 |
|
October is Disability History and Awareness Month (DHAM) |
More than a decade ago, a group of youth with disabilities requested that Virginia officially recognize October as Disability History and Awareness Month (DHAM). These dedicated youth also developed a credo:
“Disability history education and awareness will promote positive attitudes in
schools creating a culture of mutual respect, understanding, and equal
opportunities for all.”
This month, Virginians across the Commonwealth will join with others nationwide to increase awareness, respect, and acceptance for students with disabilities. To facilitate this important effort, youth with disabilities, their parents, and teachers, as well as staff members from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) and other partnering agencies and organizations continue to collaborate and develop a variety of resources that can be used to help school divisions highlight DHAM across the state.
You can find more information about DHAM through Superintendent's Memo #231-22. You may also wish to review these resources for Disability History and Awareness Month.
State Special Education Advisory Committee (SSEAC) In-Person Meeting - October 13-14, 2022
The State Special Education Advisory Committee (SSEAC) will convene in person over two days in full committee: Thursday, October 13, 2022, between 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Friday, October 14, 2022, between 9 a.m.-noon. The purpose of this meeting is to transact the business statutorily required or necessary to continue the operations of the State Special Education Advisory Committee (SSEAC).
The meeting will be convened at the following location: Sheraton Richmond Airport Hotel, 5501 Eubank Road, Sandston, Virginia 23150. The meeting agenda will be posted in the 2022 Meetings.
Oral public comment will be accepted on Thursday, October 13, 2022, between 1-1:30 p.m. However, written public comment is always accepted.
Written public comment should be received by 7 a.m., Thursday, October 13, 2022. Please submit any written comments to sseac@doe.virginia.gov. All written public comment will be shared with the SSEAC members following oral public comments.
If you have any questions regarding this meeting, please contact Hank Millward, via email, at Hank.Millward@doe.virginia.gov, or via telephone, at (804) 371-0525.
Affordable Connectivity Program
As America’s children get back to school and continue to recover from the challenges of the pandemic, ensuring that all families have access to affordable high-speed internet is more important than ever.
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provides eligible households up to $30/month off internet bills (or $75/month on Tribal lands), as well as a one-time $100 discount off a laptop, tablet, or computer. You can sign up at Get Internet.
Nearly 40 percent of United States. households qualify for ACP, but millions of families have yet to claim their benefit. Households are eligible if they make up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level ($55,500 for a family of four), and are also eligible, regardless of income, if they participate in certain federal programs. Critically, households qualify for ACP – without regard to income – if any member of the household:
- Participates in the Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch or Breakfast program, including a child who attends one of the over 33,000 Community Eligibility Provision schools; or
- Is receiving a Pell Grant this school year.
Families also qualify if someone in the household participates in Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, WIC, Supplemental Security Income, and other programs.
|
