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Welcome to the
Welcome to the
Pleasanton PTA Council
Pleasanton PTA Council
Special Needs Committee
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.
Join SNC
Join SNC
Would you like to....
be part of a positive change for Pleasanton students?
share your ideas about how to help students thrive?
build understanding of the different abilities at our schools?
have your voice heard by district administrators?
If so, here are three ways you can be involved by becoming an SNC Member:
SUBSCRIBE TO THE SNC MAILING LIST
Receive news about our monthly meetings and upcoming events hosted by SNC.
VOLUNTEER
Attend our monthly SNC meetings to share your ideas and perspectives, and/or volunteer at any of our sponsored events (FREE evening speaker presentations, Ability Awareness Week at participating Pleasanton schools, district-sponsored Special Olympics.) Please offer your support based on your interest and availability.
SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVE
Represent your school and attend the monthly SNC meetings to update the committee about any ideas or concerns about your school.
Parent Coffee Meetup
Please join us for a Parent Coffee Meetup on Wednesday, November 5 from 9:30 to 11 AM at the PUSD District Office located at 5758 W. Las Positas Blvd in Pleasanton! We will be in Training Room 3.
Drop in at your convenience to learn more about the Special Needs Committee and connect with other parents in our community. All are welcome! This is a wonderful opportunity to share experiences, gather resources, and catch up with Jeni Rickard, Senior Director of Special Education.
Food and coffee provided by the Village Adult Transition Program will be available for purchase. We look forward to seeing you there and building our network together! ☕ ✨
Parent Education Event:
Understanding PDA
Join the Pleasanton PTA Council Special Needs Committee for an insightful Parent Education event featuring guest speaker Jessica Hanzo, MA LMFT on Wednesday, November 12, from 6–7PM on Zoom.
Come learn about Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)—also known as Persistent Drive for Autonomy—a complex profile linked to extreme demand avoidance, often driven by anxiety, overwhelm, and a strong need for autonomy.
Jessica will share how viewing behaviors through a PDA lens can help us better recognize signs of stress and adjust how we support children both at school and at home.
This talk will explore:
How stress shows up in PDA
Why some kids seem to resist everything
A nervous system framework for support that centers safety, connection, and autonomy
Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding and gain practical insights for supporting neurodivergent children.
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