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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

7 days ago

Michigan Alliance for Families
Summer is here! Families may be enjoying summer activities, taking a much-needed breather, or preparing for a transition.As we start to think about back to school, save the dates for our Return to School series. Our Regional Parent Mentors are developing great information to help families with an IEP or IFSP start the year on the right foot.The Return to School webinar series takes place over four Wednesdays at noon, starting July 29! Register today at tinyurl.com/ReturnTS2026📅 July 29Picture This! Developing Your Student Snapshot📅 August 5Start Strong! Communication that Supports Your Child📅 August 12Prepare with Flair! Back to School with an IEP📅 August 19Executive Functioning - What, When, and HowJoin us to explore some things that work for us and might help your family have a smoother start to the new school year.Register at tinyurl.com/ReturnTS2026 One registration allows you to attend all the webinars in the series.Full details at www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org/rts-2026/Full calendar at www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org/upcoming-events/ ... See MoreSee Less

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Michigan Alliance for Families

1 week ago

Michigan Alliance for Families
New learning this summer with a new webinar on determining eligibility for special education services.IEP EligibilityJuly 14 @ 5PMRegister at tinyurl.com/3kcs97e3 If you suspect a disability is impacting your child's learning, behavior, or social-emotional growth, please come.If your child already receives special education programs and services and you want to better understand eligibility categories and criteria, please come.We will explore:❔the difference between medical diagnosis and IEP eligibility❔importance of "educational impact"❔criteria for the 13 eligibility categories❔evaluation and eligibility resources💻See the whole lineup of webinars at www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org/upcoming-events/ ... See MoreSee Less

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Michigan Alliance for Families

1 week ago

Michigan Alliance for Families
Last month, our Leaders in Policy Advocacy (LIPA) cohort had the opportunity to learn from the Community Transition Trainers at Wayne State University�Michigan Developmental Disabilities Instituteitute about How to Live Your Best Life.Weekend #3 of LIPA focused on housing, employment, and Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS)—equipping participants with the knowledge and resources to advocate for and pursue the lives they choose.Interested in learning more from the Community Transition Trainers? Their next webinar is on August 13. Learn more and register here: ddi.wayne.edu/community-transition-trai#Lipa##DisabilityAdvocacyo#leadershipr#HCBS##employmenty#housingusing ... See MoreSee Less

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Michigan Alliance for Families

1 week ago

Michigan Alliance for Families
Summer in Michigan is beautiful. But not everyone loves the sun, sand and water. If you don't want to hit the beach, there are lots of other places to keep learning all summer long.📖LibraryYour local library likely offers a summer reading program for kids, play groups, and other opportunities to connect with your community. In Lansing, the exhibits at Michigan Library and Historical Center are accessible, air conditioned, and interactive.🔨Hardware storesLots of buttons, knobs, and other items to touch here. There are plenty of grown-up machines (dishwasher, refrigerator, lawnmower) for kids to safely explore. Some stores offer free weekend hands-on workshops for kids.🖼️MuseumsYour local museum may have seasonal activities and interactive exhibits for kids. Across the state there are museums dedicated to hands-on science, aviation, art, culture, shipwrecks, history, and automobiles.🐅ZooWith a mix of outdoor and indoor animal exhibits, a trip to the zoo can be a nice compromise of staying inside and going outside. ... See MoreSee Less

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Michigan Alliance for Families

1 week ago

Michigan Alliance for Families
Understanding Ourselves & Others: A Summer Guide to Inclusive PlayA 🆓 resource for building confidence and encouraging belonging for all.Designed for K-8 students, the guide provides parents, caregivers, camp counselors and others with strategies and activities to build student confidence and encourage belonging during the summer months.@ The Inclusive Schools Network, in collaboration with Finding My Way Books and Changing Perspectives, is pleased to share Understanding Ourselves and Others: A Summer Guide to Inclusive Play, available on their website inclusiveschools.org/wp-content/uploads/A-Summer-Guide-to-Inclusive-Play_v3.pdf ... 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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