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Volume 11

March 2023

ADR Insights is a monthly newsletter, brought to you by South County SELPA's (Special Education Local Plan Area) ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) team, full of special education information. This month were talking about family engagement and the key role it plays in a child's education. Keep reading to learn more and hear about upcoming events and SELPA highlights.

Studies show that parents' involvement in their children's education positively impacts that child's social-emotional, and educational success, but what does that parent involvement look like for a student with an Individualized Education Program (IEP)?

Parents are Important Members of the IEP Team

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) parents are a required member of the IEP team because they bring concerns and observations that can help the team develop the IEP. Here are some tips to help raise parent involvement in the IEP meeting:

• Provide a copy of the IEP to the parent prior to the meeting so they have time to review it
• Have parents write down questions and concerns before the meeting
• Speak in a way the parents will understand -- don't use acronyms
• Be open-minded and actively listen to parents and other team members

Staying Involved and Organized

Being a parent or guardian of a child with special needs can be overwhelming with paperwork, meetings, doctors' appointments, and sometimes much more. The following are a few tips to share with parents for staying involved and organized:

• Join support groups to talk to others with similar experiences
• Establish routines at home to build consistency
• Organize important paperwork in a binder or accordion folder
• Ask to volunteer at school events so you are able to see your child in the classroom setting
• Attend parent meetings, workshops, and trainings — you never know what you might learn

Learn more about parent participation in the IEP process.

Supporting Parent Participation from English Learners

Translate documents: Procedural safeguards and prior written notices need to be in the parents native language and providing more information in their native language — when feasible — gives parents more opportunities to participate.

Ask about interpretation: Communicate with parents to establish their interpretation needs so they can have meaningful conversations with the IEP team.



Document parent involvement: Make sure to document your efforts to ease communication gaps and promote parent involvement.

March 13 — Sensory Story Time at National City Library

An inclusive story time for children on the second and fourth Monday of the month at 11 a.m. See a full list of National City Library events here.

March 14 — Parent ADR Office Hours

Bring your question to our team and join us virtually from 10 to 11 a.m. using the Zoom meeting ID: 837 9802 7038.

March 18 — Beeping Egg Hunt

The second annual Beeping Egg hunt is taking place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the South Clairmont Recreation Center. RSVP to SDBeepingEggHunt@gmail.com.

April 1 — Race for Autism 

Hosted by National Foundation for Autism Research (NFAR), this superhero themed 5k races around Balboa Park. Learn more about the event here.

April 5 to May 31 — ASL Classes at Davila Day School

Beginning and intermediate ASL taught on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at Davila Day School. Contact the school at 619-427-5626 for more information and to register.

April 10 — Grupo de Apoyo en Español

Support group, for families with children with autism, meeting Mondays from 6 to 8 p.m. The meetings will be held in Spanish only. Visit the website for location and to sign up.

April 22 — Day of the Child

Chula Vista Community Collaborative is hosting a free family event at Memorial Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Come out and join the fun! Learn more here.

March 27 and 28 — Addressing Equity to Improve Outcomes for English Learners and ELs with Disabilities

A free professional development institute for multidisciplinary teams. Come hear from keynote speaker Dr. Francisco Escobedo and explore tools and resources to support English learners. Learn more and register for the in-person event or the virtual event.

April 5 — ADR Staff Office Hours

Join the South County SELPA ADR team for office hours on Zoom (meeting ID: 851 9574 9399) from 3 to 4 p.m. while we cover topics including:

• ADR process  
• Tips and strategies for conflict resolution 
• Positive relationship building 
• Effective communication 
• IEP scenario discussion

April 19 — School Psychologist Academy

School psychologists are invited to join the South County SELPA ADR and Equity, Disproportionality, and Design (ED&D) teams to gain a deeper and practical understanding of data literacy, disproportionality, best practices for legally compliant IEPs, and tips for effective communication. Learn more and register for the in-person event or the virtual event.

Keys to Successful IEPs (For South County SELPA Employees Only)

This on demand course is designed to assist you with learning the basics (and beyond) of:

• Using SEIS
• Writing legally defensible IEPs
• Preparing for a successful meeting
• Designing effective Transition Plans

Email dilynn@sdcoe.net for registration code and register here.

March's CAC Meeting: Meaningful Parent Engagement

Earlier this month the ADR team had the pleasure of presenting to south county parents. Those in attendance learned about the importance of being a part of their child's educational journey as well as tips and tricks to communicate with school staff. If you are interested in learning more or receiving a copy of the PowerPoint, please email scselpaadr@sdcoe.net.

Principals Academy with Jonathan Read and the ADR Team

Principals from across the south county came together in February and heard from Jonathan Read, a partner in the San Diego Office of Fagen, Friedman & Fulfrost (F3), LLP and an expert in special education law. The group also heard from the South County SELPA ADR coordinators Heidi Lyon and Jenn Gorospe Tull. The pair shared IEP do's and don'ts for school administrators.

Parent IEP Academy Winter Session Concludes

Throughout the school year, we have been hosting a five-week parent training that takes a deep dive into the IEP process. We have had the opportunity to work with over 40 families throughout the course of the school year and have received feedback that the academy has been instrumental in their understanding of the IEP process. Earlier this week we wrapped up our last meeting for our winter Parent IEP Academy session.

If you have any questions or comments on the ADR Insights Newsletter, please contact our team at scselpaadr@sdcoe.net.

Get up-to-the-minute information about what's happening at South County SELPA.