Episode 136 Resources: Advocating for Your Child and Disability Rights at School

Release Date: Wednesday – December 4, 2024
Archive, Bios, Description, Transcripts for Episode 136: Back to School – The Rights of Children with Disabilities
Guest: Sally Miracle, Special Education Consultant
Moderator & Host: Barry Whaley, Project Director at the Southeast ADA Center

Contents

• Disability Rights Laws in K-12 Education
• Education Rights Advocacy Resources
• ADA Live! Podcasts and Resources on Educational Rights of Children with Disabilities
• File a Complaint with the U.S. Department of Education
• More Resources for Families and Educators
• Mental Health Resources for Families and Educators
• Selected Mental Health Apps

Disability Rights Laws in K-12 Education

• Fact Sheet: Disability Rights Laws in Public Primary and Secondary Education: How Do They Relate? | En Espanol (Spanish)
  Source: ADA National Network (ADANN)
  English: adata.org/factsheet/disability-rights-laws-public-primary-and-secondary-education-how-do-they-relate
  Spanish: adata.org/k-12-esp
• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
  Source: U.S. Department of Education
  Link: sites.ed.gov/idea
• Understanding IDEA
  Resources are also available in Spanish.
  Source: Parent Center
  Link: parentcenterhub.org/idea
• Wrightslaw Resources on Special Education Law
  Information and resources on special education law and advocacy for children with disabilities.
  Source: Wrightslaw
  Link: wrightslaw.com
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973: What You Need to Know
  Source: Understood
  Link: understood.org/en/school-learning/your-childs-rights/basics-about-childs-rights/section-504-of-the-rehabilitation-act-of-1973-what-you-need-to-know
• The Difference Between Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and 504 Plans
  Source: Understood
  Link: understood.org/en/school-learning/special-services/504-plan/the-difference-between-ieps-and-504-plans

Education Rights Advocacy Resources

• Find the Protection and Advocacy (P&A) program in your state
  Every U.S. state and territory has a Protection and Advocacy (P&A) System and Client Assistance Program (CAP) for people with disabilities. There is also a P&A serving the Native American population in the four corners region.
  Source: National Disability Rights Network (NDRN)
  Link: ndrn.org/about/ndrn-member-agencies
• State Protection & Advocacy Systems Information and Resources
  Source: Administration for Community Living (ACL)
  Link: acl.gov/programs/aging-and-disability-networks/state-protection-advocacy-systems
• Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities
  Search for an attorney, advocate, tutor, or therapist in your state.
  Source: Wrightslaw
  Link: yellowpagesforkids.com
• Key Definitions in IDEA | A Reference List [PDF]
  Includes information in Spanish.
  Source: Parent Center
  Link: parentcenterhub.org/wp-content/uploads/repo_items/brief-fape-reference-list.pdf
• Glossary of Terms Common to Special Education and IDEA
  Produced for the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP).
  Available in English to Spanish and English to Korean.
  Source: Center for Parent Information and Resources
  Link: parentcenterhub.org

ADA Live! Podcasts and Resources on Educational Rights of Children with Disabilities

You can access all ADA Live! episodes with archived audio, accessible transcripts, and resources at ADAlive.org. Listen on the SoundCloud ADA Live! channel at soundcloud.com/adalive. Most episode transcripts are also available in Spanish. (Transcripciones de los episodios en español.) at ADAlive.org

• Episode 113: Stories of Parenting with a Disability | Episode 113 Resources
  Released on January 4, 2023.
  Podcast: adalive.org/episodes/episode-113/
  Resources: adalive.org/resources/episode-113-resources/
• Episode 100: Show Them How Smart You Are: Self-Advocacy, Parenting, and Autism | Episode 100 Resources
  Released on December 1, 2021.
  Podcast: adalive.org/episodes/episode-100/
  Resources: adalive.org/resources/episode-100-resources/
• Episode 91: Protection and Advocacy Systems for People with Disabilities | Episode 91 Resources
  Released on March 3, 2021.
  Podcast: adalive.org/episodes/episode-91/
  Resources: adalive.org/resources/episode-91-resources/
• Episode 84: Back to School: Access for Students Receiving Special Education | Episode 84 Resources
  Released on August 5, 2020.
  Podcast: adalive.org/episodes/episode-84/
  Resources: adalive.org/resources/episode-84-resources/
• Episode 78: Living with a Disability: Four People Share their Stories | Episode 78 Resources
  Released on March 4, 2020.
  Podcast: adalive.org/episodes/episode-78/
  Resources: adalive.org/resources/episode-78-resources/
• Episode 75: Supported Decision-Making: From Justice for Jenny to Justice for All! | Episode 75 Resources
  Released on December 4, 2019.
  Podcast: adalive.org/episodes/episode-75
  Resources: adalive.org/resources/episode-75-resources
• Episode 60: Supported Decision-Making (SDM) and Conservatorship
  Released on September 5, 2018. No resources available for this episode.
  Podcast: adalive.org/episodes/episode-60
  Resources: none
• Episode 24: The School Year Has Started – And It’s Not Going Well. What Can I Do?
  Released on September 2, 2015. No resources available for this episode.
  Podcast: adalive.org/episodes/episode-24
  Resources: none
• Episode 23: Back to School—What Parents Need to Know Before the School Year Begins
  Released on August 5, 2015. No resources available for this episode.
  Podcast: adalive.org/episodes/episode-23
  Resources: none

File a Complaint with the U.S. Department of Education

• U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights (OCR)
  Phone: 800-421-3481
  Email: OCR@ed.gov
  Link: ocrcas.ed.gov/contact-ocr
• Office for Civil Rights Discrimination Complaint Form
  Link: ocrcas.ed.gov/office-for-civil-rights-discrimination-complaint-form
• Find Civil Rights/Section 504 Coordinators for Public School Districts
  Link: ocrcas.ed.gov/civ-rts-coordinators
• Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
  This law provides certain rights for parents regarding their children’s education records.
  Link: studentprivacy.ed.gov/ferpa
• An Eligible Student Guide to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) [PDF]
  Link: studentprivacy.ed.gov/sites/default/files/resource_document/file/An%20Eligible%20Student%20Guide%20to%20FERPA_0.pdf

More Resources for Families and Educators

• Getting Ready for a New School Year
  Source: Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF)
  Link: mailchi.mp/dredf/special-edition-april-2025
• PACER Center
  Information and resources (available in several languages) for families, parents and professionals who advocate for a free and appropriate public education for children and young adults with disabilities.
  Link: pacer.org
  • Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team Meeting Planner [PDF]
    Link: pacer.org/parent/php/PHP-c184.pdf
  • Individualized Education Program (IEP) Meeting Checklist for Parents [PDF]
    Link: pacer.org/parent/php/PHP-c183.pdf
  • Individualized Education Program (IEP) Meeting Checklist for Students [PDF]
    Link: pacer.org/parent/php/PHP-c268.pdf
• Find Your Local Parent Center
  There are nearly 100 Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs) and Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs) that serve families of children with disabilities in the U.S. and its territories.
  Source: Parent Center
  Link: parentcenterhub.org/find-your-center
• Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF)
  The California Parent Training and Information (PTI) project has useful resources about the educational rights of children with disabilities, including sample letters, webinars and a newsletter.
  Link: dredf.org/vertical/pti
• The Importance of Parent and Student Involvement in Special Education
  Source: Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF)
  Link: mailchi.mp/dredf/the-importance-of-parent-and-student-involvement-in-special-education?e=8856697d6f
• Family Voices
  This nationwide network supports families and friends of children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) and disabilities. Many resources are available in Spanish.
  Link: familyvoices.org
• Family to Family Health Information Centers (F2Fs)
  Link: familyvoices.org/lfpp/f2fs
• Find a Family-to-Family Health Information Center (F2F) or Family Voices Affiliate Organization (FVAO)
  Find help throughout the U.S., including U.S. Territories and Tribal Communities.
  Link: familyvoices.org/affiliates
• ADHD and School: A Toolkit for Parents [PDF]
  Source: Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
  Link: d393uh8gb46l22.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/ADHD-School-Toolkit.pdf
• Information on Section 504 and ADA Obligations of Public Schools
  Source: National Association of the Deaf (NAD)
  Link: nad.org/resources/education/k-12-education/section-504-and-ada-obligations-of-public-schools
• Bill of Rights for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children
  Source: National Association of the Deaf (NAD)
  Link: nad.org/resources/education/bill-of-rights-for-deaf-and-hard-of-hearing-children
• Resources for Parents of Blind Children
  Source: National Federation of the Blind (NFB)
  Link: nfb.org/our-community/parents-blind-children
• Youth Mental Health First Aid Course
  This course teaches parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, health workers, and others how to help a youth (age 12-18) who has a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis.
  Source: Mental Health First Aid
  Link: mentalhealthfirstaid.org/population-focused-modules/youth
• National Resource Center for Supported Decision-Making
  Understand how older adults, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, family members, advocates, professionals and service providers can help each other make decisions in our daily lives.
  Source: Quality Trust
  Link: supporteddecisionmaking.org

Mental Health Resources for Families and Educators

• Help Lines and Support: Mental Health, Crisis
  Source: Southeast ADA Center
  Link: adasoutheast.org/resources/mental-health-helplines
• Helping Our Mental Health
  Source: Center for Parent Information and Resources
  Link: parentcenterhub.org/buzz-july2021-issue2
• Youth Mental Health First Aid Course
  This course teaches parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, health workers, and others how to help a youth (age 12-18) who has a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Available in Spanish.
  Source: Mental Health First Aid
  Link: mentalhealthfirstaid.org/population-focused-modules/youth
• Worried About Sending Your Kids Back to School?
  Source: Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA)
  Link: adaa.org/learn-from-us/from-the-experts/blog-posts/consumer/worried-about-sending-your-kids-back-school
• Selective Mutism: Basic Facts
  Source: Child Mind
  Link: childmind.org/guide/selective-mutism
• Recognizing Mental Health Problems in Children
  Source: Mental Health America (MHA)
  Link: mhanational.org/recognizing-mental-health-problems-children
• Talking to Adolescents and Teens: Time to Talk
  Source: Mental Health America (MHA)
  Link: mhanational.org/talking-adolescents-and-teens-time-talk
• Caring for Children: Before, During, and After an Emergency
  Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  Link: cdc.gov/disasters-and-children/before-during-after
• Get Help Resources: Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT)
  Source: Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT)
  Link: abct.org/get-help

Selected Mental Health Apps

• Go Noodle
  Games, apps and more for kids, plus related content on YouTube.
  Link: gonoodle.com
• Go Noodle Flow & Steady
  Link: gonoodle.com/tags/PXodv2/flow-and-steady
• Go Zen
  Link: gozen.com
• Calm
  Link: calm.com