Organizations and Partnerships

Special Education Organizations and Partnerships

Parent Consultants

The Utah Parent Center (UPC) provides Parent Consultants to provide parents of students with disabilities and/or students with disabilities the information, training, and skills to become an informed and effective partner with school personnel in supporting the individualized leaders of special education by providing relevant services that guide positive systemic change and results thereby ensuring students with disabilities will live, learn, work and participate in their communities.

Service Providers

Esperanza Reyes, Utah Parent Center, Phone: (801) 272-1051, Extension 253 | Phone: (800) 468-1160, Extension 253.

Contacts

Susie Estrada
School Improvement Program and Special Education Parent Specialist
Phone: (385) 295-789 | Email

Tabitha Pacheco
Special Education Public Information Officer
Phone: (801) 538-7981 | Email

Partnerships

Autism Council of Utah (ACU)
ACU is an independent council working to foster collaboration, communication, and learning among families and agencies. The aim is to promote access to resources and responsible information for individuals of all ages who have, or are affected by autism, or related conditions. They support statewide partnerships to collaborate on special projects, research, and training.

Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) Collaboratives
CCSSO provides supports to state agencies to ensure all students participating in our public education system graduate prepared for college, careers, and life.

Council for Exceptional Children (CEC): Utah
CEC ensures the needs of children and youth with exceptionalities are met in educational legislation, establishes professional standards for the field and develops initiatives to improve special education practice.

National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE)
NASDSE supports state leaders of special education throughout the United States and its territories. NASDSE’s mission and vision is to improve individual and organizational success for state children, youth, and young adults with all disabilities to live included, productive lives as members of the community.

Technical Assistance for Excellence in Special Education (TAESE)
TAESE collaborates with state and local education agencies to improve results for infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities.

Utah Developmental Disabilities Council (UDDC)
The UDDC is the state's leading source of critical, innovative, and progressive information, advocacy, leadership and collaboration to enhance the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities.

Utah Education and Telehealth Network (UETN)
UETN connects Utah’s K-12 schools, technical colleges, institutions of higher education and public libraries, as well as patients and healthcare providers throughout the state. UETN provides robust infrastructure, applications, and support for education and healthcare.

Utah Parent Center (UPC) Events
The UPC helps parents help their learning and behavioral needs of students with disabilities. Parent consultant services are designed to encourage and assist parents to improve communication and collaboration with schools in support of dispute resolution. Parent consultant Services are available at no cost to the family.

Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (USDB)
USDB serves as a resource to the educational programs, age birth to 21 years of age, in the state of Utah. USDB provides direct and indirect, high quality, educational services and consultations to children with hearing and/or vision impairments as well as to their families and service providers.

Utah State Instructional Materials Access Center (USIMAC)
USIMAC provides assistance to local education agencies in meeting the accessible instructional materials requirements of the IDEA. The USIMAC offers the opportunity for students with print disabilities to gain increased access to the general curriculum by making core instructional material accessible in alternate formats.

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)
VR supports individuals with disabilities in obtaining competitive, integrated employment through professional vocational counseling and guidance, and through partnerships with employers, school districts, higher education and other agencies. VR also serves Utah businesses by offering training on hiring individuals with disabilities and workplace accommodations.

Utah Special Education Advisory Panel (USEAP)

The Utah Special Education Advisory Panel is an advisory panel appointed by the Utah State Board of Education (USBE). The purpose of the panel is to provide policy guidance to USBE with respect to special education and related services for students with disabilities in the State of Utah.