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

Tips to Make a Well-Informed Transition into Life After High School

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

Washington State Offers a New Option for Employment and Housing Support

Employment and housing can be critical to good health, and the State of Washington has recognized that more supports are needed in these key areas. In January 2018, the state launched a new program to support individuals with complex care needs because of physical or mental impairments by helping them to find and keep jobs and homes.  The pilot project provides housing and employment supports to individuals who Read More

When will my Student Graduate?

Dear Reader, There seems to be some confusion about “When will my student graduate?”  Here’s an attempt to clarify some questions and make the transition to adult life a little easier. First, there is a difference between “Graduation” and “Exiting” the public school system.  Graduation includes walking with your classmates while wearing a cap and Read More

Choosing Colleges for Success: Finding Schools That Pay Attention

Pay attention to what? Pay attention to the highly-diverse needs and abilities of learners! Higher education schools don’t have the same legal obligations as public schools when it comes to providing individualized education plans, and they don’t have the same history of changing instruction and adapting teaching for different learning needs and abilities.  They ARE Read More

Justin’s Transition to College

My name is Sybille and I’m the parent of a 22 year old son, Justin, who is diagnosed with high functioning autism. I would like to share our experience with transition from high school to adulthood, as well as share a couple resources that have helped us tremendously. Justin was introduced to the Division of Read More