A Brief Overview Service dogs and therapy dogs have different jobs. Read on to learn more about the differences and how dogs can help people with diverse disabilities. A service dog is trained to support a specific person in unique circumstances. Therapy dogs are chosen by temperament and trained to use closeness and touch to Read More
Category: Where to Start
A look at what steps you can take to work with your child’s school and resources related to your child’s educational needs.
Get SMART About Tracking Progress and Updating Goals with Your IEP Team
Holiday break is a good time to check on your student’s progress in school. You can take another look at the Individualized Education Program (IEP) and compare the goals to current progress. If you don’t have a current progress reports on IEP goals, mid-year is a good time to ask school staff to provide them. Read More
Finding the Right Child Care Provider for Your Child
by Marcia Jacobs, Communications and Marketing Manager, Child Care Aware of Washington Selecting a child care provider is one of a parent’s most important decisions. Your child may spend many hours with the provider you choose, and you want that playing and learning time to be well-spent. All parents look for a provider who Read More
Developmental Disabilities Ombuds
By Tim McCue Self Advocacy Educator Pronouns: he/him/his Office of Developmental Disabilities Ombuds The Developmental Disabilities Ombuds; what are they all about? Are you frustrated with your DD services? We are here to help! An ombuds is a person who makes sure that people who are getting a certain type of service have protection and Read More
Placement: Deciding Where a Student Spends the School Day
Where and when a student goes to school is called the placement. The Individualized Education Program (IEP) describes how much time a student spends in different settings. It also includes a statement about how much time the student spends with non-disabled students. The IEP Team, including the parent, makes decisions about placement after talking about Read More
Get Ready for School with IEP Essentials
A Brief Overview Each student has abilities and skills. A thoughtful Individualized Education Program (IEP) can highlight abilities and provides the supports needed for the student to learn. This article will help parents understand how to participate in the IEP process. Every part of the IEP is measured against this question: How does this help Read More
DDA Access Series 1 Eligibility
Navigating Special Education in Private School
Laws & Policies are Different: When a family chooses a private school for a student with a disability, the laws and policies for special education are a bit different than they are in a full-time public-school placement. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandates individualized programming for eligible students with disabilities that provide meaningful access to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). The law also mandates Read More
How to Avoid Regression this Summer
What All Parents Face During the Summer All parents are faced with the dilemma: how to keep our children from experiencing regression once they go back to school after their summer vacation AND make sure they still enjoy their summer days without us pushing oodles of worksheets every day. Some parents even go as far as Read More