Special Education: The Basics for Parents & Guardians

Please join us to learn about Special Education basics including a brief overview of the laws & Special Education process, student & parent rights, school district responsibilities, basic terms, and acronyms.

About the Presenter: 

Shemica  S. Allen is the owner of Personalized Learning Solutions, LLC and a  former educator with over 15 years of teaching and administration  experience working with students with disabilities and their  parents/guardians. Shemica received her Bachelor of Science in Education  from the University of Arkansas in 1999 and a Master of Science in  Kinesiology with a specialization in Adapted Physical Activity in 2005  from Texas Christian University. She is certified to teach Special  Education and Physical Education and also received her Principal  certification in 2010.

She  has experience as a Lead Case Manager/Response to Intervention  Coordinator at a middle school, Special Education administrator at a  high school, Vocational Adjustment Coordinator, Self-Contained Teacher,  Content Mastery Teacher, Adapted P.E. Teacher, Homebound Teacher, and In  Home Trainer. Shemica has completed the Special Education Advocate Training (SEAT) and Advanced Advocate Training: Representing Parents in Impartial Hearings through the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA)  She now is on staff with COPAA as an instructor for the SEAT 1.0 and 2.0 courses. Shemica  has attended hundreds of ARD/IEP, 504, and Student Support Team (SST)  meetings. She also has extensive training in facilitating Admission,  Review, and Dismissal (ARD)/IEP committee meetings which requires  effective  communication, problem solving, decision making, and conflict resolution.