Jana Parker’s journey into education advocacy began in 2017 after years of struggling to get adequate support from her eldest son’s Seattle school, following his mental health breakdown. Parker says she learned a lot about the “complicated maze” of the U.S. education system in that long process.
“As an immigrant with English as a second language and as a person with disabilities with a medical background, I felt like it would be meaningful to help others and share the knowledge I’ve gained,” says Parker, who is now president of the Seattle Special Education Parent Teacher Student Association (SSEPTSA), a district-wide nonprofit organization that supports and advocates for students with disabilities in Seattle Public Schools.
Soon after she learned about the group, Parker got involved, eventually joining the SSEPTSA board.
“Having a children’s advocacy org right in my community inspired me to volunteer and serve, because I kept hearing from other parents that they were going through the same struggles as my family did and I thought it was completely unnecessary,” Parker says.
We asked Parker about the organization’s work with parents, students, and educators to support students with disabilities.
Seattle’s Child: Tell us more about Seattle Special Education PTSA.
Jana Parker: We are a part of the Washington State Parent Teacher Association (WSPTA) and we are all-volunteer, relying primarily on donations to support our work. We support all students with disabilities, whether formally identified and supported by the school district or not.
What does that support look like?
We advocate for individual students and systemic change and help families navigate the complex and often overwhelming education system by sharing information, resources, and guidance. Educating the community, helping families know their rights, and advocating for their students are essential for making informed decisions, but without the knowledge or the help of an education advocate, navigating special education laws and policies can feel impossible. Unfortunately, the state does not provide support for education advocates—this is where we step in. As an immigrant, I had never heard of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) or other laws protecting people with disabilities until my own child needed support. Only then did I realize that what the law requires is not always reflected in the practices of public schools.
We also amplify student voices. Many disabled students are not yet able to effectively self-advocate.
How do you work toward improving education for students with disabilities?
We push for systemic change at both the district and state levels. The federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guarantees a free and appropriate public education for children with disabilities while protecting the rights of students and parents. However, the education system remains deeply flawed—IDEA is underfunded and has not been updated since 2004, despite significant advancements in child development and pedagogy. We work to address these issues by partnering with organizations like The Arc of King County, PAVE, Disability Rights Washington, and the Seattle Education Association, and with lawmakers to pass laws that support students with disabilities.
Teachers are often some of the strongest advocates for their students. Yet they too face barriers to providing necessary support. We partner with them and special education staff by sharing information and advocating for their unmet needs.
Tell us about some of the events and resources you offer parents.
We publish the Guide to Special Education as well as offer free, ASL-assisted informational events where families can connect. We don’t charge for events—we want to reach those families that need us the most and make our events accessible to all. Events include:
- The annual Soft Landing event welcomes families new to the district and invites them to ask questions, share ideas, and begin learning about special education in Seattle.
- Sip & Chats meetups bring families together to connect, celebrate their children’s successes, and exchange information and experiences.
- Our annual legislative advocacy workshop is a collaboration with The Arc of King County.
- Monthly general membership meetings are open to everyone—no membership is required. They feature a variety of guest speakers and experts. Families and educators alike consistently report that these sessions provide invaluable knowledge.
What are you focused on when it comes to legislative advocacy?
Our organization has been an active participant in the legislative advocacy effort to remove the cap on the number of children with disabilities who receive state funding for their education. Our main focus is on inclusion, including appropriate, timely identification of students with disabilities, equitable access to education and resources, addressing the student mental health crisis, and increasing equitable family engagement.
What do you most want parents to know?
Disability does not exist in isolation. The barriers students face are compounded by intersecting identities such as race, immigration status, language, and socioeconomic background. Too often, students of color, immigrant families, and multilingual learners experience systemic discrimination and exclusion, further limiting their access to an equitable education. Addressing these disparities requires more than policy changes—it demands a collective commitment to dismantling ableism and other forms of oppression within our schools.
To learn more about the Seattle Special Education PTSA, go to seattlespecialeducationptsa.org or email the organization at hello@seattlespecialeducationptsa.org.
