A supportive and welcoming space: SEPTO supports families of children with disabilities
Written by Tracey Weiss
Photography submitted
There’s a small but mighty group of volunteers working to support families and caregivers who have children with disabilities in the West Hartford School district.
WH SEPTO, which stands for the West Hartford Special Education Parent Teacher Organization, has a mission “to educate, advocate, and strengthen community connections for families of students from PreK through the Post-Secondary Program.” They do that through meetings, events, and advocacy, and serve as a resource center for those who are navigating the educational system.
“We try to be a supportive and welcoming space,” said Britt Killian. She is on the board of WH SEPTO.
There are no membership dues, and everyone is welcome to join the organization and attend board meetings and community events WH SEPTO puts on year-round. That includes children in an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and the 504 Plan (which ensures a student with a disability has equal access to learning and school activities by providing specific classroom accommodations).
One way they make a connection is through bi-monthly “Coffee and Connection” meetings. “We close the knowledge gap by helping,” Killian said. “It’s also a way for parents to meet other parents and have a voice. We explain district policy rollout and connecting. Having a child with a disability can be isolating, so having the social connection is important for parents and for kids.
“We want everyone to feel like they can participate. We have day and evening meetings so everyone can make one or the other.”
They also run family events, such as the annual Miracle League of CT Trick or Treat Event, happening this year on October 24 from 1-4pm. Organizations set up tables on the Miracle League baseball field with information and candy. “The kids trick or treat at each table, and parents can pick up info at each table. Everyone dresses up—it’s a safe space,” Killian said.
Other happenings include participating in the fall back to school event, free summer camp for kids, and silent dances, where those who have noise sensory issues can use headphones to control the music level.
WH SEPTO works closely with the town’s Pupil Services Department, including Melissa Caballero and Kelly Brouse, the executive director and assistant director of the department, respectively. The department oversees special education needs for the school district.
“SEPTO is a great partner,” Caballero said. “We always want feedback to improve access and visibility. We’re lucky to have it. It’s a great vehicle for us to hear about things.”
Brouse agrees. “They’ll just reach out. If a new family moves to town, they’ll put us in touch with them.”
That communication goes both ways. “If there is a new opportunity at the state level, we’ll send it out and SEPTO” will disseminate that information to members, Caballero said.
In turn, “they have taught us so much,” Brouse said. “They found some summer camps and introduced us to the Sunflower Project.”
According to Killian, “The Sunflower Project is a national effort to help people recognize those who might have invisible disabilities. Many businesses like airports for example, will give out lanyards, pins or patches for folks to wear as a universal sign of maybe needing more help than would be expected based on appearance alone. Our Board member Marianne Mann learned about this, shared it at a SEPTO meeting and gave out sunflower seeds to spread the word.”
Caballero and Brouse have witnessed firsthand just how important the communication between the groups is, and the organic positive effect it can have on everyone involved.
“At one event,” Caballero said, “A new family that joined SEPTO had just gotten a diagnosis about their (young) child.” At the meeting, they asked a question. “When the meeting was over, a member of another family went over to them after and said, ‘I remember being in your shoes. I can help.’”
There was one meeting where the parents were all discussing the same issue. They all seemed to have the same question, which led to a lengthy dialogue. “The meeting went on until 10pm,” Brouse said.
“Even after the meeting, they were still standing together talking,” Caballero added. “We went to the parking lot, and they were still standing together outside talking.”
To increase community ties and build a regional presence, WH SEPTO maintains close ties by creating events and training sessions with organizations such as the Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center. According to its website, the advocacy center’s focus is to “support, and empower Connecticut's families of children and youth with any disability or chronic conditions, ages birth to 26, and the professionals who serve them.”
According to Killian, WH SEPTO was “originally formed as a SEPTA by Mary Hardy, Carrie Berman and Tammy Exum in 2002 at Whiting Lane School as their children transitioned from the Early Learning Center to elementary school, the Association then converted to an Organizational entity (PTO) in 2014 under the leadership of Jennifer Sherman and Randi Krouk Leopold. As their children aged out of the schools, Killian took over efforts to rebuild membership, awareness and a new Board, which is what exists today and is led by additional Board Members Marianne Mann, Tricia Hamlin and Allison Freeman.”
Killian took over in 2023, and she was joined by Allison Freeman the following year.
Marianne Mann and Tricia Hamlin are also on the board, which they built from one person to four (they have one open spot on the board now).
They also have a SEPTO liaison in most of the schools—a few have vacancies.
“We are involved and hold feet to the fire when we go to board of education and budget meetings (to make sure we are represented),” Killian said.
“West Hartford has done a lot of work that needed to be done in the middle and high school programs, such as Unified Sports and Unified Theater,” Freeman said. “Sports is open to everyone.” In the Unified Theater and Unified Sports programs, students of all backgrounds, with and without disabilities, work together towards a common goal.
Killian’s son, Theo, 11, is autistic and has ADHD, and Killian is grateful for the programs Whiting Lane and Wolcott Elementary Schools have in place. “When he was at Wolcott, teachers were always looking for things for Theo to do,” she said. “He loves the boiler room, and the town arranged for an employee to walk him through” and explain how everything worked.
Freeman’s son, Cort, 15, has autism and ADHD. “He was diagnosed at two and a half,” she said. He went to Whiting Lane and Bugbee. Freeman said it was a “phenomenal experience. He has so many friends. We go back and visit our Bugbee family. He went on to Bristow, which was also great.”
Cort’s teacher, at Bristow Middle School, Courtney Garrison is still in his life, according to Freeman. The two share a love of running, and Cort is a member of Garrison’s running club. He has run the Mitten Run and Johnny’s Jog. “It’s really impacted his confidence,” Freeman added.
“At Bristow, he led the school graduation ceremony with the Pledge of Allegiance. He runs cross country with his Hall coaches and teachers now. He’s in the track program— it’s helped him so much.
“West Hartford has so much to be proud of. It’s a testament to who we are as a community. It’s our good fortune is to be able to do this.
“Special ed teachers—their burden is huge. They have to go to tons of meetings. They are dedicated. They’re here because they love West Hartford. Everyone does it because they love it.”
“SEPTO’s work is not done,” Killian said. “Things come to our attention. Not because the town prevented it but because they didn’t know. But they are always receptive at making those changes.” WHL
WH SEPTO has a list of resources on their website for all to peruse: https://sites.google.com/view/west-hartford-septo.