Advocacy
Diverse Abilities Advocacy Committee
Terms of Reference
Background: SD83 DPAC Executive recognized the need for a focus group for parents and families of students with diverse abilities at their DPAC meeting on April 25, 2019. At that time, a DPAC Task Force was created for the purpose of establishing a formal DPAC Subcommittee on this issue. This committee was formally approved by DPAC Executive in September, 2019.
Purpose/Mandate: The purpose of the Diverse Abilities Advocacy Committee (DAAC) is to advocate for and support the enhancement of high quality learning experiences for students with diverse abilities in the public school system in School District #83 in a positive, cooperative manner.
Responsibilities: Advocate for a standard process/procedure to raise concerns. DAAC provides parents/guardians with a forum for discussion of issues affecting the educational health and welfare of children with diverse abilities. DAAC discusses and documents parental concerns related to diverse learners’ abilities and will develop recommendations and/or action plans related to those abilities for the DPAC Executive to be tabled at Partner Group Liaison meetings. These recommendations may include advocacy of programs, services, policies, procedures, protocols and implementation. To ensure meetings are productive, participants should endeavor to maintain a district-wide focus and a focus on all diverse abilities. DAAC can seek information and/or guidance from other organizations and leaders in diverse abilities learning and will advise DPAC regarding parental concerns in SD83.
Committee Membership: The DAAC membership will consist of members of the SD83 DPAC Executive and parents/guardians of students in SD83.
Governance: DAAC is a subcommittee and exists and operates under SD83 DPAC. DAAC reports to DPAC Executive and at DPAC meetings. The agenda will be set and minutes made by facilitators of DAAC. Documentation of recommendations and/or action plans discussed in meetings will be reported to DPAC executive and the latter distributes to a list of contacts maintained by DPAC. Final decisions on matters where DAAC and DPAC Executive disagree, DPAC Executive will decide the matters. DAAC facilitators will ensure any expenditure is pre-approved by DPAC Executive. Minutes and documentation of recommendations and/or action plans will be stored in the DPAC Dropbox. Meetings can be supported through digital means such as Zoom, Skype, etc. to give rise to increased participation.
DAAC Facilitators
Christy Wright – DPAC Executive
Steph Comer – DAAC Facilitator
To contact our DAAC facilitators click here
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