Category Archives: Uncategorized

Scenes from the Squad’s Rally on 4/2/21

We were pleased to see so much of the disability community in Albany turning out to support students with disabilities at our rally on Friday, April 2, 2021! We would especially like to thank Superintendent Frank Wells and Executive Director Alexia Ritchie, along with Board president Sara Hinkley and members Melissa Boyd and Veronica Davidson,Continue reading “Scenes from the Squad’s Rally on 4/2/21”

Rally for AUSD Students with Disabilities

Please join us in a rally demanding that the Albany Unified School District rebuild the Special Education department and provide educational equity for all students. For years now, the District’s Board of Education & Administration have neglected the Special Education Department with dire consequences for AUSD students with disabilities. While this neglect predates school closuresContinue reading “Rally for AUSD Students with Disabilities”

Author Event: Isabella Forti-Lynch

November 18, 2020, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.Join Zoom meeting Isa is a junior at Mills College. She lives in Albany, has cerebral palsy and graduated from Albany High School. She wrote her first novella, Following Seas, at the age of 14, which we highlighted in our Disability Lit column in October. She will read fromContinue reading “Author Event: Isabella Forti-Lynch”

November 2020 Newsletter

We have just released the November edition of the Albany Disability Squad newsletter. This edition includes:  An update on in-person services for high-needs students. Our upcoming events.  Some preliminary results from our ongoing survey about family needs for in-person educational services. If you haven’t already, we’d love it if you could take 5 minutes and take the survey. Continue reading “November 2020 Newsletter”

Survey on In-Person Learning for High-Needs Students

The Albany Disability Squad is sponsoring this survey is to help us to understand the needs of the most vulnerable students in AUSD. We will use this information to advocate for the group of students who may need to receive in-person services, including students with disabilities, English language learners, students eligible for free and reducedContinue reading “Survey on In-Person Learning for High-Needs Students”

Know Your Rights in Distance Learning

Are you confused about contingency learning plans? Emergency plans? Whether assessments are happening now? Are students still entitled to a Free and Appropriate Public Education? Many of us have had questions about whether and to what extent the school district is required to fulfill its obligations to our students with IEPs and 504 Plans duringContinue reading “Know Your Rights in Distance Learning”

Board of Education Endorsements

On Tuesday night, September 29, 2020, the Albany Disability Squad hosted a forum on Zoom with all three candidates for the two open seats on the AUSD Board of Education. Candidates were asked for specific position statements on how they would champion AUSD students with disabilities and partner with their families. Based on the qualityContinue reading “Board of Education Endorsements”

The Term “Disability” in the Squad’s Name

We have received some questions about why we chose to use the word “disability” in the name of the Albany Disability Squad. This word can feel controversial to some people, and not all people with disabilities feel comfortable with this label.  After a lot of debate, the founders of the Squad chose to include thisContinue reading “The Term “Disability” in the Squad’s Name”

“Start of School Year” Survey Results

Thank you to the many families who responded to the Albany Disabilities Squad’s survey and shared with us how the beginning of this school year has gone for them. We closed the survey on September 11, and have now finished analyzing and summarizing the results. While many aspects of remote learning are working better forContinue reading ““Start of School Year” Survey Results”