Highland Park ISD Parent Newsletter

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder which causes seizures through electrical impulses occurring in the brain. It is the fourth most common neurological disorder. Epilepsy affects 50 million people worldwide. In the U.S., 1 out of 26 people are affected.

A person is considered to have epilepsy if they meet any of the following conditions:

1. At least two unprovoked seizures occurring greater than 24 hours apart.
2. One unprovoked seizure and after two unprovoked seizures occurring over the next 10 years.
3. Diagnosis of an epilepsy syndrome.

A seizure is caused by a burst of abnormal activity in the brain. With a seizure, a person has change in awareness, behavior, body movement or sensation. A seizure can last from a few seconds to a few minutes. Seizures can take on many different forms and affect people in different ways.

Become Seizure First Aid Certified at no cost. The Epilepsy Foundation recently launched their Epilepsy Learning Portal, a one-stop-shop where you can access all their virtual, live, and on-demand pieces of training about epilepsy and seizures to help create a Seizure Safe Nation for the 3.4 million Americans living with epilepsy.

https://learn.epilepsy.com/collections/seizure-first-aid-certification

What is PDSES?

• PDSES provides a $1,500 one-time grant to parents of students who are both enrolled in a Texas public school and receive special education services. Parents can use PDSES grant funds to purchase educational goods and services for their student on the online marketplace.
• This is a one-time only grant. If you have previously applied for or received a PDSES grant, you cannot reapply for the same student.

How do I apply?

• You must apply for a PDSES grant during the annual application window: April 1-30, 2026.
• To apply for the PDSES grant, parents MUST have or create a My SPEDTex Account.

• To receive reminders, you can sign up for PDSES email updates.

What can we purchase?

• With PDSES accounts, parents are able to purchase educational goods and services from the PDSES online marketplace.

2025-2026 School Year PDSES Program Overview: ENGLISH | SPANISH
2025-2026 Application Process for Parents: ENGLISH | SPANISH

The resources and events shared in this section are for information purposes only. Highland Park ISD does not recommend or endorse any activity or organization. Parents and families are encouraged to determine whether an activity or organization is appropriate for them, given their unique needs.

Career Resource Center

Services and Programs at The Career Resource Center (CRC) are offered at no charge in both Lubbock and Amarillo. The centers have resumed face-to-face training and some services are also offered virtually.

Levels of Classes

The Career Resource Center encompasses free services including Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced computer skills classes. Other Employment Development Training opportunities and Career Enhancement Seminars relevant to successfully competing in today’s job market are also offered.

Virtual Classes & Testing

​​Goodwill offers an online tool to evaluate skill level in Word, Excel & PowerPoint. Upon enrolling in virtual classes, participants will have the opportunity to Learn to Zoom and choose from a variety of employment development seminars and additional tools to present results on a resume and during a job interview.

Education Credits

Continuing Education Credits will be earned through a partnership with South Plains College upon successful completion of the following computer courses: Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced. Call one of Goodwill’s Career Centers to get started.
(806) 744-0440 in Lubbock or (806) 331-6890 in Amarillo.

This program focuses on improving interaction between law enforcement and drivers with disabilities with unique communication needs. Texans now have the option to disclose “Communication Impediment” directly on their Driver License or State ID or when registering their vehicle through the DMV. This will alert the trained officer of an individual who may be slower to respond or one who is deaf or hard of hearing. Individuals with the following disability categories may be eligible: Autism, Brain Injury, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Intellectual Disability, Parkinson’s Disease, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Speech and Language Disorders, Deaf, and Hard of Hearing. To get started, go to www.TexasDrivingWithDisability.com.

The Texas SPED Support website has added a new video collection. This collection captures real-life examples and recommendations for transition planning. In each video, the young adult shares the story of their successful transition to life beyond high school. The videos feature four different young adults from across Texas sharing their transition journey: Abigail, Daylan, Sydney, and Juan (Spanish).

https://spedsupport.tea.texas.gov/resource-library/daylans-advice-transition

The traumatic and non-traumatic brain injury support group “The Second Life” will give survivors as well as their caregivers the support and strength they need to move forward together, rather than on their own.

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Meetings are held the first Tuesday of every month from 5:30 pm-7:00 pm at PILC located at 417 SW 10th Ave, Amarillo, TX 79101.

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For more information, please contact the center toll-free at (800) 585-6768 or locally at (806) 374-1400.

The Independent Living Services program, or ILS, provides services for the hard of hearing/deaf, visually impaired, blind and those with mobility needs. They can provide hearing aids, visual aids and mobility services such as ramps.

Schools help all students prepare for their future. For students receiving special education services, there is a process called transition planning included in their individualized education program (IEP) by the time they reach age 14. Students must be invited to any admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee meeting where transition will be discussed. What does meaningful participation in the ARD committee look like? During this webinar, resources to support student involvement in their transition to adulthood will be reviewed.

This virtual session will meet on December 2, 2025 at 12:15 pm

Register Here -

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SeRHqpsiQLeq1epH7tsgIg#/registration

If you believe your child has a disability and because of that disability

might need special education services at school, please contact:

Stephanie Milne

Director of Special Education

Stephanie.Milne@hpisd.net

806-322-3806