Disability Services

Welcome back Parents & Guardians! We hope you had a restful Summer. It is our aim that this school year will be full of successful experiences for your students. Listed below are upcoming Back to School Events and valuable information. Please feel free to contact us, as we are excited for this school year and can't wait to meet you.

Parents, we are so happy to have you back! The past year and a half has been crazy, but you and your family made it through and continue to dedicate yourselves to your children with disabilities. We know that education is more than reading, writing, and math. Of course, those are important, but so is communication, prosocial behavior, self-regulation, and soft skills that allow kids to be happy and successful. Every day, your child's teachers are working to build and strengthen relationships with their students and it makes all the difference in their lives. There’s an old saying that “Kids don’t care what you know until they know that you care.” This is always true, but especially now, when students are returning to in-person instruction. Some of them may need to re-learn how to be students. That’s ok. I know that they are in the best hands with their teachers. I have no doubt that each of you will encourage, support, and love our students and their teachers this year. Thank you for everything you do for your children.

Respectfully,

Kristen Williams, Ph.D.

Executive Director for Disability Services

The SSES grant has been extended until September 30, 2021. There are still funds available for your student. Click the link below to turn in your application. If you have any questions or need help with the application, you can reach out and call SPEDTex at 1-855-773-3839. You can also call Ana Guerra or Joyce Segundo, for assistance, at #210-354-9565

https://tea.texas.gov/academics/special-student-populations/special-education/supplemental-special-education-services-sses

A product of San Antonio ISD, Josue Estrada graduated from Highlands High School in the Spring of 2010. Following graduation from Highlands, Josue enrolled at San Antonio College and earned his Associates degree in 2015 and then moved on to Texas A&M San Antonio graduating with his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology in 2018.

Josue currently serves as a job coach in the Adult Years Vocational Program here in the SAISD. He has worked with adult students with disabilities since the fall of 2019 and is an integral member of the staff as he models daily for his students the importance of pursuing and accomplishing his goals.

Josue, and the instructional team he works with, design lessons for their students that incorporate their interests as the young adults prepare to transition into the work environment.

Josue shared a conversation he had with his mother shortly after he was offered his current job coach position. During this conversation, he explained to his mom that he "didn't go to school to work part-time" and that he knew she wouldn't always be around to take care of him. Josue shared that he, like all men and women, has earned the right to make choices.

When asked what he wished to convey to parents of children with disabilities, Josue stated, "Let your children grow and expand their horizons. Don't be afraid to let them grow. They'll make mistakes, but that's all part of life."

AIP/IPI: If your student did not achieve "approaches" or "meets standard" on their Spring STAAR or End of Course exams, they will be required to participate in at least 30 hours of intervention in each subject area they did not achieve standard. Feel free to contact your child's special education case manager, school counselor, or campus administrator for more information on when the interventions will take place for your child. The link below will take you to the Texas Education Agency's Frequently Asked Questions about the interventions.

House Bill 4545 FAQ

September

15th - 12th graders update goal/college major in Schoolinks

23rd - Parent Information Session: Military Readiness Zoom link

30th - 12th graders update goal/career in Schoolinks

30th - 9th & 12th graders input post-secondary goals in Schoolinks

If you or your child have moved or updated telephone numbers or email addresses, please be sure to contact your child's campus to update your emergency and contact information.

Click here to access the Region 20 Parent Resource webpage

Helping your student with special abilities going back to school

Email: jbrayden1@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.