December 2024

RESOURCES

Holiday Tips for Families

The holidays can be hard for kids who learn and think differently. Things that are supposed to be fun - special holiday meals, chitchat with friends and relatives - can be stressful and lead to behavior problems. Planning ahead is a great way to prevent potential issues and make the season more enjoyable. Click here to check out this helpful article and worksheet from Understood.org to prepare for the holidays with your child.

Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) Committee Members

Federal regulations refer to an individualized education program (IEP) team. In Texas, this team is called the Admission, Review, Dismissal (ARD) Committee. The ARD committee is a team of individuals, including parents and school personnel, who work together to develop an IEP for a child who qualifies for special education services. As a parent/guardian, you are an important member of your child’s ARD committee. Click here to read more about the roles and responsibilities of ARD committee members.

Parent-Directed Special Education Services (PDSES) - $1,500 Grant for Parents of Students Served Through Special Education: Recorded Webinar

If you missed our most recent webinar about PDSES, you can watch it here. Over the past 4 years, more than 160,000 students have benefitted from the PDSES, previously the Supplemental Special Education Services (SSES) grant, which gives $1,500 online accounts to the families of public school students served by special education in Texas. Families can use PDSES funds to purchase educational items like books, computers, and/or sensory items, and services like tutoring or therapy for their student. The presentation provides an overview of the program, guides parents through the application process, outlines the PDSES online marketplace, and addresses some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the program. To view the webinar presentation slides, click here.

UPCOMING EVENT

Understanding Your Child's IEP and the ARD Process

Join us for a free statewide webinar on January 22, 2025 at 12:15 p.m. (CT). David Mapps, Special Education Technical Assistance Manager at the Texas Education Agency will join us for an informative presentation about the Individualized Education Program (IEP) and the Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) process. This webinar is designed to answer questions families may have regarding the IEP and ARD process. We will discuss what happens during the ARD committee meeting and who should be there. Register here.

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ABOUT SPEDTEX

The Special Education Information Center (SPEDTex) provides resources and interactive features for increasing family awareness of disabilities and special education processes, with the goal of improving partnerships between schools and families.