Parent & Family
This section offers resources, guidance, and tools specifically for parents and family members supporting children, youth, and young adults with disabilities. Family engagement is vital to child’s development and a student’s success. Topics include understanding special education, navigating IEP and 504 plans, accessing community services, building advocacy skills, and supporting children at home and in the community.
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
Support a Child’s Resilience by Pointing to the Positive
Children learn best when they feel safe, relaxed, loved, and confident. Emotions that are the opposite can make learning a struggle. Researchers who study Adverse…
-
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…
-
Bullying at School: Key Points for Families and Students with Disabilities
Transcript of this video is below: When students with disabilities are bullied, schools are legally responsible to end the bullying. By law, schools must act…
-
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…
-
Adolescent Health Care Act Provides Options for Families Seeking Mental Health and Substance Use Help for Young People Resistant to Treatment
A Brief Overview The Adolescent Behavioral Health Care Access Act, passed into law by the Washington Legislature in 2019, gives parents and providers more leverage…
-
Supported Decision Making is an Option for Adults with Disabilities
A Brief Overview Full Article When a young person turns 18, most decisions are now up to them. In Washington State, age 18 is the…
-
Procedural Safeguards: How to File a Special Education Complaint
This training has information about parent rights and describes a process for filing a community complaint. When parents believe their child’s school has done something…
-
Families Who Receive In-Home Care Services: Take Note of 2022 Changes
A Brief Overview Everyone who gets state-funded in-home care in Washington is affected by a new employment structure for Individual Providers (IPs). The Consumer Direct…