Much of the day-to-day work of COPAA is achieved through involvement of our member community.  COPAA’s richest asset is our diverse and knowledgeable network. We depend on volunteer activities to accomplish our mission.  Members are encouraged to contribute their unique skills and talents by serving on one of more of the standing committees. Current committees include the following:

The Advocates Committee serves as a forum to discuss the needs of COPAA’s special education/disability rights advocates. This committee provides input and direction to the other committees to help steer the activities of COPAA with the needs of advocates in mind. Missy Alexander, David Beinke are co-chairs of this committee.

The Amicus Committee considers requests to participate in or draft an amicus brief in those cases that present an issue or issues that are consistent with the COPAA mission statement and those specifically identified by the Amicus Committee. The issue presented to the court for a decision must have precedential value and the decision of the court should materially affect students with disabilities. The organization is also interested in those cases that have substantive or procedural due process rights violations. The Amicus Committee reviews all timely requests. Please see the Amicus Committee policies for further specifications regarding requests for assistance.  Selene Almazan and Andrew Feinstein are Amicus Committee Co-Chairs.

The Awards Committee is responsible for administering COPAA’s scholarship programs, the Diane Lipton Award for Outstanding Educational Advocacy, and other COPAA Awards.  Leslie Seid Margolis is current Chair of this committee.

The Conference Committee is responsible for the program design of the annual conference and the logistics of how to make the conference run smoothly and effectively. The committee meets by conference call throughout the year on at least a monthly basis. Tasks of the committee include, among other thing, design of the Pre-Conference Skills Trainings, Recruitment and training of Pre-Conference Trainers, design of Request for Proposals, Selection of Proposals, budgeting, location selection and numerous matters relating to logistics. Selene Almazan & Missy Alexander Chair the Conference Committee.

The Executive Committee is appointed by the Board and is comprised of the Chair, Vice Chair, Past Chair, Treasurer, Secretary and a committee chair of the Advocate and Membership Committees.

COPAA’s Current officers include:

Chair – Catherine Merino Reisman
Vice Chair – Missy Alexander
Treasurer – Selene Almazan
Secretary – Jennifer D. Laviano

The Government Relations Committee participates in public policy matters at the national level, both through participation on the Education Task Force of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, and through additional independent legislative and other activities. Through the work of the Government Relations Committee, COPAA produces position statements regarding issues of importance to its membership and undertakes efforts to ensure that special education laws and policies protect the rights of students and their families to the greatest extent possible. Robert Berlow and Dawn Smith chair this committee.

The Membership Committee is comprised of fourteen members from nine states and the District of Columbia.  The committee meets regularly to discuss issues related to membership and any proposed changes to membership policies or materials. This committee also is responsible for public relations activities that assist in developing our membership. Jennifer Laviano and Carrie Watts are Co-Chairs.

The Publications Committee is responsible for approving the legal materials that members upload to the web site and for developing other COPAA publications.  Jon Zimring and Alice Nelson co-chair the Publications Committee.

The Training Committee is responsible for developing all trainings outside of the Annual Conference for parents, advocates and attorneys.  Recent activities include development of COPAA’s Webinar Series.  Past initiatives include the Special Education Advocates Traninig, under a grant from the US Department of Education, in collaboration with the University of Southern California.   Eileen Crumm and Mandy Favaloro are Co-Chairs.

Members are encouraged to play an active role in the work of these Committees and workgroups.

Committee and Workgroups are not the only way to volunteer for COPAA.  Here are some other ways members can support the work of COPAA:

• Accurately responding to listserv questions
• Posting information on the COPAA Member Forum
• Lead or participate in a topical workgroup on issues of significance to COPAA Members
• Authoring a publication or fact sheet
• Promote membership in COPAA, the COPAA Conference, Webinars, or other events. We believe there is tremendous power in peer-to-peer communication and ask you to spread the word!

Volunteering is a commitment of time.  Please review the Volunteer Service Policy to fully understand expectations.

If you are interested in volunteering for COPAA please submit fill out our Contact Form and a member will contact you to discuss.