The Informed,
Educated Parent
A newsletter about special education for Michigan families
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Greetings!
April is Autism Awareness & Acceptance Month! As we strive to live in an inclusive world, it’s important to not only be aware of differences, but to also accept and integrate individuals with different abilities into their communities.
Too often we focus on labels and “level of functioning”. However, Autism is indeed a spectrum disorder which is multifaceted and manifests in unique ways for each individual. If your child has been recently diagnosed with Autism and you want to learn about services and resources, visit: Autism Spectrum Disorder - Michigan Alliance for Families.
Additionally, our partner and fellow MDE IDEA grant funded initiative, Statewide Autism Resources & Training (START), promotes and facilitates systems level change implemented by school staff and administrators willing to commit to using evidence-based practices in the areas of educational programming for students with autism spectrum disorder, professional development, parent-professional collaboration, and service coordination. For more information on START, visit their website at START Project - Grand Valley State University (gvsu.edu).
Whether it’s in the home, at school, on the job site, or in the community, people with Autism deserve to live a self-determined life. This is true of everyone, with or without a disability. For more information on Self Determination, visit: Self-Determination - Michigan Alliance for Families.
Kanika Littleton
Director, Michigan Alliance for Families
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Michigan Alliance for Families is hosting a parent conference centered around Early On! Our goal is to educate and empower parents on the importance of diversity and building an inclusive life.
PARENT CONFERENCE: LET'S TALK DISABILITY AND INCLUSION IN EARLY CHILDHOOD AND BEYOND
SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 2023
9AM-4PM
LIVONIA, MICHIGAN
This in-person workshop features a keynote on Breaking Down Barriers to Inclusion with Dr. Jodell Heroux and breakout sessions on: Preschool, Ableism, Disability Pride, Parent Advocacy, Inclusion, and Life After Early On.
Parents of children aged 0-3 who have a disability or developmental delay are invited to apply to attend. Limited spaces available, apply by April 30. Parents who are selected to attend will receive a stipend for their participation.
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Supreme Court Rules for Deaf Student in Education Case from Michigan |
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The Supreme Court sided with a Michigan student who is deaf and who sought to sue his school for damages over profound lapses in his education. Experts say the case could give parents of students with disabilities more leverage as they negotiate for the education of their children.
Miguel Perez enrolled in the Sturgis Public School District at age 9 and brought home As and Bs on his report cards for more than a decade. Months before graduation, his parents learned that he would not receive a diploma and that aides the school assigned to him did not know sign language.
The legal question raised was not deciding whether the school district failed Perez. The Supreme Court was asked to decide whether he had the right to bring the claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act at all.
Now the case will go back to court in the Western District of Michigan to be decided. The legal team included Disability Rights Michigan, our state's Protection and Advocacy agency authorized by Federal and State law to advocate and protect the legal rights of people with disabilities in Michigan.
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Explore transition topics for youth with disabilities during our online Transition Series on Tuesdays in May at noon. Attend all or just the ones that interest you the most.
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ESY refers to special education and/or related services that is provided to students with disabilities beyond the normal academic year. The IEP Team considers the need for ESY every year for every student and must use data to support the decision making. This new document explains ESY services and how to determine whether they are needed, and includes a worksheet to assist IEP Teams.
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Paving the Way to Self Determination |
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April 11 - Understanding Social Security Benefits
April 13 - Learning about MiAble Accounts
April 20 - Rise Up - Disabiity History, Pride & Allyship
April 26 - Building Resilience
This free program focuses on concepts that will introduce children with disabilities (ages birth – 12) and their families to the empowerment that leads to living an independent and self-directed life.
Presented in partnership with Disability Network Southwest Michigan, Paving the Way to Self Determination offers an opportunity for families to reframe their mindset about disability. Rather than see disability as something negative or limiting, Paving the Way to Self Determination helps parents and their children to think of disability as a form of diversity.
Let’s raise the bar of expectations so our children can
look forward to a brighter future – one of their choosing!
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Upcoming Michigan Alliance for Families Events |
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April 10, 17, 24 & May 1 Building Parent Leadership Skills in Early Childhood – a leadership development opportunity for families with a child with a disability under age 8.
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Registration is open for the annual START Conference, to be held on May 1 in Lansing. The focus of this year's conference is inclusion and belonging.
The START Project offers a Family scholarship to Michigan family members of a child with a disability, to cover the cost of registration for the START Conference.
To be considered for this scholarship, please complete and submit the application available on their website.
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Michigan Parent, Advocate and Attorney Coalition (MiPAAC) is asking for parent participation in a survey to share your experience with special education services and supports for yourself and your child(ren).
Your input will inform the group's advocacy efforts to help make improvements to access and opportunities for students with disabilities.
Survey closes April 28
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In 2015-16, less than half of Michigan third graders got a passing score (called proficient) on the reading portion of M-Step.
To help more students be proficient by the end of third grade, the “Read by Grade Three” law required extra support for K-3 students who are not reading at grade level. Every district now has an early literacy coach.
The original law also stated that a child may be retained if they are behind in reading at the end of third grade.
Recent changes to the law means students will not be held back if they receive a low score. Instead, their parent will be provided information about intervention options. The student will receive reading intervention until they no longer have a reading deficiency.
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The guiding principle of IDEA is clear – children with disabilities are to be educated with nondisabled children to the maximum extent appropriate.
OSEP Director Valerie Williams is seeking input from educators and parents with lived experience.
“I am interested in discussing and sharing what makes an inclusive setting meaningful for all. I am interested in increasing the success of students with disabilities in these settings. I want the field to think carefully about how we provide more than just physical access to a classroom, but meaningful access to the general education curriculum.”
Share input and thoughts on the topic by emailing the Office of Special Education Programs at [email protected]
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Michigan Department of Education has issed Guidance on Determination of Eligibility for Michigan Mandatory Special Education (MMSE). This provides guidance for the determination of eligibility for infants and toddlers, ages birth to three, who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH). |
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Meaningful self-advocacy happens in the communities where people with developmental disabilities live, work, and play.
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Have a special education question?
Ask us! 1-800-552-4821
En Español 313-217-1060
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Michigan Alliance for Families is our state's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center. We are a Michigan Department of Education IDEA Grant Funded Initiative. The efforts of Michigan Alliance for Families align with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to help improve results for children with disabilities. Michigan Alliance for Families can assist you in knowing your rights, effectively communicating your child's needs, and advising how to help your child develop and learn.
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