A Brief Overview Full Article Teenagers and young adults with disabilities have additional considerations when deciding what life looks like after high school. The transition planning process begins in middle school, when all Washington State students work with counseling staff to begin their High School and Beyond Plan. For students with disabilities, that lengthy planning Read More
A Brief Overview Every family experiences holidays and end-of-year transitions differently. This article provides a sampling of ideas for families with children experiencing special healthcare needs. If a child also experiences behavioral difficulties, you may wish to read Home for the Holidays: The Gift of Positive Behavior Support Here are some quick takeaways: Full Article Read More
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 ages and backgrounds. The exact definition of TBI, according to special education law, is referenced later. This injury can change how the person thinks, behaves, and moves. A traumatic brain Read More
Radical Generosity Begins With You! We’re working to lift up youth with disabilities by investing in youth! Thanks to generous donors, your donation will be matched – doubling your gift! Our youth with disabilities are providing person-centered plans for their peers! Your donation will invest in youth facilitators listening to the dreams, hopes, and strengths to Read More
A Brief Overview At school, related services help children with disabilities benefit from their special education by providing extra help and support. Options for related services are described in state law (WAC 392-172A-01155). If a child with public health insurance needs specific therapies to meet medical needs, their insurance company is obligated to support those Read More
StartNow! Program Life after high school can be challenging, and transitioning to work, college, andindependent living means taking on more responsibilities. Start Now! supports studentswith disabilities in middle school, high school, and during high school transition toenvision their life beyond high school. Start Now! invites and offers interactive opportunities for all students with disabilities to Read More
A Brief Overview Children who are taught self-regulation are more resilient and learn better in academics and more. This article describes a few practical tools and techniques that are aspects of Social Emotional Learning (SEL). “Kids do well if they can,” says Ross W. Greene, a child psychologist and author. In a short YouTube video, Greene says, Read More
Parents and students who go to meetings prepared and organized are more likely to come away feeling heard and with a good action plan. This article can help you and your student prepare a one-page handout to share with the school or another service provider. Most important is to highlight the student as the most Read More
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
Tips to Make a Well-Informed Transition into Life After High School A Brief Overview Students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) need to have a Transition Plan written into the IEP by the school year when they turn 16, but it’s never too soon to start talking, planning and envisioning the future. Students can stay Read More
By Kelcey Schmitz, MSEd Center for Strong Schools University of Washington Tacoma We wouldn’t exclude, humiliate or send a child home for making an academic error. However, when it comes to misbehavior, a typical response has been to punish or wait until the behavior escalates or occurs at a high rate or intensity before intervening. Read More