Quality Services

For All Students

To the Editor:

I would like to thank the Newtown Democratic Town Committee for putting me forward as a candidate for the Board of Education. Over the past two years we have seen many challenges for our town and our school system. One of the major challenges has been in the area of special education. This is a critical challenge that I am happy to help our town take on head first.

I have spent my entire professional career working with and for people with disabilities on a variety of levels. I have experience with children and adults with a wide range of disabilities, including autism, emotional and behavioral disorders, and those who are medically fragile. I have set up new programs, evaluated programs for compliance with state and federal laws, and trained teachers, therapists, social workers, psychologists, and other staff in the best practices necessary to help educate children with disabilities. I believe that we need to listen to parents and families of children with disabilities as they struggle with ensuring that their children have the same basic access to our school system as nondisabled peers. I believe in working cooperatively with everyone and that consensus building and a focus on providing quality services for all of our students starts with the Board of Education.

I hope to serve our town and our most vulnerable citizens. Please visit www.newtownctdemocrats.org for more information.

Eric Paradis

85 Riverside Road, Sandy Hook September 27, 2011