Please visit the SPARK (Special Education Parents Accessing Resources and Knowledge) page for event details. Monday, April 22nd: Masking in AutismJessica Beaty, Autism and IEP Advocate will discuss the significance of masking and internalizing feelings in Autistics. Teachers and parents often struggle to support students who have difficulty expressing their emotions and may mask their true feelings. This discussion will explore the potential reasons for this behavior and guide parents and school staff to identify the signs. By the end of this conversation, parents and teachers will have practical strategies to work together to meet student needs. Special Education Parents Accessing Resources and Knowledge Welcome Parents to SPARK! SPARK meetings are designed to give parents information to help them in their current and future steps of the journey of parenting children with unique needs. As parents, we guide and make decisions for our children and their development. The task can be overwhelming and we want nothing more than to be as informed as we can be when we set the course we believe our child should take. The SPARK committee and District 15 are grateful to have you and desire to serve you such that your journey is successful! At SPARK we realize the importance of providing: Relevant programs and resources related to special education Opportunities to network, receive support and help Connections for parents with outside sources The above are primarily accomplished at the district level through evening programs with outside speakers. We have SPARK representatives at each school who are a local contact and resource to the individual schools. We also have an online support group. If you would like to subscribe to this group, send a request to https://www.facebook.com/groups/1688046171274344/. SPARK will be meeting monthly on Mondays from 7-8:30 pm for the 2023-24 school year. Please download our flyer for the meeting dates and topics. Our meetings will take place virtually. Please join our Facebook group referenced above for the most up-to-date information on meeting locations, virtual links, and other changes. SPARK is sub-committee of a Northwest Suburban Council of PTA/PTSA. NWSC PTA/PTSA serves all PTAs in CCSD15, providing leadership development, PTA resources & programs for students and families of CCSD15. SPARK is proud to serve children with disabilities in Community Consolidated School District 15 and beyond.