Special Education Advocacy Services of Luzerne

05/05/2026

If you've been messaging the page. I've had to turn off messenger as I've been message flooded by bots. Call or email.

05/05/2026

Shared from Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc.
(For some reason wouldn't share from the page)
Between Alarm and Opportunity: Kids in the Digital Age

Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 12:00 PM EDT
Learn more and register here: https://events.zoom.us/ev/Aq0KVNxfOBDdYbMxEDnghuAPYiRgJYCLAkoYZjccMq1MT3S-3H0O~AlH26J5miYNyGRFPmhFz6JG9RDiFCgd-aQIlIOnf5GMogadbIzpZvPBxJA

04/28/2026

I am so fortunate to be a C2P2 graduate and now as a presenter to the graduating classes on the importance of representation of disabilities in board service.
As Liz Weintraub says "Nothing about us Without Us"

04/24/2026

This is why I have always disliked iReady being used for students with disabilities, even for progress monitoring.

04/19/2026

The Senate recently approved a voluntary ID designation for Pennsylvanians with invisible disabilities, such as deafness and autism, to help ensure clearer, safer interactions with law enforcement. Read more: https://bit.ly/4uUTf57

03/31/2026

On the Sunday of the COPAA Conference, I found out from Heather and Susan Bruce that one of the most giving men I've ever met, David Beinke had a stroke.
He is still in Arlington in hospital and needs help to get home. Anything you can do! Let's get David back on his feet and home to Texas!

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-david-beinke-heal-and-return-home?fbclid=IwdGRjcAQ5KCBjbGNrBDkoFmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHlhDLPP1TxIU_k8shudS9s_ZbaNN80YybfhzsLJ8wrX2cJl_A3O0veaIdvyO_aem_x9Zn2sPPM3GpGTwa3QDATw

Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc.

David Beinke, a beloved COPAA advocate and mentor, suffered a stroke while walki… Heather Wright needs your support for Help David Beinke Heal and Return Home

03/06/2026

Makena Simonsen received a high school diploma after graduating with a 3.87 GPA. However, she could only read at a first-grade level. Now she is suing the school district: http://www.kens5.com/article/news/nation-world/she-graduated-but-could-barely-read-now-shes-suing-the-school-district/507-9c21978f-3b8d-456a-8afb-e01dbfb1a263?tag1=kensshare

03/05/2026

At the COPAA Conference in Arlington VA, learning from the leaders in Special Education advocacy!

Together, we can make a difference!

03/05/2026

TODAY
Learn why restraint and seclusion are dangerous, traumatizing practices—and what Pennsylvania families and advocates can do to reduce and eliminate their use in schools. This session with Guy Stephens, Founder and Executive Director of the Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint, will explore how these practices disproportionately impact disabled, neurodivergent, Black and Brown students and contribute to long-term trauma and the school-to-prison pipeline. Participants will gain practical strategies to advocate for trauma-informed, neuroscience-aligned, neurodiversity-affirming, relationship-driven, and collaborative supports, understand when restraint is (and is not) allowed under PA state laws, and learn concrete steps to take if their child is restrained or secluded, including how to work with schools and where to find advocacy help.

Register Here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Y3am2TPTTEC0n4pwKwjHAg?fbclid=IwY2xjawQLS0dleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETJyUTFTVzJCclBPemdWaGJjc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHhzXKcIRdhbmOe-KJbhYnr8TBB-5_2dDvVRfJWgiKdi9hU1IHL73Sa8kPcuh_aem_oZzl7cOlEBuU_SWk9GBBOA #/registration

Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint

03/05/2026

From COPAA
Tell Congress: Protect Children with Disabilities, Oppose Moving IDEA out of ED

COPAA is joining advocacy groups across the country TODAY for the National Call-In Day to oppose moving oversight and administration of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to a different federal agency. While there is no announced date for this move, officials have told COPAA they intend to make this change.

Please call your U.S. Senators and U.S. Representative and urge them to tell ED to protect children with disabilities and DO NOT MOVE special education programs such as IDEA, vocational rehabilitation, and OCR out of the Education Department. (We appreciate those who have already emailed Congress, but we urge you to join the CALL-IN to have the most impact on this day!).

Use the links above or call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Ask to be connected to your Senator(s) and Representative. Once connected, use the suggested script to leave a message with anyone who answers the phone:

Hi, my name is _________ and I live in). I am a (parent of a child with a disability / advocate/concerned community member) calling to express my opposition to the U.S. Department of Education moving special education, vocational rehabilitation, and civil rights functions out of the Education Department. Special education programs are education programs first and should be administered by an agency that focuses on education. Other Departments like Health and Human Services and Labor don’t have experience running education programs that focus on educating and serving students with disabilities. Moving special education programs, vocational rehabilitation and civil rights investigations out of ED will only lead to less educational opportunity for students with disabilities.

I would like the Member of Congress to call the Secretary of Education and ask that special education programs, including vocational rehabilitation and civil rights investigations be kept at the Education Department. [The staffer that answers the phone will reply back to you.]

In closing, say: Please let the Member know how important this issue is to me and to their other constituents who focus on and support children with disabilities and their families. Thank you for your time.

COPAA thanks you in advance. Please share this news and script with others!

03/05/2026

ST. LOUIS — A federal investigation has revealed the use of unlawful and unsafe practices by the Special School District of St. Louis County over its widespread seclusion and restraint methods on disabled students.
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/mo/st-louis/news/2026/02/23/doj-finds-special-school-district-s-seclusion--restraint-practices-unlawful?fbclid=Iwb21leAQWR55leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR7peZm2ehwMOQ0in9sNagw7160p_Rz_eq7D4PwA75XffjoMb3NZ1g_GVxvtcA_aem_QJvlK2oOBTgRsz8ZKHIEJw