Our Mission
The mission of the Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center is to educate, support, and empower Connecticut's families of children and youth with any disability or chronic conditions, ages birth to 26, and the professionals who serve them.
CPAC is committed to supporting each and every Connecticut family and youth with disabilities in understanding and learning to advocate for rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). We advocate at the federal, state, and local levels to help remove barriers that families and youth face when advocating for appropriate support and services.
Our Vision
All families will have the confidence, knowledge and understanding they need to effectively advocate for their children and to partner with professionals to ensure the children and youth grow and learn to their full potential.
CPAC receives many questions about who we are and what we do and don't do. Here are some frequently asked questions about our organization:
» CPAC FAQ 2025
» CPAC FAQ Spanish 2025
WHAT'S NEW
You asked, we answered!
CPAC receives many questions about our services. Below you can find the most common questions CPAC gets in both English and Spanish!
» CPAC FAQ 2025
» CPAC FAQ Spanish 2025
How We Help
Every day, CPAC's Parent Consultants provide individual training, support and empowerment for parents and professionals who reach out to us with questions about the education of their children and students. We provide training programs at no cost to families and educators across the state. We make available a wide range of accessible online training and information on our website and through social media. We work with a wide range of partners to reach out to families, youth and educators to find and address the issues in the education and transition of students and young people from birth through age 26. CPAC is staffed by parents of children with disabilities who have training in and personal experience with the law and disability issues.
Online Learning
Opportunities
Webinars, Videos and
Modules.
Hot
Topics
Technology, school climate & bullying, inclusion, literacy, and more.
Newsletters &
Publications
Newsletters from CPAC and a Guide to Educational Terms (in English and Spanish).
Special
Education 101
Communication, eligibility, evaluation, legal rights, and more.
Key
Resources
Parent Support, Connecting Connecticut, Disability Specific and more
NEW Individualized
Education Program (IEP)
The IEP is the foundation for a student's education.
State & Federal
Resources
State and Federal Laws Supporting Students with Disabilities
Families & Schools
Working Together
Practices and Tools for Schools and Families
upcoming events
Camp Courage
Saturday, April 26, 2025
1:30-3:30
Join us for the Camp Courage Open House
A group tour of the camp with an opportunity to ask questions. Meet Camp Horizons Camp Director and a member of Epilepsy Foundation staff.
Location: Camp Horizons, 127 Babcock Hill Rd, South Windham, CT 06266
About: When diagnosed and living with Epilepsy, lives change dramatically. The stress of managing a disease like Epilepsy can be overwhelming.
Camp Courage is a haven to assist, just a little, in bringing lives back to “normal.”
In partnership with Camp Horizon in Windham, CT, children, teens, and young adults ages 8-25 at the time of camp are eligible to participate in a week-long overnight summer camp experience! Each camper will be able to connect with others like them while their family and caregivers gain a little respite.
Cost: $300 per camper (does not include $25 application fee) After submitting an application you will receive payment instructions. Please DO NOT pay through our donation page.
Camp Scholarships:
The Scott Demsey Memorial Camp Scholarship Program
Scott Demsey was a longtime EFCT board member and passionate, influential advocate for people with epilepsy. After his son was diagnosed with epilepsy, he donated his time and energy to educating people about epilepsy and eliminating barriers that might keep people with epilepsy from fully participating in the activities of everyday life. In memory of Scott and his commitment to supporting people with epilepsy, his family has established a scholarship fund to annually sponsor two kids with epilepsy to attend Camp Courage.
Scott Demsey November 13, 1967 — February 24, 2023
Blanca Vazquez Summer Camp Scholarship
NYU Langone Health Summer Camp Scholarship Program, named in honor of Blanca Vazquez, MD director of epilepsy clinical trials serves children with epilepsy in financial need and allows them to experience fun, confidence-building activities.
https://nyumc.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3xVfIPyGUk1UyFM
> Register for event