Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (ACSD) (2023-24)

The Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (ACSD) is a State Mandated Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)

Contact Us

We welcome and encourage parents/guardians, students, teachers, administrators, staff and others interested in special education in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) to share your thoughts, ideas, and/or public comment related to the needs of students with disabilities.

By clicking the “Submit a Question” button at the top of this webpage, your email will go directly to the Co-Chairs of the ACSD, at their email account [email protected]. This account is also monitored by the FCPS Liaison to the ACSD, Michael Bloom.

Please note that correspondence with ACSD members is subject to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Hence, your correspondence may be made public if (1) it deals with FCPS business and (2) someone requests it.

School Board Liaison

Rachna Sizemore Heizer

Staff Liaison

Michael Bloom, Director, Special Education, Department of Special Services

Chair

Elizabeth Zielinski

Vice-Chair

Holly Stearns

View additional contact information for the Department of Special Services

Committee Purpose

8 VAC 20-81-230(D)—A local advisory committee for special education, appointed by each local school board, shall advise the school board through the division superintendent.

2023-2024 Committee Charge

Examine current FCPS practices regarding the:
- Identification and referral of students who may require related services in the areas of speech-language, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and/or counseling.
- Determination and provision of services to students who are identified as requiring these related services.
- Determination and provision of devices and services to students in the area of assistive technology.
Review evidenced-based and research-based practices regarding the provision of speech-language, occupational therapy, physical therapy, counseling, and assistive technology services for students with disabilities.
Based on a review of evidenced-based and research-based practices, make recommendations designed to improve FCPS practices related to the availability and provision of speech-language, occupational therapy, physical therapy, counseling, and/or assistive technology services to students with disabilities across the continuum of preschool through graduation.

Functions of the Committee

The functions of the local advisory committee shall be as follows (8VAC20-81-230(D)):

Advise the local school division of needs in the education of children with disabilities;
Participate in the development of priorities and strategies for meeting the identified needs of children with disabilities;
Submit periodic reports and recommendations regarding the education of children with disabilities to the division superintendent for transmission to the local school board;
Assist the local school division in interpreting plans to the community for meeting the special needs of children with disabilities for educational services;
Review the policies and procedures for the provision of special education and related services prior to submission to the local school board; and
Participate in the review of the local school division's annual plan, as outlined in subdivision B 2 of this section.

Presentations, Reports, & Bylaws

ACSD 2021 Bylaws
ACSD Staff Response to the 2021-2022 Recommendations
2022-2023 ACSD Annual Report
Archived ACSD Information: 2022-23 | 2021-22 | 2020-21 | 2019-20

Meeting Information

Public Comment at ACSD Meetings

Fairfax County and City residents may sign up the evening of the monthly meeting to provide in-person public comments, or submit a written, video or audio testimony by email to [email protected]. A maximum of 10 written, video or audio submissions are available and will be prioritized in the order they are received. Please submit your written, video or audio testimony by 5:00 p.m. the day before the meeting. Written, video and audio testimony should not exceed 3 minutes in length. When submitting public comment by email, please indicate “For Public Comment” in the subject line.

Accommodations

Anyone needing accommodations for a disability to attend or participate in this FCPS activity should call (703) 204-3941, TTY (703) 204-3956. Calls should be made seven days prior to the activity so that appropriate arrangement can be made. Meetings are cancelled if school or evening activities are cancelled due to weather.

Meeting Dates and Locations

Monthly meetings are held at Willow Oaks Corporate Center, which is located at 8270 Willow Oaks Corporate Drive, Fairfax, Virginia 22031.

ACSD Officers Meeting Information

ACSD Officers meet at 6:00 p.m. at Willow Oaks Corporate Center, in Room 1002A on the following dates:

September 20, 2023
October 18, 2023
November 15, 2023
January 17, 2024
February 28, 2024
March 20, 2024
April 25, 2024
May 15, 2024

September 13, 2023 - New Member Orientation, Willow Oaks Room 1000B, 5:30 p.m.

Agenda

Time	Agenda Item	Person(s) Responsible
6:00 p.m.	Call to Order, Welcome and Introductions	Elizabeth Zielinski, Chair
6:15 p.m.	Role of DSS	Mike Bloom, Director of Special Education Instruction
6:25 p.m.	Sunshine laws Intro to subcommittees Roberts Rules Who to contact	Elizabeth Zielinski, Chair
6:45 p.m.	Adjournment	Elizabeth Zielinski, Chair

Recording

September 13 Orientation Recording (YouTube)

September 13, 2023 – General Meeting, Willow Oaks Room 1000B, 7 p.m.

Agenda

Time	Agenda Item	Person(s) Responsible
7:00 p.m.	Call to Order	Elizabeth Zielinski, Chair
7:05 p.m.	Approval of Minutes Adoption of Agenda	Elizabeth Zielinski, Chair
7:10 p.m.	General Announcements	Elizabeth Zielinski, Chair
7:15 p.m.	Public Comment NOTE: Members of the Public are reminded that public comments must conform to 3 minutes of speaking time. The Chair may limit the number of public comment slots depending on the number of individuals who sign up for public comment.	Holly Stearns, Vice Chair
7:35 p.m.	Chair’s Message	Elizabeth Zielinski, Chair
7:40 p.m.	School Board Liaison Update	Rachna Sizemore-Heizer, Member-at-Large
7:45 p.m.	Family Resource Center News	Mary Beth Harrison-Cunningham, Manager of FRC
7:55 p.m.	Attendance Report	Ally Baldassari, Recording Secretary
8:00 p.m.	Department of Special Services Updates	Dr. Terri Edmunds-Heard, Assistant Superintendent, DSS Mike Bloom, Director, Special Education Instruction Dawn Schaefer, Director, Procedural Support Dr. Mike Axler, Acting Director, Intervention & Prevention Services
8:30 p.m.	Old Business & New Business Vote re: Fall Retreat	Elizabeth Zielinski, Chair
8:45 p.m.	Member Time	Holly Stearns, Vice Chair
9:00 p.m.	Meeting Adjourned	Elizabeth Zielinski, Chair