Community Advisory Committee (CAC)

The South Orange County Special Education Local Plan Area (SOC SELPA) CAC seeks to join together parents, educators, lawmakers, service providers and other community members who want to make a difference in the education of all students. The CAC is here to inform and support with the goal of improving and protecting the education of our children.

We are always looking for new CAC members and volunteers. If you are interested in becoming a voting member or volunteer, please fill out our CAC Participation Application Form.

Please view our CAC meeting schedule (Calendario de reuniones), and join us for our next meeting.

“Childhood is not a race to see how quickly a child can read, write and count. It is a small window of time to learn and develop at the pace that is right for each individual child.”

– Magda Gerber

Upcoming Events/CAC News

CAC Election Information

The South Orange County CAC in conjunction with our SELPA office honored 33 nominees with a Triumph Award at the May 19^th CAC meeting. These are awards that are presented to anyone who supports, honors and goes the extra mile for special education students. We honored teachers, students, instructional assistants, administrators, volunteers, school site staff and community members. This was our third annual awards ceremony and it was wonderful to see the community come out to celebrate these exceptional individuals. We ended the evening with laughter, joy and a few tears! Thank you to all who were in attendance.

Here are those that were honored that evening:

Award winners

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CAC Information

2025-2026 Local Plan For Public Review

Please find the Local Plan documents that are in the approval process with our various stake holders for the 2025-2026 year. The final approved version will be uploaded once CDE has given the final approval of this Local Plan. Comments regarding Section E can be made by going to our Local Plan Google Form. Comments will be addressed individually to those that make comments.

Please note: Attachment VI relates to the Annual Service Plan and breaks down the services by each district and school site.

2024-2025 Local Plan - Approved 9-13-2024

Please find the Local Plan documents that have been fully approved by the CDE for the 2024-2025 year. The SELPA office received approval on 9-13-24.

Please note: Attachment VI relates to the Annual Service Plan and breaks down the services by district and school site.

CAC Bylaws

CAC Meeting Schedule

CAC Meeting Schedule - SPANISH

California Community Advisory Committee Guide

CAC Voting Members - Term limits 2024-2025

Member Name	Member Type	Term
Executive Board Members:
Kris Spowart, CHAIR	SVUSD Parent	7/1/2023 - 6/30/2025
Rebecca Woode, VICE CHAIR	Representative of Other Public or Private Agency - Abedi	7/1/2024 - 6/30/2026
Tala Brinderson, SECRETARY	LBUSD Parent	7/1/2023 - 6/30/2025
Stephanie Soofi - COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR	SVUSD Parent	7/1/2023 - 6/30/2025
LEA Voting Members:
Carol Harlan	SVUSD Parent	7/1/2023 - 6/30/2025
Karina Purcell	SVUSD Parent	7/1/2023 - 6/30/2025
Scarlett vonThenen	SVUSD Parent	7/1/2023-6/30/2025
Julianna Kornegay	SVUSD Student with Exceptional Needs	7/1/2023 - 6/30/2025
OPEN POSITION	SVUSD/LBUSD Regular Ed. Staff	7/1/2024 - 6/30/2026
Aimee Mella - Ed Specialist	SVUSD Special Education Staff	7/1/2024 - 6/30/2026
Heather Waldvogel - Ed Specialist	SVUSD Special Education Staff	7/1/2024 - 6/30/2026
Drew Clute	LBUSD Parent	7/1/2024 - 6/30/2026
Megan Cauley	LBUSD Parent	7/1/2023 - 6/30/2025
Julie Yaccino	LBUSD Special Education Staff	7/1/2024 - 6/30/2026
Jacqueline Saba	LBUSD Student with Exceptional Needs	7/1/2024 - 6/30/2026

CAC Parent Handbook

Resources - Special Education Websites/Agencies

These links are provided as a helpful resource and are not an endorsement by Saddleback Valley Unified School District, Laguna Beach Unified School District, South Orange County SELPA or the CAC Committee.

Resources - Special Education Acronyms

Special Education Acronyms

Acronym	Meaning
504	Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
AAC	Augmentative and Alternate Communication
ABA	Applied Behavioral Analysis
ADHD (ADD)	Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
ADR	Alternate Dispute Resolution
AIM	Accessible Instructional Materials
ALD	Assistive Listening Device
APE	Adapted Physical Education
ASD	Autism Spectrum Disorder
ASL	American Sign Language
AT	Assistive Technology
BIP	Behavioral Intervention Plan
CAA	California Alternate Assessment
CAASP	California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress
CAC	Community Advisory Committee
CASE	Community Alliance for Special Education
CAST	Collaborative Academic Support Teams
CBI	Community Based Instruction
CCR	California Code of Regulations
CCS	California Children's Services
CDC	California Diagnostic Centers
CDE	California Department of Education
CDPS	California Department of Public Health
CELDT	California English Language Development Test
CMA	California Modified Assessment
CMH	County Mental Health
CPS	Child Protective Services
CST	California Standards Test
DHH	Deaf-Hard of Hearing
DIS	Designated Instruction and Services
DOE	US Department of Education
DOR	Department of Rehabilitation
DTT	Discrete Trial Training
EC	Education Code
ECE	Early Childhood Education
ED	Emotionally Disturbed
EL	English Learner
ELD	English Learning Development
EMD	Established Medical Disability
EO	English Only
ESY	Extended School Year
FAPE	Free and Appropriate Public Education
FBA	Functional Behavioral Assessment
FEP	Fluent English Proficient
FERPA	Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
GE	General Education or Grade Equivalent
HOH	Hard of Hearing
IA	Instructional Aide or Assistant
IBI	Individual Behavior Intervention
ID	Intellectual Disability
IDEA	Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
IDEIA	Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act
IEE	Independent Educational Evaluation
IEP	Individualized Educational Program
IEPT	Individualized Education Program Team
IFSP	Individualized Family Service Plan
ISP	Individualized Service Plan
ITP	Individualized Transition Plan
JTPA	Job Training Partnership Act
LCI	Licensed Children's Institute
LEA	Local Education Agency
LEP	Limited English Proficient
LH	Learning Handicapped
LI	Low Incidence Disabilities
LP	Local Plan
LRE	Least Restrictive Environment
MD	Multiple Disabilities
MDA	Multidisciplinary Assessment
MH	Mental Health
MM	Mild to Moderate (Basic)
MS	Moderate to Severe (Foundational)
NCLB	No Child Left Behind
NPA	Non-Public Agency
NPS	Non-Public School
O&M	Orientation and Mobility
OAH	Office of Administrative Hearings
OCD	Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
OCMH	Orange County Mental Health
ODD	Oppositional Defiant Disorder
OH	Orthopedically Handicapped
OHI	Occupational Therapy
OI	Orthopedically Impaired
OT	Occupational Therapy
PECS	Picture Exchange Communication System
PH	Physically Handicapped
PL	Public Law
PLOP	Present Level of Performance
PS	Program Specialist
PT	Physical Therapy, Physical Therapist
PWN	Prior Written Notice
RCOC	Regional Center of Orange County
ROP	Regional Occupational Program
RSP	Resource Specialist Program
SDC	Special Day Class
SELPA	Special Education Local Plan Area
SH	Severely Handicapped
SL (SLI)	Speech & Language (Speech & Language Impaired)
SLD	Specific Learning Disabled
SLP	Speech Language Pathologist
SP	Service Plan
SPED	Special Education
SST	Student Study Team
STAR	State Testing and Reporting
SUCSESS	Systemic Utilization of Comprehensive Strategies Ensuring Student Success
SWD	Students with Disabilities
TBI	Traumatic Brain Injury
TEACCH	Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication Handicapped Children
TPP	Transition Partnership Project
TRI	Triennial Review
VI	Visually Impaired

Special Education Acronyms - Printable List

SCDD Life Care Portfolio Information

This Life Care Portfolio was developed by the Family Work Team subcommittee of the local Orange County Local Partnership Agreement (OCLPA), which is composed of primarily parents, to help next of kin, future caregiver, or whomever may assistva person with disabilities if a parent dies.

We all know that parents store every piece of information regarding their son/daughter with a disability in their head or they keep it electronically in various sites (due to the multiple cloud portals to store information). When the parent dies, often times all that valuable information goes with them and a sibling, paid staff, or caregiver is left trying to pick up the pieces. Frankly, it is no different for adults caring for aging parents and coordinating those end of life plans. This tool was developed as a “living” document to help with the coordination of care (and continuity of care) for the person with the disability.

SELPA Annual Priorities

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Parent Education

Parent Education - Behavior/De-Escalation Training Slide Deck - 11/13/24

Parent Education - Designated Instructional Services Provider Video - 1/27/21

Parent Education - IEP Tips and Tricks - 3/8/23

Parent Education - Transitions - 4/9/24

Parent Education - Mindfulness - 3/11/25

Parent Education - TASK - 5/12/25

The CAC of South Orange County presents Parent Education with Gloria Ruiz, TASK Project Manager PTI (Region 2), TASK Project Director FEC (Orange County) in sharing about the resources and opportunities available to students and their families through TASK with a focus on collaboration between parents and district partners.

TASK specializes in special education support for people with disabilities from birth to age 26 and their families. They support all disabilities, including mental illness, chronic health and medical conditions, and emotional challenges due to abuse or environmental trauma.

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Resources

CAC Parent Handbook

Resources - Special Education Websites/Agencies

Resources - Special Education Acronyms

Special Education Acronyms

Acronym	Meaning
504	Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
AAC	Augmentative and Alternate Communication
ABA	Applied Behavioral Analysis
ADHD (ADD)	Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
ADR	Alternate Dispute Resolution
AIM	Accessible Instructional Materials
ALD	Assistive Listening Device
APE	Adapted Physical Education
ASD	Autism Spectrum Disorder
ASL	American Sign Language
AT	Assistive Technology
BIP	Behavioral Intervention Plan
CAA	California Alternate Assessment
CAASP	California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress
CAC	Community Advisory Committee
CASE	Community Alliance for Special Education
CAST	Collaborative Academic Support Teams
CBI	Community Based Instruction
CCR	California Code of Regulations
CCS	California Children's Services
CDC	California Diagnostic Centers
CDE	California Department of Education
CDPS	California Department of Public Health
CELDT	California English Language Development Test
CMA	California Modified Assessment
CMH	County Mental Health
CPS	Child Protective Services
CST	California Standards Test
DHH	Deaf-Hard of Hearing
DIS	Designated Instruction and Services
DOE	US Department of Education
DOR	Department of Rehabilitation
DTT	Discrete Trial Training
EC	Education Code
ECE	Early Childhood Education
ED	Emotionally Disturbed
EL	English Learner
ELD	English Learning Development
EMD	Established Medical Disability
EO	English Only
ESY	Extended School Year
FAPE	Free and Appropriate Public Education
FBA	Functional Behavioral Assessment
FEP	Fluent English Proficient
FERPA	Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
GE	General Education or Grade Equivalent
HOH	Hard of Hearing
IA	Instructional Aide or Assistant
IBI	Individual Behavior Intervention
ID	Intellectual Disability
IDEA	Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
IDEIA	Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act
IEE	Independent Educational Evaluation
IEP	Individualized Educational Program
IEPT	Individualized Education Program Team
IFSP	Individualized Family Service Plan
ISP	Individualized Service Plan
ITP	Individualized Transition Plan
JTPA	Job Training Partnership Act
LCI	Licensed Children's Institute
LEA	Local Education Agency
LEP	Limited English Proficient
LH	Learning Handicapped
LI	Low Incidence Disabilities
LP	Local Plan
LRE	Least Restrictive Environment
MD	Multiple Disabilities
MDA	Multidisciplinary Assessment
MH	Mental Health
MM	Mild to Moderate (Basic)
MS	Moderate to Severe (Foundational)
NCLB	No Child Left Behind
NPA	Non-Public Agency
NPS	Non-Public School
O&M	Orientation and Mobility
OAH	Office of Administrative Hearings
OCD	Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
OCMH	Orange County Mental Health
ODD	Oppositional Defiant Disorder
OH	Orthopedically Handicapped
OHI	Occupational Therapy
OI	Orthopedically Impaired
OT	Occupational Therapy
PECS	Picture Exchange Communication System
PH	Physically Handicapped
PL	Public Law
PLOP	Present Level of Performance
PS	Program Specialist
PT	Physical Therapy, Physical Therapist
PWN	Prior Written Notice
RCOC	Regional Center of Orange County
ROP	Regional Occupational Program
RSP	Resource Specialist Program
SDC	Special Day Class
SELPA	Special Education Local Plan Area
SH	Severely Handicapped
SL (SLI)	Speech & Language (Speech & Language Impaired)
SLD	Specific Learning Disabled
SLP	Speech Language Pathologist
SP	Service Plan
SPED	Special Education
SST	Student Study Team
STAR	State Testing and Reporting
SUCSESS	Systemic Utilization of Comprehensive Strategies Ensuring Student Success
SWD	Students with Disabilities
TBI	Traumatic Brain Injury
TEACCH	Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication Handicapped Children
TPP	Transition Partnership Project
TRI	Triennial Review
VI	Visually Impaired

Special Education Acronyms - Printable List

Special Education Legislation

New Panel

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Community Advisory Committee Meetings

Regular Meeting - May 19, 2025 @ LHHS Library

Please join us for our final meeting for the 24-25 school year. This meeting will be held in person at Laguna Hills High School in the Library. It will begin promptly at 5:00 pm. LHHS's address is 25401 Paseo De Valencia, Laguna Hills, CA 92653. If you will not be present at the meeting, but would like to leave a comment, the comment period will be open on May 19, 2025, from 10:00 am - 12:30 pm. Please leave a comment by clicking the link to the Google Form - Request to Address the Community Advisory Committee.

If you would like to submit a question to be answered by the SELPA, LBUSD, or SVUSD, please use this link: Q&A Google Form. We intend to answer a few questions at every meeting, during the 30-minute Q&A session held after each meeting is adjourned. We may not be able to answer every question submitted. This form will close at 12:30 pm on May 19, 2025, so we can collect the questions to present them during the Q&A session.

ZOOM OPTION - PLEASE NOTE: This is a "watch only" meeting option, so all microphones will be permanently off, as anyone on Zoom cannot speak or ask questions. The chat option is also disabled. No one can monitor the microphone and chat features during the meeting. If you have a question or comment, please see those options above to have your questions/comments recorded and/or presented at the meeting.

An FAQ section will be created for the most frequently asked questions and will be available on the CAC webpage.

Join Zoom Meeting - View/Listen Only Option

Meeting ID: 986 7012 3178
Passcode: cacofsoc24

IMPORTANT INFORMATION - TRIUMPH AWARDS - Our annual Triumph Awards presentation will begin immediately following the CAC meeting at 6:30 pm. Please join us!!!!!

Please Note: if you would like to view and complete any of our forms in a different language, right click on the screen and select the "Translate to..." option. Use the menu that pops up on the screen to select a language.

Optional Meeting - April 23, 2025 @ LHHS Library

This meeting will be held in person at Laguna Hills High School in the Library. It will begin promptly at 5:00 pm. LHHS's address is 25401 Paseo De Valencia, Laguna Hills, CA 92653. If you will not be present at the meeting, but would like to leave a comment, the comment period will be open on April 23, 2025 from 10:00 am - 12:30 pm. Please leave a comment by clicking the link to the Google Form - Request to Address the Community Advisory Committee.

If you would like to submit a question to be answered by the SELPA, LBUSD or SVUSD, please use this link: Q&A Google Form. Our intent is to answer a few questions at every meeting, during the 30-minute Q&A session held after each meeting is adjourned. We may not be able to answer every question submitted. This form will close at 12:30 pm on April 23, 2025, so we can collect the questions to present them during the Q&A session.

ZOOM OPTION - PLEASE NOTE: This is a "watch only" meeting option, so all microphones will be permanently off, as anyone on Zoom is not able to speak or ask questions. The chat option is also disabled. No one is able to monitor the microphone and chat features during the meeting. If you have a question or comment, please see those options above to have your questions/comments recorded and/or presented at the meeting.

An FAQ section will be created for the most frequently asked questions and will be available on the CAC webpage.

Join Zoom Meeting - View/Listen Only Option

Meeting ID: 986 7012 3178
Passcode: cacofsoc24

Regular Meeting - March 11, 2025 @ LHHS MPR

This meeting will be held in person at Laguna Hills High School in the MPR. It will begin promptly at 5:00 pm. LHHS's address is 25401 Paseo De Valencia, Laguna Hills, CA 92653. If you will not be present at the meeting, but would like to leave a comment, the comment period will be open on March 11, 2025 from 10:00 am - 12:30 pm. Please leave a comment by clicking the link to the Google Form - Request to Address the Community Advisory Committee.

If you would like to submit a question to be answered by the SELPA, LBUSD or SVUSD, please use this link: Q&A Google Form. Our intent is to answer a few questions at every meeting, during the 30-minute Q&A session held after each meeting is adjourned. We may not be able to answer every question submitted. This form will close at 12:30 pm on March 11, 2025, so we can collect the questions to present them during the Q&A session.

An FAQ section will be created for the most frequently asked questions and will be available on the CAC webpage.

Join Zoom Meeting - View/Listen Only Option

Meeting ID: 986 7012 3178
Passcode: cacofsoc24

Regular Meeting - January 9, 2025 @ LHHS MPR

This meeting will be held in person at Laguna Hills High School in the MPR. It will begin promptly at 5:00 pm. LHHS's address is 25401 Paseo De Valencia, Laguna Hills, CA 92653. If you will not be present at the meeting, but would like to leave a comment, the comment period will be open on January 9, 2025 from 10:00 am - 12:30 pm. Please leave a comment by clicking the link to the Google Form - Request to Address the Community Advisory Committee.

If you would like to submit a question to be answered by the SELPA, LBUSD or SVUSD, please use this link: Q&A Google Form. Our intent is to answer a few questions at every meeting, during the 30-minute Q&A session held after each meeting is adjourned. We may not be able to answer every question submitted. This form will close at 12:30 pm on January 9, 2025, so we can collect the questions to present them during the Q&A session.

An FAQ section will be created for the most frequently asked questions and will be available on the CAC webpage.

Join Zoom Meeting - View/Listen Only Option

Meeting ID: 986 7012 3178
Passcode: cacofsoc24

Optional Meeting - November 13, 2024 @ LHHS Library

This meeting will be held in person at Laguna Hills High School in the Library. It will begin promptly at 5:00 pm. LHHS's address is 25401 Paseo De Valencia, Laguna Hills, CA 92653. If you will not be present at the meeting, but would like to leave a comment, the comment period will be open on November 13, 2024 from 10:00 am - 1:30 pm. Please leave a comment by clicking the link to the Google Form - Request to Address the Community Advisory Committee.

If you would like to submit a question to be answered by the SELPA, LBUSD or SVUSD, please use this link: Q&A Google Form. Our intent is to answer a few questions at every meeting, during the 30-minute Q&A session held after each meeting is adjourned. We may not be able to answer every question submitted. This form will close at 12:00 pm on November 13, 2024, so we can collect the questions to present them during the Q&A session.

An FAQ section will be created for the most frequently asked questions and will be available on the CAC webpage.

Join Zoom Meeting - View/Listen Only Option

Meeting ID: 986 7012 3178
Passcode: cacofsoc24

Regular Meeting - September 25, 2024 @ LHHS MPR

This meeting will be held in person at Laguna Hills High School in the MPR. It will begin promptly at 5:00 pm. LHHS's address is 25401 Paseo De Valencia, Laguna Hills, CA 92653. If you will not be present at the meeting, but would like to leave a comment, the comment period will be open on September 25, 2024 from 9:00 am - 12:30 pm. Please leave a comment by clicking the link to the Google Form - Request to Address the Community Advisory Committee.

If you would like to submit a question to be answered by the SELPA, LBUSD or SVUSD, please use this link: Q&A Google Form. Our intent is to answer a few questions at every meeting, during the 30-minute Q&A session held after each meeting is adjourned. We may not be able to answer every question submitted. An FAQ section will be created for the most frequently asked questions and will be available on the CAC webpage.

Join Zoom Meeting - View/Listen Only Option

Meeting ID: 986 7012 3178
Passcode: cacofsoc24