Community Advisory Committee for Special Education Meeting

Tuesday, June 12, 2025 at 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm

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

MINUTES

Public Hearing on Special Education Local Plan for 2025-26 (Patrick Morrison)

SELPA Local Plan Section D: Annual Budget Plan

SELPA Local Plan Section E: Annual Service Plan

Welcome (Chair Wong) – 6:45 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.

Roll Call (Vice-Chair Aoki)

17 members were present; quorum was met. 

Agenda Approval (Chair Wong)

Motion to accept: 1^st Steven V., 2^nd Nora D. – 17 Yeas/0 Nays

Old Business (Julie Wong)

Previous Meeting Minutes

·       February 11, 2025

o   Motion to accept: 1^st Steven V., 2^nd Nora D. – 17 Yeas/0 Nays

·       March 11, 2025

o   Motion to accept: 1^st Eileen G., 2^nd Patrick S. – 17 Yeas/0 Nays

·       April 8, 2025

o   Motion to accept: 1^st Gloria B., 2^nd Steven V. – 17 Yeas/0 Nays

·       May 13, 2025

o   Motion to accept: 1^st Steven V., 2^nd Edith R. – 17 Yeas/0 Nays

Membership (Vice-Chair Aoki)

No new applications.

Summer Activities Engagement (presented by Cara Ford, Elsa Knapp Scott, & Julie Wong)

Cara Ford, Assistive Technology: Assistive technology is anything to assist student access to classroom activities (AAC devices, magnifying displays, mice, etc.).

Handouts:

·       “All About Me” sheets (detailed for older, simplified for younger) – can add a picture

o   Can give to teacher(s) next school year to help introduce student

·       Core Board with common summer words

·       “I am working for…” Token Board – used in classrooms, student may already be familiar

o   Make your own with items from Dollar Tree (contact paper, poker chips, Velcro)

o   Helps regulate the dysregulation

·       “First, Then” Boards

·       List of fun, local summer activities

Elsa Knapp Scott, Occupational Therapist:

Activities/crafts:

·       Paper towel/napkin

o   Draw lines and scrunch napkin along the line, squeeze, flatten

o   Play tic-tac-toe

o   Rip (two-point pinch)

·       Ice cube tray – put in small snacks and have child reach in and grab snacks (pinch)

·       Zip-lock bags – put snacks in, have child pinch closed and pull open between snacks (helps arches of hand/pencil grip)

·       Buildable toys (Dollar Tree has lots)

·       Slow dog feeder – put in marble and make it follow the path

·       Pompoms in a whisk – pull out pompoms

·       Use broken (about 1” long) regular-sized crayons increases pincher grasp strength

·       Tennis ball – cut a “mouth” and make it “eat” small items

·       Pringles can

o   Drop in something, makes a noise (cause & effect)

o   Use as a microphone

o   Put balloon over opening – pinch to make noise

·       Puzzles

Question: Any suggestions for child with pika?

Answer: Beef jerky, dried fruit (mangos), chewies, chew necklaces (make sure it’s food-grade)

·       No-cook playdough recipe (edible)

·       Obstacle course inside using couch cushions, chairs, etc. – crawl under/over

o   “push, pull, lift, carry” – fundamental movements

 

Educational Partners Forum

Patrick S. – What is the update on McLane SDC.  Hoover SDC class sizes need attention.

Patrick M. – McLane High School’s Special Day Classes have been fixed.  We are looking into Hoover High School’s Special Day Class sizes.

Announcements

Next Upcoming CAC Meeting: TBD August or September of 2025

Closing & Adjournment (Chair Wong) – 7:46 p.m.