Parent Advocacy Group offering free training on navigating Special Education Process – October 17

The North Syracuse Central School District’s Parent Advocacy Group (PAG) has announced their first meeting/training of the 2019-2020 school year. It will take place on Thursday, October 17 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Roxboro Road Elementary School (200 Bernard Street) in Mattydale. The training is focused on families that have elementary-level children but everyone is welcome to attend the session that is free and open to all district residents. Refreshments will be served. Online registration is requested by clicking here or going to www.nscsd.org/pagreg. The district launched the PAG family engagement initiative during the previous school year for the purpose of providing parents of children with disabilities the opportunity to collaborate with each other and the school district to build trust, cultivate relationships and gain a shared understanding of the special education process and individual needs. Lisa Garofalo, Director of Instructional Programming for Special Education, knows that the special education process can be difficult to navigate for many families. She encourages anyone interested to learn and share through the PAG forum. “We will hear from Kristine O’Brien, a local parent that has been advocating through the CSE process for her own child from preschool through high school,” Garofalo said. “Kristine is passionate about helping families navigate the complex CSE process. She will review laws and regulations around special education and will share strategies on how to work collaboratively with the school team in order to achieve the best outcomes for students with disabilities.”   About Kristine O’Brien: Kristine is the President of the Central New York Autism Society.  Having raised a child with special needs, Kristine’s passion for helping others goes beyond her work into her personal life. She has been presenting on special education topics in Central New York for more than 10 years.