Read Useful Articles
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Learning in School
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2024 Law in Washington State Requires Daily Recess for Children in Public Schools
A Brief Overview: Full Article: Rain or shine, “well behaved or not”, daily recess is a very important part of education for every child going…
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From Birth to Three Toolkit
From Birth to Three Toolkit A Guide to Washington Services for Infants and Toddlers (ages 0-3 with disabilities) New parents have a lot to manage.…
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Ages 3-5 Transition Toolkit
Ages 3-5 Transition Toolkit A Guide to Washington Services for 3-5 Year Olds with Disabilities New parents have a lot to manage. Concern about whether…
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Where to Begin When A Student Needs Help
Where to Begin When A Student Needs Help A toolkit to guide you through the special education process in Washington State When a student has…
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Planning my Path – A User-Friendly Toolkit for Young Adults
Planning My Path Practical Tips and Tools for Future Planning Presenting our newest resource – the Planning My Path Practical Tips and Tools for Future Planning. This…
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Special Education Blueprint: The Six Principles of IDEA
Navigating the education system can be challenging for students with special needs and their families. Fortunately, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides a…
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Tips to Help Parents Plan for the Upcoming School Year
A Brief Overview Full Article Summer provides an opportunity to reset for the school year ahead. If your child has a disability, you may want…
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Steps to Read, Understand, and Develop an Initial IEP
A Brief Overview Full Article After a student is determined eligible for an Individualized Education Program (IEP), the process of building the IEP can feel…
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Steps to Read, Develop, and Understand an IEP Worksheet
The IEP document is a lot to absorb. You will be better prepared to support your child when you review the IEP draft before meeting…
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What Happens During an Early Intervention Evaluation?
Early Intervention is intended for infants and toddlers who have a developmental delay or disability. Eligibility is determined by evaluating the child (with parental consent)…
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LGBTQ+ and Disability Rights in School
A Brief Overview Full Article LGBTQ+ is an acronym that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (or sometimes questioning), and others. The “plus” represents other…
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Next Steps When Your Child is Found Eligible for Early Intervention Services (EIS)
The evaluation timeline for eligibility for early intervention services (EIS) begins with a written referral and varies depending on the age of the child at…
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Library Career Resources
Whether you are a job seeker or want to improve your skills and knowledge in a particular subject area, libraries have free resources to help.…
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7 Factors Linked to Post – High School Success
These factors can offer valuable guidance for current high school students with disabilities, their families, and educators. By focusing on these areas, students with disabilities…
Parent & Family
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What Will Happen When We’re Gone? Planning for the Future for Your Child with Disabilities, Part 1: Ages Birth to 12
Overview: Full Article Thinking about the future when you will no longer be available to help your child because of death or a condition where…
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Home for the Holidays: The Gift of Positive Behavior Support
A Brief Overview Full Article Holidays can be challenging for families impacted by disability, trauma, grief, economic struggles, and other stressors. The holiday season has…
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Medicaid Waiver Benefits for Military Families
When considering medical benefits for family members with special needs, military families often overlook Medicaid, a health benefits program established by federal law. Medicaid covers…
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Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP), Part 2: How Does EFMP Benefit Military Families?
A Brief Overview Full Article The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) is a mandatory program for all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces that helps…
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Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP), Part 1: What Makes a Military Family Exceptional?
A Brief Overview Full Article The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) is a mandatory program for all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces that helps…
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Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3), Part 2: Supporting Appropriate Placement and Inclusion of Military Families
A Brief Overview Full Article The Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3, pronounced “mick three”) is the more commonly used name for the Interstate Compact…
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Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3), Part 1: The Impact of MIC3 on Military Families
A Brief Overview Full Article The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities for Military Children was created to provide a smooth transition for military children as…
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Movers, Shakers, and Troublemakers: How Technology Can Improve Mobility and Access for Children with Disabilities
A Brief Overview Connecting to the World through Mobility I want to invite you to take 30 seconds and think back to when you were…
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Back To School Checklist!
Late summer is the time to gather school supplies, find out what time the school bus will pick up and drop off, and prepare to…
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Gender Affirming Care
A Brief Overview Gender identity has become a hot topic in today’s political world. But beyond the politics, there are many young people that are…
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Disability Redetermination: What Happens to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) When a Child Turns 18?
A Brief Overview Full Article As a continuation to our article, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a monthly financial benefit from the Social Security Administration…
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Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
A Brief Overview Full Article What Is SSI? Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a monthly financial benefit from the Social Security Administration (SSA) to people…
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The Importance of Fathers and Father Figures
A Brief overview Full Article Parents are children’s first and primary teachers. Every parent has their own way of caring for and interacting with his/her/their…
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Traumatic Brain Injury in Youth
A Brief Overview Full Article A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury that affects how the brain works. TBI can affect people of all…
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Advocacy Tips for Parents
When a child has a disability, parents often learn that getting their child’s needs met requires persistence, organization, and advocacy. Advocacy is an action. A…
Military Families
Health & Wellness
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How to Prepare for a DDA Assessment
Here are tips for getting ready for an assessment with the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA), which is managed by the Washington State Department of Social…
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Genetic Testing: Parents Face Many Choices
A Brief Overview Full Article Genetic testing can provide information about changes in chromosomes, genes, or proteins that might impact a person’s health, development, or…
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Diabetes Care in Schools / School Action Plan
Kids spend half their day at school, which means it is incredibly important to have a well-thought-out diabetes management plan for the school day. Every…
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Organize Your Child’s Medical and School Documents with a Care Notebook
A Care Notebook is an important tool for parents of children with special medical and school needs. This “notebook” might be a three-ring binder, an…
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Things I Wish I Knew on Folic Acid
As a mom of a child with Spina Bifida there are a lot of things I wish I knew. Like I wish I knew I…
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Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities
A Brief Overview: Full Article In any family, planning for an emergency is essential to reassuring the safety of all members. However, for families that…
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Collaboration on Many Different Levels
This article was submitted by a parent that receives services from the Department of Services for the Blind (DSB) to share her experiences with other…
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Positive Behavior Supports: Continuing the model at home and in the community
By: Dr. Vanessa Tucker, PhD., BCBA-D What is Positive Behavior Support? Positive Behavior Support (PBS) is a special education initiative that informs school districts, schools…
Youth
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COVID-19 and Disability: Access to Work has Changed
By Kyann Flint The world of work is generally not built for the disability community. Federal laws guarantee the right to work and the right…
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My story: The Benefits of Working with Agencies like the Washington State Department of Services for the Blind
Getting a job right after I graduated was a very exciting and scary experience. Luckily, I had Washington State Department of Services for the Blind (DSB) staff…
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Transition from Child Based to Adult Based Services in Behavioral Health
From Child to Adult Transition to adulthood is difficult for all young adults, but if you are a young adult who utilizes Behavioral Health or Substance…
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So you’re at College…What Next?
Navigating the Higher Education Environment When You Live With Disability Research over the past 20 years indicates that a fairly high percentage of college students…
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Choosing Colleges for Success: Finding Schools That Pay Attention
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) does not apply to education after high school, but Section 504 (“504 plans”) and the Americans with Disabilities…
