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July 2021, Links updated September 2022 A special collection of resources from the Early Childhood Centers funded by OSEP Resources to help communities reopen early childhood settings (Keep scrolling) OSEP’s funded Early Childhood Centers What about reopening of early intervention programs and services? CPIR is pleased to host this collection of resources relevant to reopening […]
These three videos highlight key resources available to support families of students with the most intensive needs at home and as they transition to and from in-school services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The videos speak directly to parents and recommend that parents share the videos (and the highlighted resources) with the team of educators and other professionals working with their child.
Multiple TA&D Centers worked collaboratively to identify these resources and to create the videos that focus on addressing the academic needs, communication needs, and the behavior, transition, and mental health needs of students with significant disabilities. Watch the videos, and find out who the collaborating TA&D Centers were, what resources they have available, and strategies that both educators and parents can use to improve the learning of their children with disabilities.
(2020) | Useful to Parent Centers for sharing with families and schools Also available in Spanish. As the year begins with distance or hybrid learning at most schools, many parents are worried that pre-pandemic IEP plans may leave students with disabilities without vital services. Luckily, IEP or 504 plans aren’t set in stone. If a […]
(2020, June) | Useful to Parent Centers in working with schools using School Resource Officers (SROs) National conversations about police brutality have spurred school districts nationwide to reconsider their relationships with local law enforcement agencies. In the 2017–2018 school year, 45% of all public schools reported having one or more full- or part-time school resource […]
Meetings to write, review, or revise a child’s IEP typically bring together a team of people who meet in person at least once a year. Now, because of coronavirus, school closures, and social distancing, IEP teams are meeting virtually, either in conference calls or via the Internet. This collection of tip sheets on planning for and participating in virtual meetings was developed collaboratively by six OSEP-funded technical assistance centers, and includes an infographic about virtual IEP meetings (available in English and Spanish); a sample agenda (also available in English and Spanish); technology tips for all participants; suggestions for hosting a virtual meeting; and tips for those participating in a virtual meeting. Read more about (and download) the tip sheets here.
This document from the Institute for Educational Leadership, Taking It to the Next Level: Strengthening and Sustaining Family Engagement through Integrated, Systemic Practice, is designed to: Provide clarity on what systemic engagement is and what it looks like in practice; Provide an analysis of how systemic practices are being implemented in the family and community engagement […]
A Tale of Two Conversations is a two-part video showing actors playing a parent of a child with a disability and a school administrator. The meeting was requested by the parent and takes place in the administrator’s office. Take One shows the parent and administrator talking about the child’s special education program. They are talking, but not listening. Their communication is unproductive. Take Two shows each person using more effective communication skills.
Both video conversations are available for viewing online at CADRE, as is a companion Study Guidethat looks more deeply into the effective communication skills shown in the second video. Read more about and access the resources here.
There are times when you, as a parent, may want to communicate in writing with your child’s school about some problem or concern with your child’s education or well-being. This page presents a model letter or email you might write to request mediation as an approach to resolving a dispute with your child’s school.
(2019, July) | Available in English and Spanish | Useful for sharing with families of children with disabilities. Whether the child is starting a new school year or has a new Individualized Education Program (IEP), this Great Schools article will help parents how to get things started on the right foot. https://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/8-steps-to-kicking-off-your-childs-iep-the-right-way/ In Spanish | […]
For parents of children with disabilities, writing a back-to-school introduction letter to their child’s teacher can help get the school year off to a good start. Parents can use such a letter to share important facts about their son or daughter, what accommodations the child is to receive, and any specifics of his or her IEP. Understood.org provides two model letters to guide parents (one to introduce grade-schoolers and another to introduce middle-schoolers). Both are available in English and Spanish. View or download the letters here.
