May 9 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. PUSD District Offices 4665 Bernal Avenue Bldg 400 – Kottinger Room  WorkAbilityI is a PUSD Sponsored Progam
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 WorkAbilityI is a PUSD Sponsored Progam
Click on the Image Below to Access the Full Newsletter
  To register, click anywhere on the flyer.
Special Olympics Track & Field
April 23 – Middle School-High School-Transition
Please Check with Your Child’s Teacher If the Class is Participating
        ASD Reading offers unique instruction methods not found in other programs:
 Summer Program FAQs, click anywhere
on the ESY document.
For more information, Click Here.
 To read the rest of the article, click on the document.
  Click anywhere on flyer to be directed to the full article.
 For more information, Click Here.
To download PDF, click anywhere on the form.
 A school nurse emailed...
Thirteen percent of students have food allergies. That's about two kids per class - not a small problem!
Concerns about episodic conditions such as allergies, anaphylaxis, asthma, epilepsy, do not have "one size fits all" solutions. Does your school have an appropriate plan in place to meet your child's unique needs? In this issue of the Special Ed Advocate learn about the school's responsibility to provide your child with an education tailored to her unique needs. You'll find information, articles, and caselaw relating to episodic conditions. 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.
Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree
"the important things are friends and family and those who’ve been there over the years"
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To Reserve Seats, click anywhere on the flyer.
Click Here to view this event online.
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.”
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
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.
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.
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 Elementary
Ability Awareness Week
November 8 7
(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
January 23 (New!)
Do You Have Concerns About ESY? Seeking Parent Feedback & Suggestions
January 28-February 1
(New!)
Walnut Grove Elementary
Ability Awareness Week
February 14
General Meeting
Kottinger Room
February 20 (New!)
SNC FREE Parent Event
Las Positas College Disabled Student Programs & Services
February 21 (New!)
SNC FREE Parent Event for
March 13 (New!)
Pleasanton Middle School
Ability Awareness Week
March 13 (New!)
SNC FREE Parent Event
Financial Planning for Families of Students with Special Needs
March 14
General Meeting
Kottinger Room
April 9 (Tuesday)
General Meeting
Kottinger Room
May 9
General Meeting
Bernal Room
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