ODSS

Andrea Kunkel, CCOSA General Counsel & ODSS Executive Director

The 2020-21 school year has been rough for in-person conferences. In spring 2020, when we thought, quite optimistically, that we might be back to “normal” sometime during SY202021, ODSS planned to hold two in-person conferences. We planned the first for early December 2020 and the second for early March 2021 and booked the same venue for both. During the summer of 2020, the venue notified us that it would not be holding in-person conferences through December 31, but left open the possibility that events might go forward in the first half of 2021. Unfortunately, in mid-fall, the venue advised that no in-person events would be held then, either. So, like so many other groups, we had to regroup.

Special education leaders love to get together in person. We hope to plan something soon that will be safe and fun! We’ll share details as they are available.

In-person national conference haven’t fared any better. All events planned by our national affiliate, the Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE), switched to a virtual format in summer 2020. However, CASE is planning to convene its July 2021 Special Education Legislative Summit in person in Washington, D.C. We desperately hope it’s safe to make that trip!

TeleSPED continues after a successful fall. Join us on the second and fourth Mondays each month at noon.

ODSS wishes all of you safety and good health. We can’t wait to see you again.