Disability Services

Have questions about services for parents?

Looking for information on resources?

You can reach us at parentprograms@saisd.net

In collaboration with SAISD, ImmSchools will host a workshop in Spanish for parents on supporting immigrant students on their journey to and through college!

Parent Support Services (PSS) Disability Services Social Workers provide services intended to support and respond to the special needs and challenges of parents and guardians who have children with disabilities. With behavior and mental health expertise and in partnership with parents/guardians, PSS Social Workers support student progress through appropriate community and in-district service referrals and evidence - based interventions addressing intensive needs. Such wraparound services are offered to families facing challenging situations that affect their child's learning and progress in school. Depending on the need, these services could include:

• Developing a plan to identify and work out current challenges.

• Developing in-home crisis and safety plans.

• Learning about your child's disability and available support services.

• Working out concerns about your child’s special education services.

• Working out emotional and behavior concerns about your child.

• Developing partnerships with your child's campus.

• Connecting you to community resources for long term support.

Our PSS Team includes:

Claudia Cisneros-Tabares, LMSW-IPR has been with San Antonio ISD for 18 years supporting the Office of Disability Services. With a total of 20 years in the field of Social Work, Mrs. Cisneros-Tabares has worked with students and families in the educational setting as well as families in transition. Currently Mrs. Cisneros-Tabares offices out of J. T. Brackenridge Elementary in the heart of the West Side and supports families whose children attend schools that feed into Lanier High School as well as those on special campuses, and our Spanish speaking families.

Thelma Padilla, LCSW is a Clinical Social Worker who has worked with San Antonio ISD for 11 years and servicing families of children with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for the past 5 years. She has nearly 20 years of experience working with families in both educational and child welfare settings. Ms. Padilla offices at Hillcrest Elementary and supports families whose children attend schools in the Burbank and Jefferson High School attendance zones.

Cynthia Vollmer, LMSW has worked in the district for 4 years and has been with PSS since the 2020-2021 school year. She has over 26 years of experience working with foster children, many of whom received Special Education support. Ms. Vollmer offices at Woodrow Wilson Elementary and supports families whose children attend schools that feed into Edison and Brackenridge High Schools.

Monica M. Chavarria, LMSW has been with San Antonio ISD for 11 months. Mrs. Chavarria has 21 years of professional social work experience. Currently, Mrs. Chavarria is a part-time campus social worker at Cotton Academy and part-time Disabilities Services Social Worker. She supports families whose children attend schools that feed into Highlands High School.

The schools that feed into Sam Houston High School are shared by all 4 Social Workers. Feeder assignments are subject to change.

To receive services please fill out a Social Service Referral Form (SSRF).

• Click Here: SSRF

• Or Scan Here:

You have the right to request a special education evaluation at any time. It's best to submit the request in writing to either your school's principal or the district's special education director. If your child is pre-school age or not enrolled, send your request to the special education director.

Click here for more special education resources for you and your family.

You might have seen us at one of your Open House, Meet the Teacher, or Parent Night Events. Our table was a very popular table during one of these school events, and we owe it all to San Antonio Housing & Authority for donating new books to our students. The students all were happy to receive a free book. We also want to thank all the schools who invited us to their event and allowed us to promote our CCMR & T program, and to promote READING! We had fun displaying the books and watching the students try to decide what they wanted to take home. We interacted with more than 500 parents during these events- and it was exciting doing parent engagement.

From their website:

FREE Parent Coaching

• Any caretaker of a child up to 22 years old with Autism Spectrum Disorder can sign up
• Either formally diagnosed or as indicated by our screening tools
• You will be taught how to teach your child new communication skills
• You can sign up to receive individualized parent coaching
• Online coaching sessions available in English and Spanish
• LIMITED availability

For more information or to participate, please complete the online application form at

autism.tamu.edu

From their website: "Beginning on November 1, 2021, the SSES program will expand eligibility to include all students served by special education who attend a Texas public school. Funding for the expanded criteria will begin in January 2022. We encourage parents of eligible students to apply now, but we also want parents to know that new applicants may not receive an award notice until January 2022. Visit the SSES Homepage to apply and for additional program information."

Click here for more information.

Interested in applying for a seat at one of SAISD's Choice Schools or Magnet Programs? Programs are available for students in all grades. The enrollment window is open now through January 14, 2022!

Click for a list of all choice schools and magnet programs.

Apply today!

Admissions Criteria: To enroll your child during Open Enrollment, please bring with you: Child's birth certificate, Child's social security, Child's shot record, Parent's I.D, Proof of Income, Proof of SAISD residence.

Criterios de admissions: Para inscribir a su hijo durante la inscripción abierta, traiga consigo: Certificado de Nacimiento del niño, Seguro Social del niño, Registro de Vacunación del niño, I.D de los padres, Prueba de Ingresos, Prueba de Residencia en SAISD.

Please click on the links below. Information is in both English and Spanish.

In continuation of Safety Bus Rules in the month of October, we would like to Thank all bus drivers. Our SAISD bus drivers do everything they can to keep our students safe. We applaud our bus drivers for bringing our students to school on time and taking them back home. It takes a special kind of driver to be a BUS DRIVER! Please watch this awesome video they put together for our SAISD students.

Fun crafts to do with your children during the Holiday's. Enjoy these DIY ideas to bring family together during this time. We send warm wishes for you a joyful holiday surrounded by the people who make life worth celebrating.

The end of the Fall Semester is quickly approaching and 8th grade students and parents will be meeting soon with school counselors to begin planning for 9th grade and beyond.

An excellent resource for 8th graders and their families is the TEA's Graduation Toolkit. Filled with information about each of the five endorsements as well as the ins and outs of course credits and 4-year plans, this tool will help you as your child nears graduation. The toolkit also contains a graduation checklist that your 8th grader can begin working on as they plan their next steps toward graduation.

Region 20's Parent Resource Webpage

A Parent's Guide to Early Childhood Intervention & Early Childhood Special Education

The ARC of San Antonio Community Resource Directory

Texas Transition and Employment Guide

Parents of High School seniors, application deadlines for Fall 2022 are happening soon!

Your high school seniors are meeting with their College Bound Advisors to complete required tasks such as completing college applications, scholarship letters, and financial aid applications.

Please share this list of upcoming deadlines with your senior:

Financial Aid Deadlines:

Apply Texas - December 1, 2021 - the Apply Texas website has information on every 2- and 4-year public college and university in Texas. Students can complete their college and financial applications through this site

TASFA - January 15, 2022 - students classified as Texas residents but do not meet eligibility for the FAFSA are encouraged to apply for financial aid using the TASFA application

FAFSA - each college has their own deadline. Be sure to check with your future college or university

AlamoPROMISE - February 28, 2022 - From their website: "AlamoPROMISE covers tuition and required fees for current academic year graduates from participating high schools seeking an academic certificate or associate's degree at one of the five Alamo Colleges: Northeast Lakeview College, Northwest Vista College, Palo Alto College, San Antonio College, and St. Philip's College."

College Admissions Deadlines:

Alamo Colleges - apply soon for Fall 2022

University of Texas at San Antonio - June 1, 2022

Texas A&M San Antonio - January 15, 2022

University of Texas - December 1, 2021

Texas A&M - December 1, 2021

Certifications for students with Disabilities - high school seniors with disabilities may be eligible to apply to certify in areas such as personal care attendant, general office, and interdisciplinary studies. Be sure to click on each link to learn more about their programs!

Project Access - currently accepting applications for Fall 2022 - each cohort attends classes at Palo Alto College in San Antonio. Students work toward earning a Level 1 General Office certificate. Students may either enter the workforce or continue toward earning more certificates.

E4Texas - currently accepting applications for Summer 2022 - located on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin, E4Texas is a 3-semester experience for work-minded young adults who want to certify as a personal care attendant.

Aggie Achieve - application deadline is December 1, 2021 for Fall 2022 - students accepted into Aggie Achieve complete all coursework and live on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station. Aggie Achieve is a 4-year comprehensive transition program with the opportunity to graduate with a certificate in interdisciplinary studies from Texas A&M University.

Texas Workforce Solutions - Vocational Rehabilitation Services - financial assistance might be available! If your child is connected to Texas Workforce, have them check with their VRS transition counselor to see if they are eligible for tuition assistance for any of these programs.

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Disability Services

Parent & CCMR/Transition

Meet Mrs. Rachel Mello, parent of Project SEARCH intern and Lanier graduate, William. This short video highlights the supports that are available through the Parent Programs in San Antonio ISD. Click on her photo to hear their story!

Now is the time for High School seniors who have received instruction in one or more modified classes to consider what they will be doing once they complete their graduation activities.

What about applying for a one-year non-paid internship opportunity?

Project SEARCH is a transition-to-work program available for adult students, 18 to 21 years old, that have completed all high school graduation requirements and are recommended by their ARD/IEP Committee to continue working on vocational skills that will help them achieve their post-secondary goal of obtaining paid employment in the area of their interest.

This internship opportunity follows the SAISD school calendar. Interns continue to be enrolled at their home high school as students of the SAISD.

The Project SEARCH internship consists of both classroom and work-place instruction entirely at our host business, Children's Hospital of San Antonio. Interns participate in three 10- to 11-week rotations working in various departments at Children's Hospital. Departments that have trained our interns include Information Technology, Gift Shop, Housekeeping, Child Life, Central Supply, BioMed Technology, Linens, and Dietary.

Interns learn how to interview during classroom instruction and practice these skills as they interview for the departments they are interested in working in. In addition to classroom instruction and work-place learning, the interns have opportunities to attend job and career fairs and job shadow in different companies and organizations in San Antonio.

Every intern's post secondary goal is to obtain competitive integrated employment at a job paying minimum wage or higher. A requirement of Project SEARCH is placement in a job that is not classified as "seasonal."

Interested applicants must be willing to connect to Texas Workforce Solutions-Vocational Rehabilitation Services. Supports for skill building and job placement are provided through a collaboration of Texas Workforce Solutions and Professional Contract Services, Inc. Employment supports are in place for the first 90 days through Texas Workforce. Additional supports are provided to eligible interns through AACOG following the first 90 days of employment.

A Prospective Intern and Parent Information Night will take place on December 2, 2021 at 5:30 by Zoom:

Meeting Link: 886 5126 8366

Passcode: PS2021

For more information on Project SEARCH, feel free to contact Lisa Stilling Alvarado at (210) 354-9565, extension 58621.

Email: parentprograms@saisd.net
Website: https://www.saisd.net/page/sped-transition-services
Location: 514 West Quincy Street, San Antonio, TX, USA
Phone: (210) 354-9565

It is the policy of San Antonio ISD not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation or disability in its vocational programs, services or activities as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and SAISD's board policies DIA, FFH, and FFI.

Es norma del distrito de San Antonio no discriminar por motivos de raza, color, religión, origen nacional, sexo, identidad de género, expresión de género, orientación sexual o discapacidad, en sus programas, servicios o actividades vocacionales, tal como lo requieren el Título VI de la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964, según enmienda; el Título IX de las Enmiendas en la Educación, de 1972, la Sección 504 de la Ley de Rehabilitación de 1973, según enmienda, y las pólizas DIA, FFH, y FFI de la mesa directiva de SAISD.