Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center Inc

THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES WIDE RANGING SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES WHOSE CHILDREN RECEIVE SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES OR THOSE WHO SUSPECT THEIR CHILD MAY HAVE A DISABILITY, AND PROVIDES IMPORTANT ADVOCACY TO IMPROVE SPECIAL EDUCATION OUTCOMES IN THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. SERVICES INCLUDE ONE ON ONE CONSULTATION FOR PARENTS FACING CHALLENGES NAVIGATING THE SPECIAL EDUCATIN SYSTEM (IN ENGLISH, SPANISH, PORTUGUESE, CREOLE, AND OTHER LANGUAGES USING A LANGUAGE LINE), MENTORING AND SUPPORT FOR YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES, TRAINING SESSIONS FOR FAMILIES AND PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELD OF SPECIAL EDUCATION, AND SUBSTANTIAL CONSULTATION WITH STATE AND LOCAL EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS TO IMPROVE SPECIAL EDUCATION SYSTEMS IN THE STATE.

CONNECTICUT PARENT ADVOCACY CENTER, INC. (CPAC) IS A STATEWIDE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT OFFERS INFORMATION AND SUPPORT TO FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH ANY DISABILITY OR CHRONIC ILLNESS, FROM BIRTH THROUGH AGE 26. CPAC KNOWS THAT PARENTS MUST BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE ADVOCATES FOR THEIR CHILDREN. WE ARE COMMITTED TO EMPOWER THEM AND GIVE THEM CONFIDENCE THAT KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING THAT SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW AND ITS PROCEDURES CAN BRING. THROUGH OUTREACH EFFORTS AND REFERRALS FROM SCHOOLS, SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES AND OTHER PARENTS, THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES THAT CPAC SERVES HAS GROWN DRAMATICALLY OVER THE PAST 33 YEARS. THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUES TO TAKE PRIDE IN PROVIDING PROMPT AND PERSONAL ASSISSTANCE TO ALL WHO CONTACT THEM. CPAC IS STAFFED BY PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES WHO HAVE TRAINED IN, AND HAVE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE LAW AND DISABILITY ISSUES. IN ADDITION TO SPEAKING WITH PARENTS ON A DAILY BASIS, CPAC STAFF CONDUCTS WORKSHOPS FOR FAMILIES AND YOUTH IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH AS WELL AS IN-SERVICE PRESENTATIONS FOR SCHOOLS, TEACHERS-IN-TRAINING, AND SERVICE PROVIDERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE SO THAT THEY MAY BETTER UNDERSTAND AND SUPPORT THE PARENTS WITH WHOM THEY WORK. STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS SERVE ON NUMEROUS STATEWIDE COMMITTEES AND VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, REPRESENTING ISSUES THAT ARE OF CONCERN TO PARENTS AND FAMILIES IN CONNECTICUT. INDIVIDUAL ONE-ON-ONE CONSULTATIONS AND ASSISTANCE ON ISSUES RELATED TO SPECIAL EDUCATION RIGHTS AND PROGRAMS WAS PROVIDED FOR THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES AND EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS. THE ORGANIZATION PROIDED OVER 108 WORKSHOPS AND WEBINARS ON A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS THAT WERE ATTENDED BY THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES AND EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS. OVER 158,000 COPIES OF ELEVEN EDITIONS OF CPAC'S NEWSLETTER WERE DISTRIBUTED TO PARENTS AND EDUCATORS. THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE, WWW.CPACINC.ORG WITH INFORMATION OF BEST PRACTICES IN EDUCATION, A COMPREHENSIVE LISTING OF CURRENT EVENTS, AS WELL AS UP TO DATE DATA ON CHANGES IN LAWS AND REGULATIONS COVERING CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES WAS VIEWED 99,192 TIMES.