for parents:
Info on the IEP/Individual Education Plan and the 504
Información sobre el PEI/Plan de Educación Individual y el 504 Plan (Spanish)
Informações sobre o IEP / Plano de Educação Individual e o 504 (Portuguese)
Comparison of ADA, IDEA (law for IEP) and Section 504
Eligibility Flow Chart for an IEP or 504 – http://fcsn.org/pti/topics/iep/tools/eligibility_flow_chart.pdf
IEP Process Guide from the DESE
Individualized Education Program (IEP): Summary, Process and Practical Tips www.autismspeaks.org/sites/default/files/iep_guide.pdf
What happens if my child is found ineligible? – www.concordspedpac.org/WhatIEP.htm#NoIEP
Common Core Standards – www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/
Expanded Core Curriculum – http://www.afb.org/info/programs-and-services/professional-development/teachers/expanded-core-curriculum/the-expanded-core-curriculum/12345
Translated IEP Forms and Notices
8 Steps to a better IEP meeting
Question and Answer Guide on Special Education Extended School Year Programs
Framingham Extended School Year Programs
Observation of Education Programs by Parents and Their Designees for Evaluation Purposes www.doe.mass.edu/sped/advisories/09_2.html www.wrightslaw.com/info/priv.confid.observe.htm www.wrightslaw.com/info/ferpa.osep.observe.htm www.spedwatch.org/files/Pick_Childs_Teacher.pdf
Frequently Asked Question from Mass Advocates for Children – The following are some of the most frequent questions we receive from parents. The answers are meant to provide a brief guide to your rights. However, each child and set of facts is unique. If you have a question about your son or daughter, please call our Helpline.
Sample Letters – The following sample letters may be used to request records, evaluations, copies of evaluations, and independent evaluations:
- Sample Records Request
- Sample Letter Requesting Evaluation
- Sample Letter Requesting Copies of Evaluations
- Sample Letter Requesting Independent Evaluation
Laws and Regulations – If you would like to learn more about the laws and regulations governing special education rights for children, please refer to the links below:
Standards and indicators of effective teaching practice from the Massachusetts Department of elementary and secondary education – www.doe.mass.edu/edeval/model/PartIII_AppxC.pdf
NCLD and Understood.org developed an Endrew F. Advocacy Toolkit so parents can learn practical tips to develop an IEP that leads to success for students with learning and attention issues. The toolkit contains talking points and a worksheet to help apply the Endrew F. standard to a child’s IEP. Download the toolkit http://go.ncld.org/e/437252/load-endrew-f-advocacy-toolkit/3mv9l1/1013901244
response to intervention – RTI
respuesta a intervención – RAI (Spanish)
Resposta à intervenção – RTI (Portuguese)
National Center on Response to Intervention – www.rti4success.org
Response to Intervention: Guidelines for Parents and Practitioners – www.wrightslaw.com/idea/art/rti.hale.htm
What You Need to Know about IDEA 2004 Response to Intervention (RTI): New Ways to Identify Specific Learning Disabilities – www.wrightslaw.com/info/rti.index.htm has link to other helpful articles about RTI
Standards and Indicators of Effective Teaching Practice from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education – www.doe.mass.edu/edeval/model/PartIII_AppxC.pdf
about raising a child with special needs and some guidance
sobre criar a un niño con necesidades especiales y ciertos lineamientos (Spanish)
sobre como criar uma criança com necessidades especiais e algumas orientações (Portuguese)
Build Social Skills and Friendships
Ten Ways a Special Needs Child Will Change You Forever – www.families.com/blog/ten-ways-a-special-needs-child-will-change-you-forever
Falling in Love with Your Real Child – www.families.com/blog/falling-in-love-with-your-real-child
Five Ways to Empower Your Special Needs Child – www.families.com/blog/four-ways-to-empower-your-son-or-daughter-with-a-disability
10 Tips for a Successful School Year – www.wrightslaw.com/howey/10tips.sch.yr.htm
Getting Past Learned Helplessness for Children Who Face Severe Challenges: Four Secrets for Success by Linda J. Burkhart – www.lburkhart.com/learned_helplessness.pdf
Articles about Dyslexia – www.dyslexia-ma.org/resources.html
Children’s Mental Health Guide from the Boston Bar Association and Children’s Hospital – www.bostonbar.org/membership/publications/news-release?ID=122
Practical Tools to Help Your Child Build Social Skills and Develop Lasting Friendships – Build Social Skills and Friendships
activities and strategies for helping your child
actividades y estrategias para ayudar a su hijo/a (Spanish)
atividades e estratégias para ajudar a sua criança (Portuguese)
10 Ways to Think Therapeutically About Toys
Make Your Own Therapy Tools and Toys – http://specialchildren.about.com/od/therapies/a/therapydiy.htm
Tar Heel Reader – http://tarheelreader.org – a collection of free, easy-to-read, and accessible books on a wide range of topics. Each book can be speech enabled and accessed using multiple interfaces (i.e. switches, alternative keyboards, touch screens, and dedicated AAC devices). The books may be downloaded as slide shows in PowerPoint, Impress, or Flash format.
Free Online Program for Communication that can be downloaded onto your computer and used with a mouse, a touch screen or a switch – www.starfall.com
apps for children with special needs – www.a4cwsn.com – A4cwsn is dedicated to serving children with special needs and the associated communities who work with them. We believe that emerging technology can empower children to develop important quality-of-life skills. We strive to help consumers make informed decisions on which APPS would be the most effective teaching and learning tools for each individual child.
for teachers:
parent – teacher communication
5 Important Questions when Creating Parent – Teacher Logbooks –www.lovaas.com/meetingpoint-2008-08-article-02.php
Fighting the Good Fight: How to Advocate for Your Students Without Losing Your Job – www.ldonline.org/article/22720
Collaborating with Parents – www.lovaas.com/meetingpoint-2007-09-article-01.php
for your classroom
FormSwift – a project dedicated to creating personal and legal templates that are customizable, easy to use, and highly professional. Link to fillable Common Core-aligned lesson plan templates, which we have made completely free. You can give them a try at http://formswift.com/common-core-lesson-plans
Kids Quest– Ideas to help students understand different disabilities with ideas on questions to ask and activities to have in the classroom
5 Common Mistakes Made by a School Aide
Behavior Plans in School Settings
Facilitating Peer Interactions at School
VSA Arts of Massachusetts – inclusion through the arts – ideas and resources for your classroom – 617-350-7713, TTY: 617-350-6836
Articles about Dyslexia – www.dyslexia-ma.org/resources.html
SpeakingofSpeech.com – Has an IEP Goal bank with ideas for SLP goals, resources, lessons.
activities and strategies for helping your children (see above for resources and articles)
Special Education in Charter Schools from National Center for Special Education in Charter Schools NCSECS.org
NOTE: F-SEPAC is providing the information above for educational purposes as a public service. The lists of information above and the participants to the Expo are not F-SEPAC endorsements.
NOTA (Spanish): F-SEPAC está proporcionando la información anteriormente mencionada para fines educacionales como un servicio público. Referencias a cualquier tratamiento, programa o profesional no constituyen respaldo.