Community Advisory Committee for Special Education Meeting

Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Location: Adult Transition Program, 3132 E. Fairmont Ave., Fresno, CA 93726

MINUTES

Welcome (Chair Wong) – 6:00 pm

CAC stands for the Community Advisory Committee for Special Education, a volunteer group composed predominantly of parents of children with special needs who attend school within the Fresno Unified School District.  CAC is a group of parents, school personnel, and other community members who work together to ensure that children with special needs receive the best education available.  CAC meets once a month to identify the needs of students with special needs in our district and advises the district on issues relating to special education.  CAC works to provide information to parents and also listens to parents’ concerns.  CAC’s ultimate purpose is to participate in a partnership with the school district that enhances the education of each child with special needs.  Fresno Unified is required by law to have a CAC.

CAC Respect Agreement:

·       Recognize and respect differences of perspective and style of the CAC among members, staff, students, parents/guardians and the community.

·       Act with dignity and understand the implications of demeanor and behavior.

·       When speaking of your concerns, please do not use your student’s name or the school location.  Please respect the confidentiality and needs of your student.

Introduce FUSD administration in attendance.

Roll Call (Vice-Chair Aoki)

Initially 7 members present; quorum was not met.

15 members were present; quorum was met. 

Agenda Approval (Chair Wong)

Motion to accept: 1^st Cathye E., 2^nd Patricia C. – 15 Yeas/0 Nays

Membership (Vice-Chair Aoki)

Katie Wong and Mariam Smith Obieze were present and voted in.

Nominations for CAC Executive Board (Chair Wong)

Vice Chairperson – Steven Vasquez

Secretary – Amy Aoki

Self Determination through CVRC (presented by Michelle Smith)

In Person-Centered Plan you need to look at what the child wants and then develop services.  Use CVRC funds to pay.  1-Page Profile gives a snapshot of the person: strengths and abilities, important for the person, person’s voice, expectations, who is going to help, goals and dreams, what does/doesn’t work for person.  Can help educate teachers and staff.

Grant to develop workshops and 1-on-1 coaching.  Need to know what types of workshops to provide.

CAPTAIN and District Data (presented by Marissa Saldate)

April is Autism Acceptance Month.  Ask what the person prefers: person vs disability.

CAPTAIN is the California Autism Professional Training and Information Network developed to support individuals with autism using evidence-based practice.  This website and many other resources can be fount on the FUSD Special Education Department website under the Parent Resources tab.

Question – When do programs get audited?  Who determines when additional adults are needed or class severity changes?

There is a baseline for staffing and may be expanded based on needs.

Educational Partners Forum

Ran out of time.

Announcements

April is Occupational Therapy Awareness Month.

Next Upcoming CAC Meeting: May 13, 2025.

Closing & Adjournment (Chair Wong) – 7:30 p.m.