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 gender identities including pansexual and Two-Spirit. Youth and young adults with disabilities may also have diverse sexualities and gender identities. LGBTQ+ identities are NOT disabilities, but students with disabilities may Read More

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 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

IDEA: The Foundation of Special Education

A Brief Overview Full Article The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law that was passed in 1990 and has been amended. The IDEA provides children with qualifying disabilities, from birth to age 21, with the right to services designed to meet their unique, individual needs. Eligible children ages 3-21 who receive Read More

STOMP: Workshops and Webinars

Workshops and Webinars  STOMP offers virtual workshops across multiple days, two-day in-person workshops, and 90-minute webinars on a variety of topics. STOMP’s hope is to enhance the connections and knowledge of our military families. Some of the topics include Parents Rights and Responsibilities in Achieving Education Services (IDEA, IFSP, IEP, IEP Teams, and 504), Advocacy, Read More

Life After High School: Tools for Transition

Helping a student with disabilities prepare for life after high school requires thoughtful organization and planning. This presentation describes three ways to support this important time of life: High School and Beyond Plan IEP Transition Plan Agency Support Here are resources referenced in the video: OSPI Model Forms: Scroll down to find and open the Read More

Disability History Month Provides Opportunities for Reflection

A Brief Overview Full Article Disability History and Awareness Month in October provides an opportunity for policy makers, teachers, families and people throughout communities to reflect on the disability rights movement. Equity and access are protected by law, yet there is still work to be done to ensure that laws are upheld and that everyone Read More

Resources: Links

Useful Links Here is a list of external websites. You can filter these links by, for example, learning in school.. Links for Learning in School Links for Parent & Families Links for Health & Wellness Links for Youth

Articles

Read Useful Articles The articles are sorted chronologically and by topic.  Enter the topic in the Search bar above for specific interests. Learning in School Parent & Family Health & Wellness Youth Military Families

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

Videos

Video Resources Videos featuring topics of interest to you. From learning in school, parent & family to health & wellness to youth, information is waiting for you. Learning in School Videos Parent & Family Videos Health & Wellness Videos Military Families Videos Youth Videos

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

Self-Care is Critical for Caregivers with Unique Challenges

Self-care is not selfish. Self-care is any activity or strategy that helps you survive and thrive in your life. Without regular self-care, it can become impossible to keep up with work, support and care for others, and manage daily activities. PAVE knows that self-care can be particularly challenging for family members caring for someone with 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

Bullying at School: Resources and the Rights of Students with Special Needs

A Brief Overview Full Article Students with disabilities who are bullied at school have legal protections, and schools have added responsibilities to ensure their safety and well-being. When acts of bullying involve discrimination based on disability, race, sex, or religion, federal agencies classify those acts as harassment. The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the Read More

Parent to Parent (P2P) Connects Caregivers Statewide for Support

A Brief Overview Parent to Parent (P2P) connects families to trained parent volunteers whose children also have disability conditions and special healthcare needs. The Arc of Washington provides a list of P2P coordinators for every county in the state.  ¿Hablas español? Para más información y hacer referidos, llama a su condado bajo: Coordinadores de Enlace Hispano. Read More