A Brief Overview Schools are responsible to teach expected behavior and limit use of punitive discipline. In July 2022, the US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights issued guidance about the rights of students with behavioral health needs. Available in multiple languages, the booklet is titled: Supporting Students with Disabilities and Avoiding the Discriminatory Read More
Category: Learning In School
Information on the process of getting the knowledge and or skill through study or experience.
Recovery Services: What Families Need to Know as Schools Reopen
A Brief Overview Students with disabilities who have not been fully served during years of the COVID-19 pandemic may have the right to additional school-based services to help them get back on track. These additional services may be called Recovery or Compensatory Services. Read on for information, including guidance from the federal government. A family-friendly, Read More
Native Americans with Disabilities in Washington State may be eligible for Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) is a service provided to help someone with a disability get ready for work, access a job, maintain a job, and more. The right to VR services is guaranteed under federal law, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which grew from regulations in place since the Smith-Fess Act of 1920 established the first Read More
Tips to Help Parents Plan for the Upcoming School Year
A Brief Overview By getting organized, you can plan ahead for fall and beyond. This article includes tips, resources, and information to help you get ready for a new school year. Keep in mind that schools are required to engage with families. PAVE provides an article about parent participation in special education process. If you Read More
Tips to Organize Your Child’s Medical and School Documents
A Brief Overview Keeping track of important documents for your child’s health can save you time and give you less stress. Take advantage of technology! If you choose to build a digital storage system, integrating it with your smart phone will make it easy to share information on-the-go with doctors, day care providers, school staff, Read More
Disability Teaches Us: Meaningful Inclusion Series
Families have an opportunity to learn about how children with disabilities can be included meaningfully and successfully in classrooms with their non-disabled peers. A three-part webinar series called “Disability Teaches Us: Meaningful Inclusion,” and additional training materials and resources are available on the Family Engagement Collaborative Website. This website is part of the Inclusionary Practices Read More
Tips to Help Parents Reinforce Positive Behaviors at Home
A Brief Overview Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a strategy schools use to teach children expected behavior. Read on for PBIS strategies families can use at home. A key PBIS principle is that punishment fails to teach what to do instead. Adults can direct children and youth toward better choices and interrupt escalation Read More
Navigating Special Education in Private School
A Brief Overview When a family chooses to enroll their student with disabilities in a private school, they have different rights. Those rights are summarized in this article and further explained by U.S. Department of Education guidance issued in February 2022. School districts are responsible to seek out and evaluate all students suspected of having disabilities Read More
Dyslexia Screening and Interventions: State Requirements and Resources
A Brief Overview Washington passed a law in 2018 requiring schools to screen young children for the indicators of weaknesses associated with dyslexia and support literacy across all grades. The law took effect in the 2021-22 school year. Dyslexia is a Specific Learning Disability. Students with learning disabilities are eligible for an Individualized Education Program Read More
Summer Reading Tips for Families
A Brief Overview Learning Heroes provides help to figure out a child’s reading level, useful when asking for summer reading recommendations from a teacher or librarian. Any format that captures a child’s imagination and makes them enjoy reading is valuable. Consider graphic novels, audio books, read aloud online videos, or e-readers in addition to traditional Read More
Ready for Work: Vocational Rehabilitation Provides Guidance and Tools
A Brief Overview Vocational rehabilitation (VR) is a federal right. Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) are one way to get support. Another is through 1:1 counseling and an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE). In Washington State, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) provides Pre-ETS and VR services. To seek support for a student still working toward Read More
Glossary of Key Terms for Life After High School Planning
ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act. Prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all public and private places open to the general public. Adult Services: Programs available to support individuals after they become legal adults at 18. Age of Majority: In Washington, 18. An adult is responsible for educational, vocational, financial, and other decisions unless other Read More
School to Adulthood: Transition Planning Toolkit for High School, Life, and Work
You can print this toolkit as a PDF! Click to download Looking to the future can feel exciting, hopeful, confusing, overwhelming—or all emotions at once. For families supporting a young person with a disability, it’s never too soon to begin planning to ensure a smooth process from the teen years toward whatever happens next. This Read More
What’s Next? High School Transition Planning Timeline
Click to print out this graphic Description of the above graphic: What’s Next? High School Transition Planning Mapping the Future Check these milestones to ensure high school paves a pathway for young adult success and achievement! Ages 13-14Student begins High School and Beyond Plan in Middle School—a WA State requirement for all students. Ages 15-16IEP Read More
Transition Triangle
The planning process to support a student with disabilities toward their adult life plans requires coordination and organization. This graphic provides a visual overview of the work and who is responsible to help. The center upside down triangle describes key questions for a student as they move through school and toward adulthood: Who am I? Read More