Most Brighton families know about our exceptional Early Childhood Intervention, pediatric therapy, and our two outstanding preschools, but not as many are aware of the Special Education Support Services (SESS) we offer.
To remedy this issue, our SESS team (with the generous assistance of a grant from Community First Health Plans) spent the Summer developing short videos explaining how they assist families in accessing special education and support services within the public school system. Juan Hernandez, SESS Manager, led the process and helped identify the topics addressed in the videos. He said, “Families have many questions about the special education process and don’t really understand what their rights are, what they can expect or ask for, or how to advocate for their child within the special education system. Our consultants have a comprehensive understanding of special education law and work one-on-one with families while facilitating a collaborative relationship between them and the schools.”
An Introduction to Brighton’s Special Education Support Services (SESS)
Here are some of the services SESS provides:
- Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and Evaluation Reviews
- 504 Plan Reviews
- Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) Meeting Support
- Resource and Program Referral
Juan also narrates the first video on our new Special Education Library page. In the video, Juan explains what families can expect when working with a SESS consultant. The video starts by describing the initial consultation process. “Our priority is to listen to the family’s story. We want to hear what concerns they have, why they are asking for assistance, and get to know their child’s situation and needs,” says Juan. In the video, Juan outlines the initial consultation process, which is free. Consultants also review all the documentation associated with a child, including medical records, specialist evaluations, and school records. “We review the documentation to identify the child’s educational and support needs as well as any gaps that are not being addressed,” explains Juan. Consultants then work with the family to create an action plan to achieve in-school success.
For Brighton’s SESS Consultants, This is Personal
Families new to the world of special education often need extra support and encouragement. Juan, whose two children received special education in school, said that what he loves most about being a special education advocate is helping families get the education and resources to which they have a legal right. “My family was told ‘no’ plenty of times,” he said. “We know what it’s like to be told our kids can’t participate in something because of their special needs. Helping families tackle similar issues is extremely rewarding,” he continued.
Brighton’s SESS consultants help families understand the various special education laws, especially regarding the different types of meetings, timelines, and services within these laws. SESS consultants help caregivers understand what their child is entitled to and how to request those services and support from the school. Juan advises, “Our consultants help the family however they need. If they want us to attend an ARD meeting, we can do that. Or, we can look over an IEP and help develop questions for parents to ask during the meeting,” Juan said.
There are, however, some things SESS consultants don’t do. For example, consultants will not communicate with the school on the family’s behalf. As Juan explains in the video, the SESS consultant’s role is to educate and empower the family to work with the school. Consultants will coach families on questions to ask and the best way to communicate with school personnel. “We are pro-family and pro-school,” explained Juan. “The team wants to help parents build a good working relationship with the school. We do this by helping both parties better understand each other.”
This is Just the Beginning
Over the next several months, new videos will appear on the Special Education Library page. These will provide more information about the services provided by SESS consultants and helpful information about the special education world. For example, one of the videos explains the terms and acronyms commonly referenced in special education communication. Another video will list ways parents can effectively advocate for their children. Coming in September is a video that addresses the benefits of Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) and how Brighton’s staff members can assist families in identifying the best option for their child.
To ensure you don’t miss a new video release, click here and sign up to be notified! You can also schedule a free consultation with one of our knowledgeable SESS consultants by filling out this form.
