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First Annual Dyslexia Community Fair

Image of teen girl's hands holding a pen, captioned: Cambridge Public Schools Celebrates Dyslexia Awareness Mongth

First Annual Cambridge Dyslexia Community Fair
Saturday, October 19 from 1-5pm
Cambridge Rindge and Latin School
459 Broadway • Cambridge, MA 02138 

Join us for an afternoon of workshops, guest speakers, simulations, and parent panels. Barbara Wilson, author and co-founder of the Wilson Reading Program, will give a keynote address. Refreshments & childcare will be provided. 

Please RSVP Here >>

Presented by the SEPAC Dyslexia Working Group and the Office of Student Services. Questions? Contact the CPS Office of Student Services 

cambridgesepac Uncategorized

Cambridge Dyslexia Diaries: Part 1

Principal, Anthony I. Byers, PhD shares his personal story about how he struggled to learn how to read. As an elementary school principal, he offers encouragement and advice to students telling them that with the right instruction and support they will succeed. It is important to raise awareness about dyslexia and highlight the stories of role models so that students do not feel invisible or ashamed but rather understand that they need to learn differently.
cambridgesepac Events

2019 Dyslexia Awareness Activities

At 6pm on October 4, 2019 Cambridge will Light Up City Hall Red to mark World Dyslexia Awareness Day.

Please come and join us, and wear red to signify your support for dyslexia awareness as we launch a month of activities taking place in schools, libraries, and the community.

Light it Up Red at City Hall
October 4 at 6PM 795 Massachusetts Ave
Wear red and join us for this sunset ceremony, when Cambridge will light City Hall red in honor of dyslexia awareness

Dyslexia Community Resource Fair
October 19 from 1 – 4PM
Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School – 459 Broadway
Keynote Speaker will be Dr. Barbara Wilson, Author & Co-Founder of the Wilson Reading System®

Decoding Dyslexia MA: Light the Zakim Bridge Red
October 19 at 6PM
Sunset ceremony in Paul Revere Park, Charlestown

Dyslexia Awareness Month Displays
September 29th – October 6th
Cambridge Public Library, 449 Broadway

THE ALPHABET WAR
Grades 2 – 5: Ask your child’s teacher about Dyslexia Awareness Classroom Read-Alouds of The Alphabet War: A Story of Dyslexia during the month of October

About Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a brain-based issue that makes it hard to learn to read accurately and fluently. The most common learning challenge, Dyslexia is a lifelong condition. Students don’t outgrow dyslexia, but with the right support, key skills can improve. About 17% (nearly 1 in 5) people show signs of reading challenges such as dyslexia. Many successful people have dyslexia, and researchers have been studying it for over a century. It’s important to know that while dyslexia impacts learning, it’s not a problem of intelligence. People with dyslexia are just as smart as their peers.

About the Cambridge Dyslexia and Struggling Readers Working Group

Statement of Purpose: To build effective partnership with school and community stakeholders to ensure that Cambridge Public School Students with dyslexia and struggling readers: are taught in a way that is evidence and science-based and appropriate for their learning and emotional needs, rigorous, joyful & culturally responsive; receive personalized support; experience post-secondary Success, and become engaged community members.

The Dyslexia and Struggling Readers Working Group, which is comprised of parents, school administrators, teachers and community members, was formed in July 2019 and began meeting monthly with the Assistant Superintendent of the Office of Student Services and members of her staff to support program improvement for students with language-based learning disabilities, including early screening and intervention, and Dyslexia Awareness.

This working group is a sub-committee of the Cambridge Special Education Parent Advisory Council. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Zuleka Queen-Postell (zqueen-postell@cpsd.us) and/or Mercedes Soto (soto.mercedesm@gmail.com)

cambridgesepac Meetings & Events

November 15: Struggling Readers with Dr. Nadine Gaab

Nadine_GaabJoin Cambridge SE-PAC for a discussion of reading and dyslexia with Dr. Nadine Gaab:

Thursday, November 15 at 6PM
Cambridge CityWide Senior Center
806 Massachusetts Avenue
Register for this session now>>

Dr. Gaab will discuss her research on language and reading development, including the neurology of developmental dyslexia. Through the Gaab Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, her research team focuses on children diagnosed with or at risk for various developmental disorders, particularly language-based learning disabilities. Dr. Gaab is also on the faculty of Harvard Graduate School of Education and an adjunct at Brandeis University.

 

 

cambridgesepac Meetings & Events

School Discipline with Peter Hahn

peter hahnJoin Cambridge SE-PAC for a discussion of School Discipline with Attorney Peter A. Hahn:

Saturday, October 13th at 1PM
Cambridge CityWide Senior Center
806 Mass Avenue
Register for this session>>

 

Attorney Hahn will review the law for general education and special education students subject to school discipline, including due process rights for all students, the authority of schools to exclude under Massachusetts General Laws chapter 71, sections 37H, 37H-1/2, and 37H-3/4, and manifestation determination reviews for special education students.

This meeting is free and open to the public. Childcare and lunch will be provided

cambridgesepac Sensory Friendly Movies

Sensory Friendly Movie: Smallfoot

SE-PAC’s sensory-friendly movies are specially designed to accommodate students with disabilities who might have difficulty attending a public movie screening. Join us for:

Smallfoot

Saturday, October 13
8:30 AM – 11:30 AM EST

Reserve your FREE Ticket Here>>

The lights will be turned up, and the sound will be turned down to accommodate children with anxiety or sensory issues.

Families can relax while students are free to enjoy the movie in whatever way works for them. Our goal is to create a supportive atmosphere where all will feel welcome and have fun as a family!

cambridgesepac Meetings & Events, Support

Family Dinners Out

Please join other special education families for a relaxed and fun night out at one of our monthly SE-PAC Family Dinner Nights!

2018-19 Family Dinner Nights:

  • First Tuesday of the Month at 6PM
  • IHOP 16 Eliot St. Harvard Sq. Cambridge Ma 02138

This is specially designed to accommodate students with disabilities who might have difficulty dining out.

Families can relax while students are free to enjoy dinner in whatever way works for them. Our goal is to create a supportive atmosphere where all will feel welcome and have fun as a family!

For more information contact:

 

cambridgesepac Get Involved, Meetings & Events

SE-PAC Officer Elections

The Cambridge Special EducationParent Advisory Council (SE-PAC) is seeking nominations for PAC officers for the 2018-19 School Year. Any parent or guardian who participates in Cambridge SE-PAC may be nominated for a 1-year term as Chair or Co-Chair, Vice Chair or Secretary.

Process

Candidates may nominate themselves or may be nominated by another PAC member. You may run for a specific office, or may specify an individual or group you are running with. You may also request that the election committee connect you with others who are running to explore running together. Please submit your nomination form by Sept 31, 2018.

Roles & Responsibilities

  • Work in a collaborative and advocacy role with the CPS Office of Student Services, Administration, and School Committee.
  • Serve as a resource to parents and families of children with disabilities and speak on behalf of the PAC in matters of CPS policy or practice.
  • Oversee PAC meetings and identify workshop topics, supported by the liaison who is responsible for organizing meetings and workshops and conducting family outreach.
  • In general, officers contribute 10-15 hours of your time per month. The SE-PAC leadership team (officers and liaison) work collaboratively to accommodate individual schedules and needs.

Submit a Nomination

Cambridge SE-PAC will be holding elections for this year’s officers at our monthly meeting on Oct. 18. We would love to have you run for office!

  • Please see our ballot HERE.
cambridgesepac Meetings & Events

2018-19 Monthly Meetings

ALL parents of students with an IEP or 504 are members of the Cambridge SE-PAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council).  SE-PAC’s have tremendous potential to have a positive impact on special education programs in a school district. PACs can provide invaluable activities for parents, and add an important voice to a school district’s dialogue and decision making.

SE-PAC meeting are generally held the third Thursday of each month, with this year’s schedule as follows:

  • September 20, 2018
  • October 18, 2018
  • November 15, 2018
  • December 13, 2018
  • January 17, 2019
  • February 21, 2019
  • March 14, 2019
  • April 18, 2019
  • May 16, 2019
  • June 13, 2019