IEP Resources for Parents

Being brand new to special education and understanding the IEP processes can have a huge learning curve. There is lots of different lingo and laws surrounding special education. Having a good understanding of special education law and the IEP will make navigating the process easier.

This post is dedicated to IEP resources for parents. That being said these are excellent resources for anyone who works in special education or is part of an IEP team.

IEP resources for parents

This post is sponsored by my friends at Vitalxchange to help get fabulous IEP resources to you!

IEP in Special Education

An IEP is an Individual Education Plan. Essentially, it lays out the program of special education instruction, supports and services kids need to make progress and succeed in school. An IEP is part of special education law, or the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

I’ve covered IEP resources for therapists in School Based Physical Therapy 101, which is part of the Pink Oatmeal freebie library.

This post is all about helping parents navigate special education and being part of the IEP team.

IEP Resources For Parents

If you are a parent of a child that has an IEP, there are resources out there to help you. If you are a teacher or therapist that are part of an IEP team, you can direct parents to these different resources for guidance on the IEP process.

Resource #1

SPECIAL EDUCATION TERMS

First things first, let’s talk about all the different terms that you hear when discussing an IEP and special education. When it comes to special education there are a lot of terms and jargon. This article does a great job of explaining these terms. There are lots of terms included in this article, you may not hear all of these terms.

Once you have the jargon down, it makes it easier to navigate all the resources out there for you.

Resource #2

US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IDEA WEBSITE

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law that makes available a free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities throughout the nation, and ensures special education and related services to those children. An IEP is part of special education law, or the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

The US Department of Education has an entire website with information with IDEA information and resources.

Resource #3

VITALXCHANGE

This is a really cool new platform that has a lot to offer. They have an entire section of their website dedicated to helping parents navigate special education and the IEP process.

I really love that you have the option to have a one-on-one consult with a professional (VitalGuide) to ask your questions and get information from people who have hands on experience in the area of special education and IEPs.

Vitalxchange is a tech-enabled managed services marketplace platform. The platform (both web and mobile) is an expert system that uses proprietary technology to match parents with suitable VitalGuides – highly experienced parent mentors and special needs providers to serve as care navigators and coaches. 

The video below shows you how to navigate this part of the website and get the information you set up with your VitalGuide today.

My friends at Vitalxchange are even offering a coupon for Pink Oatmeal readers.

Use the code EDUC8PINK to get 50% off a session!

Resource #4

Pacer Center

Based out of the great state of Minnesota, this website and organization provide a wealth of information and resources for parents. They provide workshops, have live streams, access to support groups and more. This is a website definitely worth checking out. There are lots of great resources, but some stuff is specific to Minnesota, which brings me to the next resource.

Resource #5

Your States Website

Since different states operate slightly different it is important to understand laws specific to your state. Many states will have resources for parents of their state. A Google search similar to “Colorado Special Education” (insert your states name where Colorado is) should get you to information specific to your state. Many of the states websites have resources for parents of that state.

Resource #5

This resource is a 2 part resource to understand on IEP’s and 504 plans differ. The next part breaks down the laws that govern a IEP (IDEA) and 504 Plan (Section 504).

Difference Between IEP’s and 504 Plans

This article has a nice chart that compares IEP’s and 504 plans.

IDEA vs Section of 504

This article does an excellent job of breaking down the two different laws that govern IEP’s (IDEA) and 504 Plans (Section 504)

VITALXCHANGE

I mentioned Vitalxchange above as an amazing IEP resource for parents. You need to check it out!

Vitalxchange understands that caring for a child with a disability or special needs is a life long parenting journey, full of ups and downs.   Today, each American family coordinates a fragmented care landscape of 5+ resources between the public schools and healthcare system.  Caregivers are 3X at risk for behavioral health and chronic diseases.  Over 45% of caregivers leave the workforce and the rest need workplace accommodations. 

Vitalxchange is reimagining special needs caregiver support through its tech-enabled managed services marketplace platform for a wide range of conditions from Autism to Learning Disability.   The platform (both web and mobile) is an expert system that uses proprietary technology to match parents with suitable VitalGuides – highly experienced parent mentors and special needs providers to serve as care navigators and coaches.  The VitalGuides provide parents with one-on-one support, do-it-yourself solutions and recommend personalized resources on and off platform.  They enable parents to play a key role in their child’s development and growth.

This post is sponsored by my friends at Vitalxchange to help get fabulous IEP resources to you!

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