September 2026
“Education is the most powerful weapon
which you can use to change the world.”
– Nelson Mandela
Welcome to September‘s edition of the Buzz from the Hub! The school year is officially underway, and for many families, that means navigating new teachers, new schedules, new IEPs — and everything in between. September is a season of fresh starts, and we’re here to make sure you have the resources and support to start the school year strong. This month’s resources include:
- Featured Resource: How to Start the School Year Strong
- Early Childhood: Understanding Your Child’s Rights in Early Intervention
- Education Policy: The IEP Process — A Guide for Families
- Students: How can a 504 protect you?
- Young Adults: Preparing for Life After High School
- Family Engagement: Building Strong School-Family Partnerships
Finally, don’t miss the upcoming virtual events in the Upcoming Events section.
Best wishes and happy reading,
The CPIR Team
Featured Resource!
How to Start the School Year Strong
This resource includes up to date content to support families and Parent Center Staff as the 2026-2027 school year gets underway. The page opens with tips for building strong family-school partnerships. It also includes 5 Things You Can do for a Successful School Year from Day One — from understanding your child’s rights and preparing for school meetings, to finding resources and getting individual assistance and much more. Whether you’re supporting a family navigating their first IEP or helping a seasoned advocate stay informed, this page has something for everyone heading into fall. Read here.
Shareable Resources
Early Childhood |
Understanding Your Child’s Rights in Early Intervention
Starting kindergarten is a major milestone — and for children with disabilities, that transition comes with unique joys and real challenges. A research study published in Topics in Early Childhood Special Education found that the most helpful transition practices, like individualized planning meetings and home visits, are rarely used, while parents consistently stressed the importance of sharing their child’s full story with incoming teachers — and teachers said they want to be involved in planning much earlier than they typically are. The takeaway for parent centers: early, collaborative, family-centered planning makes a measurable difference, and families are essential voices in making it happen.
Education Policy |
The Promise of an Appropriate Education for Every Child with a Disability is Under Strain
The right to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) is one of the cornerstones of IDEA — but families across the country are finding it harder to access. The Educating All Learners Alliance explores why the federal promise of an appropriate education for every child with a disability is under increasing strain and what advocates and parent centers can do to support families navigating this landscape.
Find out what’s at stake and what you can do about it here.
Students |
The Civil Rights of Students With Hidden Disabilities and Section 504
Not all disabilities are visible — and that matters. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 protects students with hidden disabilities like learning disabilities, diabetes, epilepsy, ADHD, and chronic illness from discrimination in schools and colleges that receive federal funding, including the right to a free appropriate public education, nondiscriminatory evaluation, and equal access to extracurricular activities. The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights breaks down what these protections look like at both the K–12 and postsecondary level, making this a valuable resource to share with families this fall — whether a child is newly identified or transitioning to college, understanding Section 504 rights is a powerful first step. Help families know their rights.
Young Adults |
Preparing for Life After High School
What if students with disabilities could practice a job interview, explore a workplace, or build employment skills — all before ever stepping foot in a real work environment? Virtual reality (VR) is making that possible. This August 2026 article from the Center for Innovation, Design, and Digital Learning (CIDDL) explores how VR can expand career exploration opportunities for students with disabilities by allowing them to engage with simulated workplace tasks, interview scenarios, and life skills in structured, low-risk settings. Research highlighted in the article found that mixed-reality simulation helped young adults with intellectual disabilities improve interview performance and reduce interview-related anxiety — a powerful tool for Parent Centers supporting families navigating the transition years.
See how VR is changing the transition landscape .
Family Engagement |
6 Ways to Increase Family Engagement in Special Education
Building genuine partnerships between families and schools doesn’t happen by accident — it takes intentional effort from both sides. Edutopia explores practical, research-backed strategies for increasing meaningful family engagement in special education, including how schools can break down common barriers and how parent centers can serve as a bridge between families and school teams.
Build the bridge between families and schools.
Upcoming Events
Beyond High School: Inclusive Postsecondary Education Options and How Students Can Prepare
This webinar will introduce inclusive postsecondary education, describe the range of college options beyond high school, and examine how professionals who support transition-age youth can help students build skills, explore programs, and prepare for successful college participation.
Date: September 21, 2026
Time: 2:00 – 3:00 pm EST
NAFSCE Webinar: Human Raised – Nurturing Connection, Curiosity, and Lifelong Learning in the Age of AI
As AI becomes a bigger part of how children learn and grow, one thing remains constant: nothing replaces the power of human connection. In this free webinar from NAFSCE, Dr. Dana Suskind — New York Times bestselling author and founder of the TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health — shares research-backed insights on why warm, responsive relationships are still the most important factor in children’s development and social-emotional growth.
Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026
Time: 1:00–2:00 PM ET
the Hub Central Event Calendar
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