Bedford Special Education Parent Advisory Council - SEPAC

The mission of the Bedford Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) is to establish better understanding of, respect for and support of special education to meet the needs of all Bedford students with disabilities. Activities include parent/guardian networking, communication with school officials, outreach to the community, state and national organizations, and sponsorship of educational forums.

The Bedford Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) wishes you a warm and wonderful fall season ahead. Bedford SEPAC is an all-parent volunteer group that strives to create a welcoming and engaging space for parents and caregivers of children with special education needs and to provide opportunities to share information, support, provide resources, and discuss important topics.

We do that in a variety of ways, general meetings (share information, ask questions), topic-specific meetings or presentations, and parent/caregiver meetups. If you would like to plan (or have an idea) for a particular topic, let us know! At times throughout the year, our individual family needs ebb and flow, which correlates with the meetings and events we have the bandwidth to coordinate and offer. Please consider volunteering to help support SEPAC this school year (whether it’s 15 minutes or more, we appreciate it!). We need a volunteer to update events on our website. We also encourage you to lead a small group meet-up or topic-specific meeting. For potential speakers, reach out to bedfordmasepac@gmail.com.

2025-2026 Board Members

Erica Colbath
Coreen Garrett
Jen Lee
Leslie Savoy

2025-2026 Bedford SEPAC Meetings and Events:
Come and discuss special education programming in Bedford and how we can best support our children
.
Friday September 26, 2025 from 6:30-8:30 PM 
SEPAC Welcome at Red Heat in Bedford. Drinks and appetizers provided. 

Friday September 12, 2025 from 6:00-8:00 PM 
Caregiver event at The Purple Pencil, 99 Great Road
Art Journaling for Caregivers workshop; aterials are provided.This program is supported in part by a grant from the Bedford Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Thursday, November 13 @ 9:00 AM - All are welcome!
Euphoria Coffee
355 Great Road
https://euphoriacoffeebedfordma.com/

Monday, December 8 @ 7:00 PM 
with Jeffrey Albert, Director of Special Education at Shawsheen Tech
The Director will share how special education services are delivered at Shawsheen and answer thoughtful questions from families.
Zoom Meeting: https://bedfordps-org.zoom.us/j/2922114144

Thursday, February 5, 2026 @ 7:00 PM 
with Dr. Marianne Vines, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services
Zoom Meeting: https://bedfordps-org.zoom.us/j/2922114144

Thursday, February 26, 2026 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Caregiver Night Out at Pinot's Palette – Hosted by SEPAC
This event offers caregivers a chance to relax, connect, and enjoy a creative evening together. There is a suggested $25 participant fee (not required), which helps support the event. No one will be excluded due to cost—the SEPAC is sponsoring this event. The fee helps offset the total cost. All caregivers are welcome, and no prior painting experience is needed.
Sign up here: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/bedford-schools-association/sepac-pinot-palette-paint-event-2-26-2026

Thursday, April 9, 2026 @ 7:00 PM
with Dr. Marianne Vines, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services
Zoom Meeting: https://bedfordps-org.zoom.us/j/2922114144

Friday, April 17, 2026 @ 9:00 AM Superintendent's Office
The Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) invites parents and caregivers to join Cliff Chuang and Marianne Vines for an informal morning conversation. There is no formal presentation. The goal is open dialogue in a welcoming and respectful space. We hope you will consider joining us for coffee and conversation. This parent coffee is an opportunity to:  
     • Ask questions about district programming and priorities
     • Share feedback and perspectives
     • Learn more about ongoing initiatives in Student Services
     • Connect with other families in a small-group setting

Thursday, May 14, 2026 from 5:30 - 7:30 PM 
Bedford High School Cafeteria
BHS SEPAC Postsecondary Fair
Grade 10 & 11 Students

Bedford SEPAC invites families of students with IEPs and 504 plans to attend our second annual Postsecondary Night on Thursday, May 14, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM in the Bedford High School Cafeteria. This informative evening offers families the opportunity to connect directly with college and vocational institutions to learn about the supports and services available to students with learning differences as they transition from high school to higher education. Representatives will be available to answer questions about academic accommodations, student support programs, and campus resources.

New this year: We are excited to expand the event to include technical and vocational schools, offering families an even broader range of postsecondary pathways to explore.

If you have any questions about this event, please feel free to reach out to Louise D’Amato louise_damato@bedfordps.org or Nicole Shadeed nicole_shadeed@bedforps.org

Email: bedfordmasepac@gmail.com
Web: bedfordmasepac.org
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BEDFORDMASEPAC/