DJUSD Special Education Department

Dear Families, Staff, and Community Members,

October has arrived, and we are thrilled to celebrate Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Month! AAC encompasses a range of communication methods that empower individuals with disabilities to express themselves and engage meaningfully with their world. Throughout this month, we will spotlight the significance of AAC tools and strategies that enhance our students' ability to communicate effectively.

Did you know that October is also National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)? This month is dedicated to celebrating the contributions of people with disabilities to the workforce and economy while emphasizing the importance of inclusive employment policies. To learn more, visit NDEAM.

In addition to our AAC and NDEAM recongitions, I would like to share an important update regarding the California Department of Education's new initiative: Inclusive Access to a Diploma: Reimagining Proficiency for Students with Disabilities. In collaboration with WestEd, this statewide initiative aims to improve graduation rates for students with disabilities by providing schools and teachers with enhanced resources to assess proficiency in the courses required for graduation. More information can be found below.

Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to our students. Let’s make this AAC Month a meaningful celebration of communication for all!

In Partnership,

Sarah Dhah | Director, Special Education

The CDE, in collaboration with WestEd, has launched an exciting statewide initiative called Inclusive Access to a Diploma: Reimagining Proficiency for Students with Disabilities. This initiative focuses on improving graduation rates for students with disabilities by providing schools and teachers with enhanced resources to assess proficiency in courses required for graduation.

A temporary website, www.altmeans.org, has been set up to share information and gather feedback from students, families, educators, and administrators. I encourage you to explore the site and offer your input to help shape the initiative, ensuring it effectively supports students with disabilities in meeting state diploma requirements.

Additionally, WestEd will be hosting a series of town hall webinars to provide more details on the goals and strategies behind the initiative. Here are the dates and registration links:

Town Hall 3 - November 21, 2024, from 4:00 to 5:30 PST—Registration Link

Town Hall 4 - January 7, 2024, from 5:00 to 6:30 PST—Registration Link

Did you know that October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month? Find out more at: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/initiatives/ndeam

Our monthly SACSE meetings will be held on the 1st Wednesday of every month from 4:30pm-6:00pm. Meetings will be held through Microsoft Teams. Please click the link below to join the meetings at the scheduled time. Just a friendly reminder that there will be no SACSE meeting in October.

Join via: Microsoft Teams

Meeting ID: 238 893 269 371

Passcode: umv4Gg

Hello! My name is Michael, and I am proud to have joined the ranks of DJUSD educators this year. I have been on the journey to being a teacher for a while now, starting out as a para educator at our very own Early Learning Center all the way up to graduating this last spring with my credentials from Sac State University. I'm excited to be jumping into my teaching career in a district that has meant so much to me and look forward to what this first year will hold!

Special Education Department Website

Special Education Department Address:

526 B Street

Davis, CA 95616

Phone:

(530)757-5300 ext. 113