Empowering organizations that serve families of students who are failing in public schools.
Many public school students are failing academically, emotionally and/or socially, and their families are unable to access the special education services needed to ensure they are prepared for adulthood.
The mission of Special Education Access (SEA) is to advise and empower organizations that serve children who are failing in public schools. Through capacity building and financial support, SEA helps these organizations provide access to special education services.
We Are Here to Help
Among the many public school students failing academically, emotionally and/or socially, the vast majority are disabled. Although they may not appear to be, many have learning disabilities, neurological impairments, mental health difficulties or social disorders that are invisible barriers to educational success. But their families, particularly those that do not have the resources to retain clinical or legal professionals, often are unable to access the special education services needed to ensure their children are prepared for adulthood.
Special Education Access advises and empowers organizations that serve the families of disabled children failing in public schools. SEA currently focuses on organizations that serve families without resources in San Francisco; providing these organizations the special education consulting and child-focused funding they need to give families access to special education services that actually work for their children.
SEA Philosophy
Public schools have a legal mandate to serve these children. Too often, they do not. While there are no “enemies” in public education – public school personnel did not get into education to harm students — the schools face persistent financial barriers. SEA relies on a respectful, but determined, approach to minimize those barriers.
For more than 40 years, SEA Executive Director Michael Zatopa has represented parents of disabled children as well as the private organizations that provide residential and special education services by contracting with public school districts.
Become an Ally
Funding allies are an integral part of SEA’s ability to help those children who need it most. If our mission matches your values, we ask that you consider helping to support us and the children that we serve.
“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
— Albert Einstein
