At some point, we have all wondered about the viability of building positive relationships with school staff, especially when all they seem to do is prevent our child from having the free, appropriate, public education to which they are entitled….
Read more
You suspect that your child has a disability that impacts his or her ability to receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE). In writing, sent to at least two people at your child’s school, you have requested the district assess…
Read more
We want our children to be happy, accepted, and to have access to an IEP program they need to receive an education. How different are the IEP programs between different school districts? Should you plan to buy a house in…
Read more
Making an IEP schedule that works for everyone involved is tricky. We occasionally see schools that schedule IEPs at times that work well for the school team, but may not work at all for the parent. Common excuses such as,…
Read more
Other than becoming a legally-recognized adult, what happens when your child with special needs turns 18? There are a variety of possible paths that diverge, creating a myriad of opportunities. But let’s start with the basics: When your child with…
Read more
If we have to choose one key rule to IEPs and Special Education, it is: “If it is not in writing, it never happened.” This also includes any of your requests for assessments, requests for records, requests for IEP meetings,…
Read more
Finding great resources for parents with a child with special needs can be difficult. Happily, we at Aspire Advocacy have compiled a list of some of the high-quality resources we find most useful as parents of children with special needs….
Read more
Quarantine and self-isolation has taken a toll on all of us this calendar year, so here are five activities for students with intellectual disabilities to do during quarantine! Take breaks to play outside! While it is incredibly important for students…
Read more
IEP (Individualized Education Plan) meetings can be tough; here are 5 IEP mistakes to avoid: Going in unprepared. The District part of the IEP team has put great thought into what they are going to say during the IEP meeting….
Read more
We all want to help our children grow, learn, and thrive. Parents of children with special needs often feel under great stress to do absolutely everything they can to help their child “catch up” to their typically developing peers. This…
Read more