Michele Douglas and Felicita Cintron of SEPAC share information with a parent at the kickoff meeting in September. (Photo by Amy Porter)
WESTFIELD – The Westfield Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) will hold its monthly meeting on Thursday, Nov. 3, 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the South Middle School cafeteria, with a presentation by Nancy Duggan, cofounder of Decoding Dyslexia – MA.
Decoding Dyslexia is a grassroots movement driven by parents, educators and professionals concerned with the limited access to research based interventions for dyslexia. According to their website www.decodingdyslexiama.org, the group’s aim is to raise awareness, to empower students with dyslexia and their families, and to inform policy makers on best practices to identify, remediate, and support students with dyslexia in Massachusetts public schools and institutions of higher learning.
The presentation on Thursday will focus on why knowing more about the science behind dyslexia informs how to identify it early and what to look for to provide the appropriate instruction, and on why it matters to have dyslexia named on an IEP. Duggan will also talk about why specific methods of instruction and supportive accommodation are critical for success.
All families with a child on an IEP or with a 504 plan are members of SEPAC, and are encouraged to attend. SEPAC meetings are held the on first Thursday of every month, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in South Middle School. Refreshments and childcare are provided.
For more information contact SEPAC at [email protected], or join the group on Facebook at Westfield MA Special Education Parent Advisory Council.
