Events
Next STEPS: Parent Leadership Training Series
*Virtual FALL Session*
Thursday, October 16, 2025
Cost:
Location: Virtual
Next STEPS: Parent Leadership Training Series
*Virtual FALL Session*
This intensive nine session series is designed to help parents and professionals gain the skills and knowledge necessary to be effective members of the Planning and Placement Team (PPT). This training series will prepare participants for a variety of roles at the school, district, regional, and state levels.
Dates:
October 16, 23, 30
November 6, 13, 20
December 4, 11
Classes will meet on Thursday evenings at 5:30
Registration is required!
Upon registration, you will receive a confirmation email containing details about the class and the link to the training
For an application:
Call: 860-739-3089 Email: [email protected]
or visit us at: https://cpacinc.org/programs-next-steps.aspx
» Register for event
ABCs of Dyslexia
Understanding Assessments, Reading Challenges, and Next Steps
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Cost: No cost
Location: Virtual
ABCs of Dyslexia: Understanding Assessments, Reading Challenges, and Next Steps
Join us for an informative session designed to help families better understand how reading progress is monitored, what learning challenges like dyslexia may look like, and what steps to take when there are concerns about a student’s reading progress.
Presented by Siobhan Brearly, CPAC Parent Consultant, and Goviana Morales, CPAC Bilingual Parent Consultant.
» Register for event
ABC de la Dislexia
Comprendiendo las evaluaciones, los retos en la lectura y próximos pasos
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Cost: Gratis
Location: Virtual
ABC de la Dislexia: Comprendiendo las evaluaciones, los retos en la lectura y próximos pasos
Acompáñenos en una sesión informativa diseñada para ayudar a las familias a comprender mejor cómo se monitorea el progreso en la lectura, cómo pueden manifestarse los retos de aprendizaje como la dislexia y qué pasos seguir cuando surgen preocupaciones sobre el progreso lector de un estudiante.
Presentado por Siobhan Brearly, Consultora de Padres en CPAC, y Goviana Morales, Consultora Bilingüe de Padres en CPAC.
» Register for event
Finding Your Voice as a Parent Webinar
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST
Cost: This is a no cost event
Location: Online Event
Finding Your Voice as a Parent Webinar
Date: Wednesday October 22nd 2025 7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. EST.
Register here on Zoom: https://bit.ly/5976E2
Co-hosted online with the Stamford JCC (Stamford, CT). This is a Zoom webinar - online. It is free and open to the public.
Speakers:
Attorney Lawrence Berliner, Connecticut Special Education Law
Jane Faherty, Stamford JCC JumpStart Program Executive Director & Special Education Advocate
Dr. Terry D’Elisa, Psychologist, PsyD., New Canaan CT
Dr. Terry D’Elisa completes neuropsychological evaluations and provides therapeutic support to children, teens, and adults and coaching for parents to assist them in managing challenging behaviors and improving parent/child and coparenting relationships. She specializes in helping children and adults with a variety of diagnoses including ADHD, Autism, Learning Disabilities, Dyslexia and Executive Function. Dr. D’Elisa hosts a 7-week program titled, “Calm and Collected” for parenting a child with Executive Function and ADHD.
In our conversation with Dr. D’Elisa, we will explore:
• Helping parents tell their story: the story we tell makes a difference
• Pressures parents face with their children and how to cope
• Helping parents process the struggles and stress
• Anxiety parents face in meeting the challenges of school and home
• Managing personal and interpersonal challenges
• Q & A
Questions? Please contact Rachel Berliner, Public Relations Assistant at [email protected]
More information: https://www.stamfordjcc.org/events/2025/10/22/inclusion/finding-your-voice-as-a-parent-webinar-supporting-parents-of-special-needs-children/
» Register for event
» View event flyer
Inclusive Book Reading
Saturday, October 25, 2025
10:30am to 12:30pm
Cost: This is a no cost event.
Location: 200 N Main St, Wallingford, CT 06492
The HELLO Lab at UConn is teaming up with Wallingford Public Library for an inclusive and accessible storytime featuring the empowering Mighty Mila book. Come enjoy a fun and inclusive story time with us followed by hands-on literacy games! This free event is designed with ALL families in mind — especially those with children who are D/deaf or hard of hearing.
» Register for event
» View event flyer
Lectura Inclusiva
Saturday, October 25, 2025
De 10:30 a 12:30 horas
Cost: Este es un evento sin costo.
Location: 200 N Main St, Wallingford, CT 06492
Nos hemos unido con la Wallingford Public Library para ofrecer una hora de cuentos inclusiva y accesible con el inspirador libro Mighty Mila.
¡Acompáñanos para disfrutar de una divertida hora de cuentos seguida de juegos prácticos de lectura y escritura!
Este evento gratuito está pensado para todas las familias, especialmente aquellas con niños que son sordos o con dificultades auditivas.
» Register for event
» View event flyer
Not Just a Reading Disorder
Dyslexia’s Deeper Impact
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
6:00 PM to 7:15PM
Cost: No cost
Location: Virtual
Not Just a Reading Disorder: Dyslexia’s Deeper Impact
Dyslexia affects far more than reading and writing. It can shape self-esteem, confidence, and social experiences in ways that are often overlooked. Join us as we explore the social-emotional impact of dyslexia, hear personal stories, and discuss strategies to support the whole student academically and emotionally.
This panel will be facilitated by Alissa Heizler-Mendoza, Parent Engagement Coordinator at Decoding Dyslexia CT.
» Register for event
No es solo un trastorno de la lectura
El impacto más profundo de la dislexia
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
6:00 PM to 7:15 PM
Cost: Gratis
Location: Virtual
No es solo un trastorno de la lectura: El impacto más profundo de la dislexia
La dislexia afecta mucho más que la lectura y la escritura. Puede influir en la autoestima, la confianza y las experiencias sociales de maneras que a menudo se pasan por alto. Únase a nosotros para explorar el impacto socioemocional de la dislexia, escuchar historias personales y analizar estrategias para apoyar al estudiante de manera integral—tanto académica como emocionalmente.
Este panel será facilitado por Alissa Heizler-Mendoza, Coordinadora de Participación de Padres en Decoding Dyslexia CT.
» Register for event
DDS Commissioner Stakeholder Forums 2025 - Morning
Tuesday, November 4, 2025
11:30 am -1:00 pm
Cost: No cost
Location: Virtual
The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) invites you to join our 2025 Commissioner Stakeholder Forums.
These virtual sessions are a chance to:
Hear updates directly from Commissioner Jordan Scheff, Deputy Commissioner Elisa Velardo, and other DDS leaders.
Learn about new projects, priorities, and changes that may affect you, your family, or your provider.
Share your ideas and ask questions with DDS leadership.
We welcome individuals, families, providers, advocates, and community partners to take part.
? Please don’t forget to register so you can join one of the sessions.
» Register for event
DDS Commissioner Stakeholder Forums 2025 - Evening
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Cost: No cost
Location: Virtual
The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) invites you to join our 2025 Commissioner Stakeholder Forums.
These virtual sessions are a chance to:
Hear updates directly from Commissioner Jordan Scheff, Deputy Commissioner Elisa Velardo, and other DDS leaders.
Learn about new projects, priorities, and changes that may affect you, your family, or your provider.
Share your ideas and ask questions with DDS leadership.
We welcome individuals, families, providers, advocates, and community partners to take part.
? Please don’t forget to register so you can join one of the sessions.
» Register for event
PART ONE: When Little Brains Explode
Compassionate Parenting: Brain, Emotions, & Behavior
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Cost: No cost
Location: Virtual
It's happening again. Your preschooler screams about the "wrong" plate, your middle
schooler slams their door, or your teen gives you that icy stare that cuts to your soul. You
feel your own emotions rising. What if these moments - these exact moments - are
actually your child's brain desperately trying to tell you something? What if their
"difficult behavior" is really a coded message you've never learned to decode, no matter
their age?
Join us VIRTUALLY to:
-Define compassionate parenting and its core principles
-Understand the “upstairs” and “downstairs” brain
-Recognize “flipping your lid” moments in you & your child
-Decode behavior as communication: toddler to teen
-Identify personal triggers that hijack your parenting responses
Presenter: Dr. Maureen Ruby, DMD, PhD
Sacred Heart University
Farrington College of Education and Human Development
Center of Excellence for Belonging & Leadership
» Register for event
PARTE UNO: Cuando explotan los cerebritos
Crianza compasiva: cerebro, emociones y conducta
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Cost: Gratis
Location: Virtual
Está pasando otra vez. Tu hijo en edad preescolar grita por el “plato equivocado”, tu hijo
de secundaria da un portazo, o tu adolescente te lanza esa mirada helada que te
atraviesa el alma. Sientes que tus propias emociones comienzan a subir. ¿Y si estos
momentos – estos momentos exactos – son en realidad el cerebro de tu hijo tratando
desesperadamente de decirte algo? ¿Y si su “conducta difícil” es en realidad un mensaje
en clave que nunca has aprendido a descifrar, sin importar su edad?
Acompáñanos para:
-Definir la crianza compasiva y sus principios fundamentales
-Comprender el cerebro de “arriba” y el cerebro de “abajo”
-Reconocer los momentos de “perder el control” en ti y en tu hijo
-Descifrar la conducta como comunicación: desde la infancia hasta la adolescencia
-Identificar disparadores personales que sabotean tus respuestas como padre o
madre
Presenter: Dr. Maureen Ruby, DMD, PhD
Sacred Heart University
Farrington College of Education and Human Development
Center of Excellence for Belonging & Leadership
» Register for event
Effective Engagement with Your Board of Education
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
6:00pm
Cost: No cost
Location: Virtual
Families, community members, and Boards of Education (BOEs) all want the same thing—student success. But how do BOEs make the decisions that shape every child’s education? From setting policies and priorities to balancing budgets and staffing challenges, their choices have a direct impact on classrooms across Connecticut.
In this dynamic session, you’ll get an inside look at:
How BOEs work: What drives their decisions and responsibilities.
The power of your voice: How families and community members can influence outcomes.
Real-world strategies: Ways to engage effectively—even during tough conversations about funding, staffing, or policy.
You’ll leave with practical tools to strengthen partnerships with your BOE and make your voice count in shaping your child’s education.
Presented by:
Patrice McCarthy
Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE)
Executive Director and General Counsel
and
Jennifer Lussier
Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center (CPAC)
Partnership Programs Manager
» Register for event
Understanding Dyslexia Evaluations
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Cost: No cost
Location: Virtual
Understanding Dyslexia Evaluations
Evaluations are more than tests — each is a comprehensive process that explores a student’s strengths and challenges in areas such as phonological processing, word identification, reading fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary. Learn about specific assessment tools that are often utilized, how results are interpreted, and how this information guides effective intervention and other supports. Join us for this informative session presented by: Sheryl Knapp, M.Ed., C/OGA, C-SLD, Director & Literacy Therapist at Literacy Learning and Assessment of CT
» Register for event
Comprendiendo las evaluaciones de la dislexia
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Cost: Gratis
Location: Virtual
Comprendiendo las evaluaciones de la dislexia
Las evaluaciones son más que exámenes: se trata de un proceso integral que explora las fortalezas y desafíos de un estudiante en áreas como el procesamiento fonológico, la identificación de palabras, la fluidez lectora, la comprensión y el vocabulario. Conozca las herramientas de evaluación que se utilizan con frecuencia, cómo se interpretan los resultados y cómo esta información guía la intervención eficaz y otros apoyos. Acompáñenos en esta sesión informativa presentada por: Sheryl Knapp, M.Ed., C/OGA, C-SLD, directora y terapeuta de lectura en literacy learning and Assessment of CT
» Register for event