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Seattle Public Schools / Departments / Special Education / Family Involvement and Resources

Family Involvement and Resources

Resources for Families of Special Education

Family Responsibilities

Every parent and guardian has an integral role to play in their student’s education. When their student also receives special education services, that role expands considerably as they become integral members of the team that will plan their student’s individual education needs and goals.

This is a demanding role for many parents as they find themselves learning new ideas, terms, and methods of communication with the district’s teachers and staff. The District Special Education Department webpage provides a variety of resources to help families feel ready to play an integral role in planning for their student’s success.

Your most important task is to build a strong partnership with your student’s school, principal, and teachers. If you feel motivated to engage further, we have many opportunities for parents to support special education at a district level. Parents provide leadership for the special education community in the following capacities:

  • Special Education Parent Partners, a group of parents trained to support families and teachers to work together collaboratively. This is a pilot program that is started in the 2016-17 school year.
  • Special Education Advisory and Advocacy Council (SEAAC), a group of parents, teachers and community leaders who advise the district on advocacy, policy and practice. Members serve a two-year term and are selected by the district from a pool of volunteer applications.
  • Special Education Parent Teacher Student Association (SpEdPTSA), a volunteer PTSA advocacy organization.
  • Special Education Task Force, an interdisciplinary group supporting the rollout of the Continuum Approach of Services. The Task Force will have five parent members and a Point Parent at schools rolling out the Continuum Approach Services. Additionally, a Parent Liaison will coordinate and integrate parent feedback across the service design/implementation process.

Link to Learn

Dance of Partnership Article on strengthening the parent-professional partnership

Parent Leadership in Special Education

Special Education Parent Teacher Student Association

The Seattle Special Education PTSA (SSEPTSA) is a districtwide Parent Teacher Student Association that has been supporting the community of students with disabilities in Seattle since its founding in 2006. The SSEPTSA is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization affiliated with the Washington State PTA and National PTA. 

The SSEPTSA amplifies student voices and supports families and educators of our disabled children. The organization partners with the Seattle Public School District, but it is independent of the district. The district and the SSEPTSA board have regularly scheduled points of engagement throughout the year. The SSEPTSA board is annually nominated and elected by the Seattle Special Education PTSA members.

Recorded SSEPTSA meetings and informational presentations are available online, and the organization encourages families to access The Guide to Special Education, a resource that the SSEPTSA created.

This group provides organization and advocacy under the bylaws of Washington State PTA. This means they have a voice, membership, and communications that are independent of the district.

  • The district and Special Education PTSA Board have regularly scheduled points of engagement throughout the year.
  • The board is nominated and elected by the Seattle Special Education PTSA Membership.
  • To get involved, contact Seattle Special Education PTSA.

To learn more, or to get involved, contact hello@SeattleSpecialEducationPTSA.org

External Resources