SECAC Frederick County MD

09/14/2026

💙 Frederick County Autism & Disability Parents — WE NEED YOUR VOICE! 💙

A Lunch & Learn will be occurring soon with the feedback from the survey for the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce focused on helping local businesses become more accessible, inclusive, and welcoming to all families!

But I don’t want to speak for you — I want to speak with your experiences behind me. 🫶

✨ What makes a business feel truly welcoming?
🚧 What barriers have you experienced?
💬 What do you wish businesses just… understood?

I created a quick 2–3 minute survey (I promise, it’s quick!) to collect your experiences and turn them into real insight for local business owners.

👉 Take the survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HQXX9Y9

The more voices we gather, the stronger this presentation will be. Please share this with other Frederick County families — every response helps move the needle toward a more accessible and inclusive community. 💙🙏

09/11/2026

📣 Save the Date! Join us for a Board of Education Candidate Forum focused on special education and students with disabilities. Bring your questions and make your voice heard! 🗣️💙

08/19/2026

🎉📚 Happy First Day of School, FCPS! 📚🎉

Welcome back, FCPS students, families, educators, and staff! We hope everyone has a safe, successful, and exciting first day of school. 💙

As we begin a new school year, SECAC is excited to continue supporting students with disabilities and their families and working together to help every student thrive!

Here’s to a wonderful school year filled with learning, growth, inclusion, and new opportunities! 🍎✨

Happy First Day, FCPS! 💙💛

08/16/2026

Great opportunity from The Arc Maryland! See post below for more information:

If you are an adult with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), a parent, or family caregiver of someone with a disability and want to affect change, attend an info session August 17 to learn more about how the program prepares folks to be effective advocates for peoples with disabilities at the local, state, and federal levels.

Become lifelong agents of change through Maryland Partners in Policymaking®! Applications for the year-long program are now open, and you are invited to learn more during an info call on August 17th at 6:30 PM. Register and learn more at https://thearcmd.org/partners/

08/04/2026

Did you know there was a special hockey team in Frederick?!

Next weekend on August 8th the Frederick gargoyles will be hosting a Try Special Hockey event.

Totally free, and all gear will be available to borrow for the event!!! Come on out and see what special hockey is about.

https://facebook.com/events/s/gargoyles-first-shift-try-spec/1299677192361926/

08/03/2026

📣 We’re Looking for New SECAC Members!

Do you have a passion for supporting students with disabilities and strengthening special education in Frederick County? This is your opportunity to make a difference!

The Frederick County SECAC (Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee) is currently seeking:
• 4* Parent Members
• 2 Community Members
• 1 FCPS Staff Member

*parent member update as of 8/3/2026

At SECAC, we work together to put children first. Through open and honest communication, collaboration, and advocacy, we focus on improving the effectiveness and accountability of special education services, identifying systemic issues, and advocating for the resources students need to succeed.

Working alongside FCPS Special Education leadership, parents, staff, and community members, SECAC strives to create positive change in the delivery of special education services while supporting the success and achievement of students with disabilities.

If you’re ready to use your voice to help shape the future of special education in Frederick County, we’d love to have you join us!

💙 Together, we can make a lasting impact for our students and families.

👉 Apply by scanning the QR code below or going to https://forms.gle/Mk1nydiF8m41SQ8H9

08/03/2026

The Penn-Mar Human Services LISS Department is excited to announce that the Low Intensity Support Services (LISS) random Selection Application for Fiscal Year 2027 is open and will remain available until September 15, 2026.

Please note these important updates for this year:
​The maximum grant amount has been reduced from $2,000 to $1,000.

​There will be only one round of applications this year.
​The random selection will occur on October 1, 2026.
​
Apply here: https://pcis.health.maryland.gov/liss-service/apply

The Penn-Mar Human Services LISS Department.
310 Old Freeland RD
Freeland, MD 21053
P: 877.282.8202
F: 410.357.4767
[email protected]

07/28/2026

💙 SECAC Community Listening Session – Tonight! 💙

Join us tonight for our final Community Listening Session!

📍 Tuesday, July 28
🕡 6:30–8:30 PM
📚 Brunswick Library

SECAC members are providing an opportunity to connect with families, educators, and community members to hear shared experiences, discuss current needs, and identify priorities for students with disabilities in Frederick County Public Schools.

Your voice matters, and your feedback helps shape meaningful conversations and advocacy that support students and families across our community.

Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, student, educator, or community member, your perspective is valuable. We hope you’ll join us, share your experiences, and help us continue building a more inclusive future for students with disabilities in FCPS.

Thank you again to everyone who attended and supported our other listening sessions—it was a huge success! We look forward to seeing everyone tonight!

07/25/2026

🎥✨ SECAC Champion for Special Education Spotlight – Shout Outs! ✨🎥

This week, we’re proud to spotlight the incredible Expressions Program at Governor Thomas Johnson Middle School in our latest SECAC interview!

A special thank you to Mrs. Kaelyn Capotosto, Expressions Coordinator, for representing the program and sharing how the team supports students with complex communication, academic, and functional needs every day.

This spotlight also recognizes the outstanding Expressions Team:

Coordinator
• Kaelyn Capotosto

Teachers
• Jenna Harrison
• Jason Smith
• Lucas Alves
• Sandra Burdette (Retired Mid-Year Teacher)

Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP)
• Meghan Sinisgalli
• Jennifer Bolling

Behaviorist (BCBA)
• Michael Manchester

Special Education Instructional Assistants
• Sarah Greening
• Sarah Crabill
• Callie Mills
• Robert Simone
• Ashley Medders
• Julie Tobery
• Madeline Crampton
• Jessica Call
• Peggy Frankel

Thank you to this amazing team for your dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment to helping every student find their voice and reach their fullest potential. Your work truly makes a difference for students, families, and our school community. 💙

▶️ Watch the full interview here: https://canva.link/tjms-expression

07/21/2026

📢 Listening Session Update

Due to the severe weather conditions expected this evening, tonight’s Listening Session (July 21) at Myersville Library has been canceled.

We encourage all families to join us at our next Listening Session on Tuesday, July 28, at the Brunswick Library. We look forward to connecting with you then!

Thank you for your understanding, and please stay safe. Safety is our top priority!

💙 SECAC Community Listening Sessions 💙

Reminder tonight’s listening session:

📍Tuesday, July 21
🕡 6:30–8:30 PM
Myersville Library

** SECAC is monitoring the serve weather this afternoon and will update between 3:00-4:00pm to see if we are canceling and post-posting this listening session. Safety is our top priority!**

SECAC members are holding the opportunity to connect with families, educators, and community members to hear their shared experiences, discuss current needs, and identify priorities for students with disabilities in Frederick County Public Schools.

Your voices matter, and your feedback helps shape meaningful conversations and advocacy that support students and families across our community.

📣 We’d love to see you at one of our upcoming sessions:

📍 Tuesday, July 21
🕡 6:30–8:30 PM
Myersville Library

📍 Tuesday, July 28
🕡 6:30–8:30 PM
Brunswick Library

Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, student, educator, or community member, your perspective is valuable. Join us, share your experiences, and help us continue building a more inclusive future for students with disabilities in FCPS.

Thank you again to all SECAC members who helped and came to support this listening session… it was a huge success!