Virtual Event
Speakers
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Pamela BiscegliaAdvocacy Denver - Executive DirectorPamela Bisceglia As a parent of a child with a disability, Pamela gained practical experience regarding the rights of children with disabilities. Her professional experience is marked by her devotion to individuals in need, first-hand knowledge of the operation of public systems and their obligation under state and federal law.
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Meryl DuguayOwner / Advocate - DuguayMeryl Duguay is an advocate for students with disabilities in the Denver metro area. Meryl partners with families and school teams to develop appropriate individualized education plans for students.
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Yvette Plummer-BurkhalterExecutive Director - THRIVE CenterYvette has been the Executive Director for THRIVE Center for 14 years and is the parent of a 19 years old son who has ASD. She has proudly served on the Colorado Special Education Advisory Committee, the Colorado Interagency Coordinating Council, the JFK Partners Advisory Council, Black Health Initiative Workgroup at Children’s Hospital and is on the advisory board for Parent to Parent of Colorado. Her organization serves families who have children with disabilities obtain the support and services they need within the school system and in their communities.
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Ben KarpRocky Mountain Down Syndrome Association - Education ProgramsBen is joining RMDSA as the new Education Program Coordinator. He will be the primary point of contact for all of our education services including IEP consultations, Higher Visions for Education programs, as well as expanding education outcomes for families with Down Syndrome. Ben has worked in the disability community for over four years and is passionate about providing students, families and schools with the right tools to make sure students with Down Syndrome thrive in their educational environment. Before joining RMDSA, Ben worked as Project Manager for the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (USA) and as Field Coordinator for All Hands & Hearts. Ben holds a B.S. in Marketing and Multinational Business from Florida State University and a Master’s of Public Health from the University of Edinburgh.
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Jennifer LevinDisability Law Colorado - Senior AttorneyJennifer Levin graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1991 and from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1994. She joined Disability Law Colorado in 2009 as an Equal Justice Works Fellow, sponsored by the law firm of Greenberg Traurig LLC. In 2011, Jennifer became a full-time employee working on the Individual Rights, Client Assistance, Beneficiaries of Social Security, and the Special Education programs. In 2014, Jennifer became the coordinator of the Vote! Program, and in 2015, she became the leader of the Education Team, which focuses on rights of students in pre-school through 12th grade. In addition to representing individuals with disability rights claims, Jennifer presents trainings on voting rights for people with disabilities, special education, and the rules governing restraint of school children with disabilities.
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Candace Hawkins Esq.Director, General Supervision and Monitoring - CDECandace Hawkins is a Dispute Resolution and Policy Specialist with the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) where her primary role is to investigate state complaints. In addition, Candace serves as the CDE representative to the Colorado Juvenile Parole Board and the Colorado Restorative Justice Council. Prior to joining CDE, Candace worked as a public interest lawyer representing low-income Minnesota residents in the areas of family, health care, disability rights, housing, public benefits, and education law. Early in her career, Candace worked as a residential care provider, job coach, and vocational case manager for young adults with serious emotional disabilities. Candace is passionate about social justice and effective, transformative conflict resolution.
IEP Roundtable Discussion
Knowing the frustrations our families are facing, PASCO is bringing together various advocacy community partners to answer your questions. To submit your IEP related questions to be included in the Virtual IEP Roundtable Discussion please visit: bot.pascohh.com/iep-questions or submit your question below.
Panelists:
Candace Hawkins, Esq.
Director, General Supervision and Monitoring – Colorado Department of Education (CDE)
Candace Hawkins is a Dispute Resolution and Policy Specialist with the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) where her primary role is to investigate state complaints. In addition, Candace serves as the CDE representative to the Colorado Juvenile Parole Board and the Colorado Restorative Justice Council. Prior to joining CDE, Candace worked as a public interest lawyer representing low-income Minnesota residents in the areas of family, health care, disability rights, housing, public benefits, and education law. Early in her career, Candace worked as a residential care provider, job coach, and vocational case manager for young adults with serious emotional disabilities. Candace is passionate about social justice and effective, transformative conflict resolution.
Pamela Bisceglia
Executive Director – ADVOCACYDENVER
As a parent of a child with a disability, Pamela gained practical experience regarding the rights of children with disabilities. Her professional experience is marked by her devotion to individuals in need, first-hand knowledge of the operation of public systems and their obligation under state and federal law.
Yvette Plummer Burkhalter
Executive Director – THRIVE Center
Yvette has been the Executive Director for THRIVE Center for 14 years and is the parent of a 19 years old son who has ASD. She has proudly served on the Colorado Special Education Advisory Committee, the Colorado Interagency Coordinating Council, the JFK Partners Advisory Council, Black Health Initiative Workgroup at Children’s Hospital and is on the advisory board for Parent to Parent of Colorado. Her organization serves families who have children with disabilities obtain the support and services they need within the school system and in their communities.
Meryl Duguay, Ed.S.
Owner | Advocate – Duguay Educational Consulting and Advocacy
Meryl Duguay is an advocate for students with disabilities in the Denver metro area. Meryl partners with families and school teams to develop appropriate individualized education plans for students.
Ben Karp
Education Programs – Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Association
Ben is joining RMDSA as the new Education Program Coordinator. He will be the primary point of contact for all of our education services including IEP consultations, Higher Visions for Education programs, as well as expanding education outcomes for families with Down Syndrome. Ben has worked in the disability community for over four years and is passionate about providing students, families and schools with the right tools to make sure students with Down Syndrome thrive in their educational environment. Before joining RMDSA, Ben worked as Project Manager for the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (USA) and as Field Coordinator for All Hands & Hearts. Ben holds a B.S. in Marketing and Multinational Business from Florida State University and a Master’s of Public Health from the University of Edinburgh.
Jennifer Levin
Senior Attorney – Disability Law Colorado
Jennifer Levin graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1991 and from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1994. She joined Disability Law Colorado in 2009 as an Equal Justice Works Fellow, sponsored by the law firm of Greenberg Traurig LLC. In 2011, Jennifer became a full-time employee working on the Individual Rights, Client Assistance, Beneficiaries of Social Security, and the Special Education programs. In 2014, Jennifer became the coordinator of the Vote! Program, and in 2015, she became the leader of the Education Team, which focuses on rights of students in pre-school through 12th grade. In addition to representing individuals with disability rights claims, Jennifer presents trainings on voting rights for people with disabilities, special education, and the rules governing restraint of school children with disabilities.
Qs for panel discussion:
If IDEA is being violated by school districts with distance learning how can we navigate the in person needs of our students without a lawsuit? Mediation isn’t really an option in this situation?
What items need to be addressed or added to ieps to accommodate students who can’t wear a mask all day? Who don’t understand social distancing or direct hands on students?
Thanks Sabrina. We will submit this question to the panel.
Thank you for providing this much needed informational meeting.
Thank you for this meeting.
Question: My son is in a center-based autism room for school. We are remote learning now because of the virus issues, but I must sit with him at all times. Does the school need to provide a para at home, because they do when he is in-person.
Thank you for the question Nicole. We will submit this one for the panel.