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…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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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,…
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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….
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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…
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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….
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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…
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Do you know how to be a good advocate for your child? As experienced advocates, we always tell parents there is no one “right” way to advocate for their child with special needs. There are some wrong ways like: yelling,…
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