Special Education Scoop
June 2025
Summer Support from the Family Engagement Specialist
The Sensory Club PFISD Visit
PFISD Summer Meal Program
Supporting Students Who Receive Special Education Services Over the Summer
June and July Family Engagement Events
2025 Texas Autism Conference Family Day
Texas Parent 2 Parent Statewide Conference
Down Syndrome Association Summer Events
Summer Social Groups for Students with Autism (Ages 11-19)
Talking Book Program (TBP) Summer Reading Program
Resources
Important Dates
The Sensory Club has opened in Austin close to Lakeline Mall. Meet us there with your child (siblings are welcomed) on June 17th at 10 a.m. to check it out. The first visit to the club is free.
Learn more here: https://www.thesensoryclub.com/austin/
The Sensory Club has an open-gym concept that features various therapeutic equipment. Members are encouraged to explore the gym and have fun. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to facilitate and guide members as it best fits their therapists’ recommendations and/or sensory diet.
A multi-sensory environment (MSE) is a dedicated room where sensory stimulation can be controlled to fit the perceived motivation, interest, leisure, relaxation, therapeutic, and/or educational needs of the user.
Where: The Sensory Club
When: June 17, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Address: 11066 Pecan Park Blvd #417
Cedar Park, TX 78613
Summer is a great time for families to connect, explore, and continue supporting their children’s growth in fun and engaging ways. For families of students who receive special education services, the summer months can be an opportunity to build on academic skills and support social-emotional development without the pressures of the school day. Here are some ideas to help keep learning alive and promote well-being all summer long.
Academic Activities:
Keep learning fun by incorporating it into everyday activities. Practice reading by visiting the local library, starting a summer book club, or reading recipes together while cooking. Math skills can be reinforced through games like card games, board games, or even grocery shopping and budgeting activities. Educational apps and websites tailored to your child’s learning level can also provide practice in a playful way. If your child receives related services such as speech or occupational therapy, ask your service providers for simple activities you can do at home to maintain those skills.
Social-Emotional Activities:
Summer is also a great time to focus on social-emotional growth. Encourage your child to express their feelings through journaling, drawing, or talking about their day. Create opportunities for social interaction by arranging playdates, attending summer camps, or participating in community activities that match your child’s interests and support their comfort level. Practicing daily routines, managing transitions, and building independence in tasks like packing a bag for outings or following a schedule can also strengthen confidence and emotional regulation.
Remember, the goal is to enjoy the time together while helping your child continue to grow. Small, consistent efforts can make a big difference. Most importantly, make space for joy, rest, and connection—it’s all part of learning too.
June
Coffee Talks
Together we can exchange information, work collaboratively, and foster a strong connection to support the development of our children. Join us on June 3, 2025 from 8:30-10:00 a.m. at West Pecan Coffee (100 W. Pecan Street). If you can’t make it at 8:30, join us at nine or whenever you can. We will be meeting until 10 a.m.
We will have a table reserved for “Julie”. We will also be wearing a PFISD t-shirt.
Grupo de apoyo entre padres (de habla hispana)
Esta es una oportunidad para que las familias de niños que reciben servicios de los programas de Educación Especial en la Infancia Temprana (ECSE, siglas en inglés) hasta los programas para chicos de 18 años o más, se reúnan para colaborar y apoyarse mutuamente. La primera reunión se llevará a cabo el 5 de junio de 2025 de 9:00 a 10:20 horas.
en la escuela primaria Dessau Escuela Primaria (1501 Dessau Ridge Lane, Austin, Tx 78754). Esta reunión es para familias de habla hispana. ¡Café y galletas gratis!
Invitamos cordialmente a todos los padres de niños que reciben servicios de educación especial en el distrito a que asistan
June Summer Playdate
Join us at The Sensory Club, June 17th from 10-11 a.m. (11066 Pecan Park Blvd #417
Cedar Park, TX 78613). The first visit to the club is free and siblings are welcomed.Learn more here: https://www.thesensoryclub.com/austin/
Parents Supporting Parents
This is an opportunity for families to come together to collaborate and support each other. June 19, 2025 - 12:00-1:00 p.m. - virtual meeting. Join here: meet.google.com/ioj-qwyo-xds
July
Grupo de apoyo entre padres (de habla hispana)
Esta es una oportunidad para que las familias de niños que reciben servicios de los programas de Educación Especial en la Infancia Temprana (ECSE, siglas en inglés) hasta los programas para chicos de 18 años o más, se reúnan para colaborar y apoyarse mutuamente. La primera reunión se llevará a cabo el 8 de julio de 2025 de 9:00 a 10:20 horas.
en la escuela primaria Dessau Escuela Primaria (1501 Dessau Ridge Lane, Austin, Tx 78754). Esta reunión es para familias de habla hispana. ¡Café y galletas gratis!
Invitamos cordialmente a todos los padres de niños que reciben servicios de educación especial en el distrito a que asistan
Coffee Talks - DIFFERENT Location for July ONLY
Together we can exchange information, work collaboratively, and foster a strong connection to support the development of our children. Join us on July 10, 2025 from 8:30-10:00 a.m. at Spokesman Coffee Shop (18817 N. Heatherwilde Blvd. Bldg. 4 Pflugerville, 78660). If you can’t make it at 8:30, join us at nine or whenever you can. We will be meeting until 10 a.m.
We will have a table reserved for “Julie”. We will also be wearing a PFISD t-shirt.
Summer Fun Playdate
This is an opportunity for families to join other families, with your children, at Falcon Pointe Splash Pad, (1813 Tranquility Ln. Pflugerville, 78660) for fun in the sun and water. The event is happening on July 15, 2025 from 10-11 a.m.
Parents Supporting Parents
This is an opportunity for families to come together to collaborate and support each other. July 22, 2025 - 12:00-1:00 p.m. - virtual meeting. Join here: meet.google.com/ioj-qwyo-xds
Family Day for the 33rd annual Texas Autism Conference will provide families, educators, campus leadership, and individuals with autism with strategies, resources, tools, and evidence-based practices in the education and service of persons with autism.
We invite parents, guardians, and caretakers to join our June 21, 2025 sessions free of charge. These sessions are geared towards parenting and caretaker topics that improve the lives of our students and children with autism.
Registering for this event only grants access to content on June 21, 2025. You will not have access to the content on June 19 and 20. If you have registered for the full conference, you do not need to register for Family Day.
This conference is sponsored by the Texas Education Agency and coordinated by the Autism Supports Grant and Education Service Center Region 13.
Registration Deadline:
The deadline to register for the conference is 6 pm on June 20, 2025.
Registration is FREE and this day will be entirely online.
On-Demand
All Family Day sessions will be recorded and available for viewing on demand through 8/25/2025. Some sessions will be available in Spanish.
Register here: https://ecampus.esc13.net/show_class_info.html?classid=53477
Our conference helps Texas parents learn how to deal with the unique issues and challenges they face on a daily basis in caring for their children. The two-day conference offers 50 different sessions within several tracks, each covering a different topic. The tracks include the following: advocacy (general and legislative), parenting and sibling issues (and a Sibshop), special education law (basic to advanced), medical issues (including Medical Home and Medicaid Waiver Programs), behavior, mental health, parent leadership, resources and services, self-advocacy, transition issues for youth and young adults with disabilities, and creating a good life for people with disabilities.
Through seminars and face-to-face networking, parents, self-advocates, family members, caregivers and professionals learn from each other as they continue their unique journeys caring for a child with a disability or a special health care need. TxP2P’s goal is for everyone to leave the conference with renewed energy and passion along with tools and information they need to make positive changes for children with disabilities in Texas.
Special Features:
- 7 Sessions in Spanish; Interpreters available for 3-4 other sessions
- Skilled child care – space will be limited
- Sibshop Program for siblings
- Peer to Peer Summit – 2-day conference within the conference for teens and young adults with and without disabilities
- Family Fun Night - fun games for all ages-Dinner on your own.
- Approximately 50 Exhibitors including nonprofit organizations, state agencies, therapy centers, specialized products, mobility vendors, and many more.
20th Annual Statewide Parent Conference
July 18th & 19th, 2025
San Marcos, TX
Click here to register
Click here to download registration info
Click here for exhibitor info
Teen Art Therapy for ages 13-17 and Adult Art Therapy for ages 18+ begins on Thursday, June 5. Teens and adults are invited to attend our weekly art therapy group this summer! We will be coming together to create artwork while building and strengthening friendships.
Swim Together for ages 0-8 begins on Saturday, June 7. This fun and engaging class is designed for parents and/or caregivers their young children to enjoy the water together in a safe, supportive environment.
Soccer Clinic for all ages begins on Saturday, June 7. Our camp is designed for kids of all skill levels, from beginners to experienced players. The camp will include skill-building drills, friendly scrimmages, and fun games to keep your child engaged and active.
Kayak Camp for ages 8+ begins on Monday, June 9. This is a week-long kayak summer camp that gives kids and young adults (ages 8 and up) a great outdoor experience on and around Austin’s Lady Bird Lake.
My Gym Super Stars for ages 3-10 begins on Friday, June 13. This fun and interactive class is designed to introduce your child to the fundamentals of gymnastics in a fun and safe environment. Experienced coaches will guide your child through a variety of activities and exercises that will help improve their coordination, strength, flexibility, and balance. Siblings welcome!
Clases semanales de música familiar en español para edades de 0 a 12 años comienzan el sábado 14 de junio. Esta clase incluye música, actividades de movimiento lúdicas y sesiones de jam instrumental. Un padre o cuidador debe acompañar a cada niño a la clase. ¡Animamos a los hermanos y cuidadores adicionales a participar también!
Basketball Clinic for ages 8-16 begins on Saturday, July 5. This will be a weekly camp designed to help young athletes develop their skills, improve their game, and have fun in a supportive and encouraging environment. Join us and watch your child's confidence and abilities soar on the basketball court!
Thanks to the generosity of donors like you and fundraising events like Buddy Walk® and Cocktail Bash, DSACT offers social and recreational programs at Pay-What-You-Can pricing, ensuring accessibility for all while providing scholarships for those in need.
For more information: https://dsact.org/program-type/recreation-programs/
The Talking Book Program (TBP) provides free library services to qualifying Texans with visual, physical, or reading disabilities that prevent them from reading standard print. The TBP collection consists of more than 100,000 titles, including hundreds of titles in Spanish, and some in French, German, Russian, and other languages. Registration for the TBP Summer Reading Program is FREE and is open June 2 through August 11. Click here for more information.
PFISD Family Engagement Website
Pflugerville ISD Special Education Department
Special Education Operating Guidelines Website
Special Education Scoop Previous Newsletters
Mental Health Support at School
Parent Guide to the ARD Process
National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI)
Medicaid Waivers - Information for Parents
Medicaid Waiver Program - English
Medicaid Waiver Program - Español
Medicaid Waiver Program - Vietnamese
Think College Information - IDD
People With Down Syndrome Resource Page
June 3, 2025 - Coffee Talk at West Pecan St.
June 5, 2025 - Spanish Parents Supporting Parents (Dessau Elementary)
June 19, 2025 - English Virtual Parents Supporting Parents
June 21, 2025 - Texas Autism Conference Family Day
July 4, 2025 - District is Closed for July 4th Holiday
July 8, 2025 - Spanish Parents Supporting Parents (Dessau Elementary)
July 10, 2025 - Coffee Talk at Spokesman Coffee Shop
July 15, 2025 - Summer Play Date at Falcon Point Splash Pad
July 22, 2025 - English Virtual Parents Supporting Parents