Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center Inc

CPAC 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 EDUCATION SYSTEM (IN ENGLISH, SPANISH, PORTUGUESE, CREOLE, AND OTHER LANGUAGES USING A LANGUAGE LINE), MENTORING AND SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, 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, AGE BIRTH THROUGH 26. CPAC KNOWS THAT PARENTS MUST BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE ADVOCATES FOR THEIR CHILDREN. WE ARE COMMITTED TO EMPOWER THEM, AND GIVE THEM THE CONFIDENCE THAT KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW AND ITS PROCEDURES CAN BRING. IT IS CPAC'S MISSION TO SUPPORT FAMILIES IN THEIR EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF THEIR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES.THROUGH OUTREACH EFFORTS AND REFERRALS FROM SCHOOLS, SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES AND OTHER PARENTS, THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES THAT CONNECTICUT PARENT ADVOCACY CENTER SERVES HAS GROWN DRAMATICALLY OVER THE PAST 32 YEARS. WE CONTINUE TO TAKE PRIDE IN PROVIDING PROMPT AND PERSONAL ASSISTANCE TO ALL WHO CONTACT US. CPAC IS STAFFED BY PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES WHO HAVE TRAINING IN, AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH, THE LAW AND DISABILITY ISSUES.IN ADDITION TO SPEAKING WITH PARENTS ON A DAILY BASIS, CPAC STAFF CONDUCT 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. OVER 108 WORKSHOPS AND WEBINARS ON A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS WERE ATTENDED BY THOUSANDS OF FAMILY MEMBERS AND EDUCATIONAL PROFESSIONALS. 158,827 COPIES OF THE ELEVEN EDITIONS OF OUR NEWSLETTER WERE RECEIVED BY PARENTS AND EDUCATORS. OUR 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.