Resources for Families of Students with Disabilities

Overview

This page provides access to resources for families and caregivers of children with disabilities, as they support their children.

Disclaimer

The below resources are offered for consideration.  This list is not comprehensive of all possible resources. The listed resources are provided for information only. The Colorado Department of Education does not endorse, represent, or warrant the accuracy or reliability of any of the information, content, services, or other materials provided by these educational service providers. Any reliance upon any information, content, materials, products, services, or vendors included on or found through this listing shall be at the discretion of the user.

Colorado and National Resources for Families

Colorado Resources

• Arc of Colorado, The (Exiting CDE Website)
  The Arc builds better lives for persons with intellectual developmental disabilities and their families by improving connections to schools, work, and the community through influencing public policy, increasing public awareness, supporting local chapters, and collaborating with other organizations sharing the same values.
• Center for Inclusive Design and Engineering (Formerly Assistive Technology Partners) (Exiting CDE Website)
  The Center for Inclusive Design and Engineering, formerly Assistive Technology Partners, envisions a world where all persons with cognitive, sensory, and /or physical disabilities are engaged in life at home, school, work and play, without barriers and without boundaries.
• Colorado PTA (Exiting CDE Website)
  Promotes the opportunity for every child to reach their full potential by engaging and empowering families, educators, and communities to advocate for all children.
• Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition (Exiting CDE Website)
  This coalition offers training programs to parents and school personnel and community members who are interested in making a difference in closing the academic achievement gap, reducing the dropout rates and increasing graduation rates.
• Colorado Talking Book Library (Exiting CDE Website)
  A free service to Coloradans of all ages who are unable to read standard print material due to visual, physical or learning disabilities, whether permanent or temporary. CTBL provides audio, Braille, large-print books, and magazines.
• Denver Metro Community Parent Resource Center  (Exiting CDE Website)
  Informs and empowers low-income, culturally and linguistically diverse families as advocates for their children with disabilities, ages birth-26, to achieve meaningful participation in their schools and communities.
• Parent to Parent of Colorado (Exiting CDE Website)
  Connecting families of sons and daughters with disabilities or special healthcare needs across Colorado.
• StateWide Assistive Technology, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (SWAAAC) (Exiting CDE Website)
  The SWAAAC project with the Colorado Department of Education provides multidisciplinary Assistive Technology services to enable students with disabilities equal access to the curriculum and full participation in their education and classroom.

National Resources

• Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA) (Exiting CDE Website)
  Supports and provides state Part C and Part B, Section 619 programs in developing high-quality early intervention and preschool special education service systems, increasing local implementation of evidence-based practices, and enhancing outcomes for young children with disabilities and their families.
• Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education (CADRE) (Formerly The National Center on Dispute Resolution in Special Education) (Exiting CDE Website)
  Encouraging the use of mediation and other collaborative strategies to resolve disagreements about special education and early intervention programs.
• National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NECTAC) (Exiting CDE Website)
  NECTAC serves Part C-Infant and Toddlers with Disabilities Programs and Part B-Section 619 Preschool Programs for Children with Disabilities in all 50 states and 10 jurisdictions to improve service systems and outcomes for children and families.

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Helping your Student at Home

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Special Education Process

Parent/Family FAQ's

The Parent and Family Frequently Asked Questions is a guide for Parents and Family Members of Students on IEPs. 

Special Education Facilitation Meeting

The CDE continues to offer IEP Facilitation during this time.  During COVID-19 we have moved our facilitation services online using a tele-facilitation model. This model continues to encourage the same principles of traditional IEP Facilitation to promote effective communication and assist an IEP team in developing an IEP based on the student’s needs. During this time our neutral facilitators are using a tele-facilitation approach using meeting guidelines and a variety of communication strategies throughout a meeting.

If you are interested in obtaining a facilitator for your virtual IEP meeting, please complete the Special Education Facilitation request form. After gaining agreement from the other party, a facilitator will be in touch to develop an agenda.  

Clear communication is essential within every IEP meeting.  Strategies and tools help us work with teams, especially when talking about a child.  

• Paraphrase, Mirror, and Reframe - These strategies are helpful in ensuring we understand what everyone at the table is saying. 
• Effective Questions - These questioning techniques are helpful in ensuring we have enough information to make decisions.  We start with open-ended questions when needing more information, then move towards problem-solving questions when needing solutions.  Asking questions is an excellent way to gain information, as well as for preventing defensiveness.
• Parent Input - Make notes regarding your child’s strengths, behavioral performance, social interaction, and concerns you may have regarding your child’s education.  Share from this form during your child’s IEP meeting. Perhaps, utilize a parent input form (opens in a new window). 

Visit the Alternative Dispute Resolution and Tele-Facilitation & ADR pages for more information. 

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Questions about Special Education or the Special Education process?

Please direct any questions to:

Beth Donahue
Family Engagement Specialist
Phone:  720-926-1453
Email: Parents_ESSUquestions@cde.state.co.us