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    Michigan Alliance for Families:

    Your free guide to special education.

    Michigan Alliance for Families provides information, support, and education for families who have children and young adults (birth to 26 years of age) who receive (or may be eligible to receive) special education services. This website can help you with finding information on special education issues as well as disability specific information.

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Special Education Resources

Answers about your child's special education program

Disability Information

Information about your child's disability

Support

Hear from one of our Parent Mentors

Upcoming Events

Find an online workshop or view a recording

Need help navigating the special education system? Talk to a parent who's been there.

Connect directly with one of our local parent mentors to address your family's needs. Their perspective can not only help you navigate the system, but they can also help you be more involved in your child's education. All Michigan families are able to access an extensive collection of electronic or printed resources, informational support and referrals to local community resources. To get in touch with a Michigan Alliance for Families staff member, Contact Us.

 

News & Updates

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Michigan Alliance for Families

4 days ago

Michigan Alliance for Families
youtu.be/XImnfje0gPkSpringtime is the time to be having conversations and looking at data around Extended School Year for students with an IEP.ESY is a required consideration in the IEP process. The decision is individualized and data based.More on ESY on our website: www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org/extended-school-year ... See MoreSee Less

Let's Talk ESY!

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Spring is the time to look at data around Extended School Year for our students with an IEP. ESY is a required consideration in the IEP process. The decision...

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Michigan Alliance for Families

4 days ago

Michigan Alliance for Families
The return from spring break is a good time to collect data about the possible need for Extended School Year services.While all students may lose some skills over break, the important distinction is whether the student with a disability will experience more regression and will take significantly more time to recoup lost skills than student without disabilities. Regression is one just one of the needs to consider when discussing ESY.As with all IEP decisions, the IEP Team must base ESY decisions on data, and that includes data recorded and provided by parents. The decision is individualized and data based. More on ESY on our website: www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org/extended-school-year/Available from MDE: “Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team Consideration of the Need for Extended School Year (ESY) Services” includes a worksheet to assist IEP Teams. ... See MoreSee Less

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Michigan Alliance for Families

5 days ago

Michigan Alliance for Families
Let's talk tech on Tuesdays at noon in April!Our partners from Alt+Shift and Michigan Disability Rights Coalition will join us for 3 upcoming webinars. Attend all or just the one that interests you the most.1️⃣ April 8 Assistive Technology: More than Checking a Box with Alt+Shift at 12pm. Register at tinyurl.com/4n7n4wc9This workshop will discuss AT in the Individualized Education Program (IEP):• Developing a well-written Present Level of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP) statement to include the difficulties the student is experiencing• Establishing goals to address difficulties• Creating an implementation (follow-through) plan2️⃣April 15 Intro to Augmentative & Alternative Communication & Resources with MDRC at 12pm. Register at tinyurl.com/sakn2378Students who have difficulty expressing themselves may require an alternative way to communicate. Communication systems, strategies, and tools that replace or supplement natural speech are known as augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).• what is AAC and when AAC should be considered• how to find the right AAC• philosophies to consider3️⃣April 22 Supporting Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC)@Home with Alt+Shift at 12pm. Register at tinyurl.com/39msvks5Many have questions about how to use AAC at home and how to best support growing their AAC user's communication skills. This online session will cover:• Strategies for incorporating AAC tools into daily routines• Training skills to support AAC as a communication partner• Advice from other parents AAC users on supporting AAC at homeFor full details and more webinar topics, visit the calendar page on our website at www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org/upcoming-events/ ... See MoreSee Less

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Michigan Alliance for Families

6 days ago

Michigan Alliance for Families
Monday, April 7 at 9:30amTransition: What You Need to Know. Register at tinyurl.com/yfyumjeh Learn how to use the IEP transition plan along with community resources to plan a smooth transition from school to adulthood.🌱 The first day of spring—a season of growth and new beginnings! Just like nature transitions, youth experience their own transition into adulthood.As youth with disabilities move through school, we need to think about what comes next. This is called post-secondary transition planning. Transition is the individualized action plan that addresses the skills, programs, and opportunities needed for the student to be successful after their school career ends.Families with middle and high school students with an IEP are invited to join us for these online transition workshops coming up in April and May🌱 Monday, April 7 at 9:30am - Transition: What You Need to Know. Register at tinyurl.com/yfyumjeh🌱 Monday, April 14 at 9:30am - Transition Beyond IDEA. Register at tinyurl.com/2shx45sz🌱 Wednesday, May 7 at 4:30pm Collaborating on Transition. Register at tinyurl.com/uzycn4z5Visit our calendar of events for full details and easy registration. www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org/upcoming-events/ ... See MoreSee Less

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IDEAs that Work

Funding Statement

Michigan Alliance for Families is a Michigan Department of Education IDEA Grant Funded Initiative. Michigan Alliance for Families is our state's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center. The contents of this website were developed under a grant from the US Department of Education, H328M200015. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the US Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. Project Officer, Anna Macedonia.

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