1. Who is the Sarasota County ESAC?
The Sarasota County Exceptional Student Advisory Council executive board membership currently consists of 14 members involved in or concerned with the education of children with exceptionalities. A majority of the members of the council are parents of children with disabilities. The membership includes representation of the following groups: Director of Pupil Support Services, Supervisor of ESE, the Parent Liaisons, and families representing the following exceptionalities Autism, Emotionally Handicapped, Giftedness, Hospital/homebound, Learning Disabilities, Mentally Handicapped, Other Health Impaired, Physically Handicapped, Severely Emotionally Handicapped, Speech and Language Impaired, Traumatic Brain Injury, Visually Impaired and 504 Plan families. Our by laws will allow for up to 21 members and we are interested in adding new members in the coming months from the Business Community, an ESE
Liaison, a Technology/Assistive Technology expert, and from
families of exceptionalities that are not yet represented.
2. What is the Purpose of the Sarasota County ESAC?
The mission of the Sarasota County Exceptional Student Advisory Council is to influence a cultural shift in the district to provide appropriate inclusive opportunities to all students by basing educational decision-making on the long-term vision for a child’s life. This will be accomplished through providing the voice of families at all levels by:
 Partnering in the planning and implementation process
Facilitating communication between families and educators
Identifying and facilitating parent education and training
3. What are the desired outcomes of Sarasota County ESAC?
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Be a voice for families in the district |
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Be part of the planning and implementation process in the district |
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Identify and facilitate parent education and training |
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Establish two way communication with families |
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Influence a cultural shift in the district to provide appropriate inclusive opportunities for all students |
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Encourage implementation and use of Positive Behavior Support techniques in response to behavioral challenges |
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Promote educational decisions based on the long term vision for a child’s life and transition to adulthood |
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Network with legislative representatives and with other districts |
Priorities for ESAC for the 2006-2007 School Year
Communication – Establish communication systems to be an effective resource for parents in the district. Develop a district website, email, mail and telephone contact. Identify a Family Ambassador in each school who can assist us in communicating to individual families to inform of training opportunities, resources and assistance.
Publish an ESAC brochure and email communication to ESE families.
Training – Identify and Promote training for district families
Membership - Recruit new members from desired areas
Meetings – Advisory council will meet monthly August-June to accomplish ESAC goals.
Build relationships with schools, district departments and community groups.
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