The Special Education Family and Community (SEFAC) Advisory Committee is a dedicated group of parents, caregivers, educators, and community members working together to strengthen special education in Austin ISD. SEFAC provides valuable input and feedback to help shape policies, improve services, and ensure that family voices are heard at every level.

We encourage all families to get involved—whether by attending meetings, submitting a public comment, or simply staying informed. Your experiences and insights help us build a stronger, more inclusive community for all students. Click here to learn more about the committee or here to submit a Public Comment. If you would like to join the committee, here is the application.

We also invite families to share their ideas for what the committee should focus on this school year. If you have suggestions for topics or agenda items, please share them using our public comment form.

📅 Wednesday, Aug. 27

Family Empower Hour: Welcome to Austin ISD Special Education
Join us for a tour of the helpful parent tools and guides on the SPEDTex website during an interactive session. We’ll also share key information for families new to Austin ISD’s special education programs, with plenty of time to answer your questions and offer support for your student. Open to families and caregivers of students with disabilities.

🕛 12 p.m. & 6 p.m. | Zoom: bit.ly/SPEDsessions

📅 Wednesday, Sept. 3

Family Empower Hour: The ABCs of IEPs
Presented by Amy Cox & Lisa Vasquez-Saldana
This session welcomes new families to special education and introduces key parts of a student’s program, including performance levels, goals, and services. You’ll also learn about your role as a parent and how to work with the IEP team. Sessions repeat throughout the year. Open to families and caregivers of students with disabilities.

🕛 12 p.m. & 6 p.m. | Zoom: bit.ly/SPEDsessions

📅 Wednesday, Sept. 10

Family Empower Hour: Child Find
Presented by Amanda Reyes
Learn about Child Find, the process that ensures all children who may need special education services are identified and supported. This session will help you understand your rights, the school’s responsibilities, and how to get the help your child needs. Open to all families and caregivers of students.

🕛 12 p.m. & 6 p.m. | Zoom: bit.ly/SPEDsession

📅 Wednesday, Sept. 17

Family Empower Hour: Austin ISD 18+ Info Session
Presented by Courtney Gregori and Jillian Ross
Ready for what’s next after high school? Join AISD’s Transition Team for a virtual informational session all about 18+ services, including GO Project, TLC, Greenleaf, and Project SEARCH. Discover which program best fits your student’s needs and get your questions answered by our experts. Open to families and caregivers of students with disabilities.

🕛 12 p.m. & 6 p.m. | Zoom: bit.ly/SPEDsessions

📅 Wednesday, Sept. 24

Family Empower Hour: Let’s Get Organized!
Progress Reports for Parents, Organization and Communication, Family Binder, Frontline
Join us for an interactive session to learn essential tools for staying organized and engaged as a special education family. We’ll walk you through the AISD Parent Portal, the collaboration portal in Frontline, and instructions on how to create a Family Binder to keep all your important documents in one place. Open to families and caregivers of students with disabilities.

🕛 12 p.m. & 6 p.m. | Zoom: bit.ly/SPEDsessions

📚 Celebrate International Literacy Day – September 8- Every student can become a confident reader with the right support! Austin ISD provides specialized services for students with dyslexia and other reading challenges to help unlock their full potential.  Per TEC 29.0031 (e), Austin ISD is required to notify families of students identified with dyslexia or a related disorder of the Talking Book Program (TBP) maintained by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. The TBP offers audio books at no-cost. For more information, contact the TBP at 1-800-252-9605 or 512-463-5458 or visit www.TexasTalkingBooks.org. For more information on Learning Ally or Bookshare, see the following links:

🔗 Austin ISD Dyslexia Support
🔗 Bookshare – Free eBooks for Students with Disabilities

🧠 World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10th, where the focus is on a supportive community where every student feels seen, valued, and safe. Suicide Prevention Month is a time to raise awareness, reduce stigma around mental health, and connect families with tools to support emotional wellness—especially for students with disabilities who may face additional challenges. Learn about risk factors and warning signs. Austin ISD’s mental health resources can be found here.

1. Set Up a Consistent Routine

• Establish a predictable morning and evening schedule before school starts.

• Use visual schedules or timers to support transitions.

• Preview the school day with your student to ease anxiety and build confidence.

2. Practice Character Traits at Home: Character Strong focuses on kindness, courage, empathy, and responsibility. Practice these through:

• Role-playing school situations (e.g., asking for help, making friends).

• Celebrating small acts of kindness at home.

• Modeling positive self-talk and problem-solving.

3. Talk About Feelings

• Help your child name and recognize emotions (happy, worried, frustrated, excited).

• Use simple tools like feelings charts or journals.

• Practice calming strategies such as deep breathing or using a “calm corner.”

4. Reinforce School Behavior Expectations

• Ask your school for their behavior expectations (e.g., “Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible”).
  Use similar language at home to create consistency.

• Praise efforts and progress, not just outcomes.

5. Collaborate with Your IEP Team Early

• Be on the lookout for a letter from your student's Case Manager in the first weeks of school!

• Share any changes, summer updates, or behavior strategies that work well at home.

• Create a Family Binder for your student’s paperwork.

• Attend Austin ISD Special Education Learning Events to learn more about how to advocate for your student. 

6. Celebrate Strengths

• Focus on what your student does well—creativity, perseverance, helpfulness, etc.

• Encourage a “strengths-first” mindset when talking about school.

• Create a space at home to display their work, achievements, or goals.

🧩 Thank You for Being a Vital Part of Our Team
We’re proud to partner with you to support your student's success in Austin ISD Special Education.

🗣️ Questions or Feedback?
Email our Family Learning & Engagement Specialist bree.rolfe@austinisd.org

📚 Need Resources?
Visit our Special Education website for tools, supports, and info.

📲 Stay Connected
✔ Download the Austin ISD App  and follow the Special Education Department
✔ Follow us on Instagram: @aisdspecialeducation

💙 Together, we build strong connections—one student, one family at a time.