Juan Hernandez, Director of Special Education Support Services (SESS) at Brighton, recently recalled his excitement and expectations when he joined the US Army as a young man. “I had it all mapped out in my head. With a career path identified, I’d planned to serve 20 or 30 years. I said they’d have to kick me out of the Army; that’s how dedicated I was. My wife was the same. Career military all the way,” he reminisced.
For a few years, the plan worked. Then came the babies. “Both of our children were born on a military base. First came our son, and we dreamt of him following in my footsteps. Then our daughter was born, and we said we’d teach her to be tough like her mom,” he continued.
But like so many other families, one day, they heard the word ‘autism.’ “It completely turned our world upside down,” Juan said. “I was about to deploy to Afghanistan. We didn’t have time to go through a denial phase. We went straight to, what do we do now?’’
Juan managed to serve 22 years in the Army through active duty and reserve service, but his career path changed as he became more involved with finding the care and services his children needed. When he joined Brighton in 2015, one of the first things he investigated was how Brighton could help the military community in San Antonio. He knew from his first-hand experience that navigating assignments and accessing appropriate services can be challenging for military families who need special education or special needs services. For nearly a decade now, Brighton Center has partnered with the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) office at Joint Base San Antonio to provide crucial support to military families.
What is the Exceptional Family Member Program?
The EFMP is a mandatory enrollment program for active-duty service members who have family members with qualifying medical and/or educational needs. These needs may include:
- Physical disabilities
- Emotional disorders
- Developmental delays
- Intellectual disabilities
- Any condition requiring specialized services
The EFMP’s primary goal is to ensure families can access necessary services at their duty stations. Moreover, the program takes a comprehensive approach, coordinating with various military and civilian agencies to provide:
- Community support
- Housing assistance
- Medical services
- Educational support
- Personnel services
Joint Base San Antonio: The Nation’s Largest Joint Military Base
Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) is the largest joint base in the US and is made up of three primary operating locations: JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, JBSA-Lackland, and JBSA-Randolph. Furthermore, each military installation has child and youth services, medical support, housing, and legal services. Children of families who live on base (or post) attend the schools within the military installation. In contrast, Children of families living in the San Antonio community attend schools in any of its school districts.
Each JBSA location has an Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) office that offers support to service members and their families. Sheila Dean, EFMP Family Support Navigator with JBSA-Randolph, said, “EFMP serves as a critical resource for families. We connect families with various support services and assist during challenging times.”
Juan recalled how EFMP helped him and his family at his duty stations in Kentucky and Oklahoma. “We needed help locating appropriate and affordable daycare at Ft. Campbell. When we were reassigned to Oklahoma, the first thing I did was connect with the Exceptional Family Member Program there. I also took advantage of the resource fairs hosted by the EFMP,” he recalled.
Juan remembers his first experience with Brighton Center. “I was in the Reserves and my unit was in Houston. I was looking for resources to help me with my kids’ education needs, and that’s when I first connected with Brighton Center. As I learned about all their special education support services, I couldn’t help but think how helpful this would have been at my other duty locations.”
Special Education Services: A Unique Challenge for Military Families
One of the unique challenges military families face is understanding how special education services can vary by state. While the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides federal oversight, several states have additional benefits or resources families need to know. Sheila Dean advised, “When military families relocate, it can disrupt continuity of care, and education based on requirements can be challenging.”
Juan knew that he wanted to make sure military families didn’t have to work so hard to get the information he and the SESS consultants have, so when he joined Brighton in 2015, one of the first things he did was visit the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) offices in San Antonio. “I knew from my experience that the special education world is overwhelming. So, whether these families have already accessed special education services at their past duty stations or if they need to access it for the first time here in San Antonio, I wanted to make sure the EFMP offices knew how to get in touch with Brighton so we could help those families out,” he explained.
The Brighton and Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) Partnership
The Family Support component of EFMP assists families by providing information and referrals for military and community services, education and outreach, development of family services plans, and information on local schools and early intervention services. Juan is very devoted to supporting the EFMP in any way they need. “At the beginning of each school year, I go out and do a Special Education 101 seminar for parents. Brighton also has a table at the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) resource fairs, and our consultants are always available to answer any questions sent our way,” he advised. Sheila Dean explained, “The collaboration between Brighton and EFMP in the San Antonio area enhances the support network for military families by combining resources and expertise with specialized services tailored to the needs of the family members.”
Keys to Success
For military families with special education needs, success often comes down to:
- Enrollment in EFMP when needs are identified
- Regular communication with program coordinators
- Building relationships with military and community service providers
- Understanding both federal and state-specific requirements
- Actively participating in educational planning meetings
Juan remembers how overwhelming it was when his family started down the special education world path. There were new terms to learn, deadlines to track, and required evaluations and assessments. “It was a lot,” he said. He also knows that our military members can’t afford to be distracted on the job. They have a mission to perform. “When I was in the Reserves and would have to leave home for a week or two for training, I knew things at home would be okay. Brighton had helped us create a good educational plan for the kids, and I knew the EFMP Family Navigators were available to help my wife and kids while I was gone. I want all military families in a similar situation to know that we have their back,” he continued.
Through the collaboration between Exceptional Family Member Program and Brighton, military families in San Antonio have access to comprehensive support systems that help ensure their children’s educational needs. Additionally, to learn more about the Special Education Support Services at Brighton, click here.
