This subsection houses resources organized by the ages at which they might be most helpful (and some appear in more than one category/age range). Feel free to use any at any time; this organization is based on how and when other families have utilized each specific resource you will find below!
General Support
This assessment determines what services your child is eligible for and helps you receive them! It is available to complete when your child is at any age but it is most helpful to complete this as early as possible for your child to start receiving adequate services.
Waivers (Website Link)
Waivers allow you to qualify for resources and support from the state which are not available under regular medical assistance.
Social Security Benefits (Supplemental Security Income/SSI)
The SSI is a monthly payment given to those with disabilities who are under 18 in order to assist with their care and support when deemed necessary. To learn more about if you qualify, visit the link above.
Advocacy Support: dhs.ssaadvocacy@state.mn.us (if you need assistance advocating for your child throughout the SSI process)
Education
PACER (Birth - 22)
PACER improves educational opportunities and enhances the quality of life for children and young adults with disabilities and their families. It houses resources for families of those with disabilities as well as general teachers and students as well, to promote inclusion. Visit the PACER website link above to learn more!
Northern Lights Special Education Cooperative
Northern Lights Special Education Cooperative provides comprehensive special education services within member districts for children and youth having significant learning needs due to disability or developmental delay. Visit their website (linked above) to learn more about the local services they provide.
Early Childhood Special Education (ESCE)
Birth-Age 6
This link leads you to Help Me Grow and early childhood screening services. These are some of the options you have when searching for Early Childhood Special Education in the area!
Help Me Grow provides resources for families to understand developmental milestones and learn if there are concerns. This helps families take the lead in seeking additional support or referring their child for a free, confidential, and comprehensive screening.
Medical
TEFRA [see TEFRA section in General (MN/Duluth) Resources Page] - Medical Assistance for those who do not qualify financially
Available until child is 19
SMRT [see SMRT section in General (MN/Duluth) Resources Page]
General Support
Social Security Benefits (Supplemental Security Income/SSI)
The SSI is a monthly payment given to those with disabilities who are under 18 in order to assist with their care and support when deemed necessary. To learn more about if you qualify, visit the link above.
Advocacy Support: dhs.ssaadvocacy@state.mn.us (if you need assistance advocating for your child throughout the SSI process)
The county can also help connect you to a social worker who assists you throughout the entire process of finding and receiving care for your child throughout their life.
Support Plan (Writing)
It is essential to write a support plan for your child based on their needs so they are in writing and documented. Your social/case worker assists with this.
Education
Early Childhood Special Education (ESCE)
Birth-Age 6
This link leads you to Help Me Grow and early childhood screening services. These are some of the options you have when searching for Early Childhood Special Education in the area!
Help Me Grow provides resources for families to understand developmental milestones and learn if there are concerns. This helps families take the lead in seeking additional support or referring their child for a free, confidential, and comprehensive screening.
PACER (Birth - 22)
PACER improves educational opportunities and enhances the quality of life for children and young adults with disabilities and their families. Visit the PACER website link above to learn more!
Northern Lights Special Education Cooperative
Northern Lights Special Education Cooperative provides comprehensive special education services within member districts for children and youth having significant learning needs due to disability or developmental delay. Visit their website (linked above) to learn more about the local services they provide.
Medical
TEFRA [see TEFRA section in General (MN/Duluth) Resources Page] - Medical Assistance for those who do not qualify financially
Available until child is 19
SMRT [see SMRT section in General (MN/Duluth) Resources Page]
Education/General Support
Social Security Benefits (Supplemental Security Income/SSI)
The SSI is a monthly payment given to those with disabilities who are under 18 in order to assist with their care and support when deemed necessary. To learn more about if you qualify, visit the link above.
Advocacy Support: dhs.ssaadvocacy@state.mn.us (if you need assistance advocating for your child throughout the SSI process)
PACER (Birth - 22)
PACER improves educational opportunities and enhances the quality of life for children and young adults with disabilities and their families. Visit the PACER website link above to learn more!
School Support (in IEP meetings, rights, involvement, etc.)
The Arc Northland provides support for students and families whose students are receiving Special Education Services or are on 504 plans. They provide advocacy in school meetings, help create/change within IEPs, and offer general support to the family and student. They can attend IEP meetings with you to assist or provide one-on-one assistance prior to meetings. Visit their Advocacy section of their website to learn more.
If you think or suspect your child's disability rights, or rights in general are being violated in a school setting, do not hesitate to bring it up. Here is a link to more detailed information on disability rights within education, based on the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
If the student attends a public school, you could file a complaint regarding the rights violation.
Social/Recreational
Northland Adaptive Recreation (Formerly Courage Kenny)
Northland Adaptive Recreation offers many adaptive activities for those with different disabilities. From adaptive skiing to sailing, there is an activity for your child to enjoy! Visit their link above to learn more.
Other social-style groups (for all ages) are held at UMD/CSS, etc. For example, there is a yoga class which meets every Wednesday evening during most of the school year at the CSS OT/PT/Speech building. Contact either of those schools to learn more about these opportunities!
Medical
TEFRA [see TEFRA section in General (MN/Duluth) Resources Page] - Medical Assistance for those who do not qualify financially
Available until child is 19
SMRT [see SMRT section in General (MN/Duluth) Resources Page]
General (+ Transition Age/Independence)
Jobs/Vocational Training
Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) exists to help teenagers with disabilities who want to get a job, and need to strengthen certain skills prior to getting a job. Their five activities/services are: Job Exploration Counseling, Career and Job Search Resources, Counseling on Postsecondary Education Options, Workplace Readiness Training, and Instruction in Self-Advocacy.
Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS)
These services help students discover:
Their strengths and interests
Career and postsecondary education possibilities
How to gain work skills and experiences
What they’ll need to make their plan happen!
and how all of this will relate to their future possible job. There are VRS workers assigned to every high school. Below are the VRS workers assigned to local schools and their contact information! (if you want to find a VRS worker at a school you don't see below, visit the VRS website linked above and they have a feature allowing you to find the VRS staff assigned to your school!)
East - Kenzie McKenzie (218-302-8431) kenzie.mckenzie@state.mn.us
Denfeld - Kenzie McKenzie (218-302-8431) kenzie.mckenzie@state.mn.us
Cloquet - Josephine Olson (612-269-7693) josephine.grabowski@state.mn.us
Proctor - Cindy Matheson (218-302-8420) cindy.matheson@state.mn.us
Hermantown - Amanda Nyquist (218-302-8423) amanda.nyquist@state.mn.us
Center for Excellence and Supported Decision Making
As your child grows, it can be helpful to assist them in becoming more independent (if possible/realistic), especially when it comes to making decisions for themselves (as they hopefully will in adulthood). Every person is different, but if you are interested in these opportunities, explore the Center for Excellence and Supported Decision Making (linked above)! This Center also assists in transferring guardianship as your child turns 18 and the many possibilities that are out there in terms of potential guardianship.
Transition Age Resources | The transition from school to adult life!
Access North "Planning for Adulthood" workbook
This may be helpful as your child begins to transition to adulthood and possibly having a job and living more independently. It goes through many crucial things to know before (and while) you help your child make this exciting transition!
The Special Education Transition Planning page on Access North's website does a great job of guiding you through this transition and providing a lot of good information surrounding the process.
Education
Graduating High school (!!!!)
Graduation is an exciting time! However, if your child wishes to remain in school after traditional graduation, Duluth Public Schools has programs for those with disabilities to continue schooling after they turn 18. They provide schooling for students with special needs until they are 21! Otherwise, if your student will graduate and leave school at 18, consider starting a vocational search (see information above) or joining other groups/activities if you haven't already to help get them more into the community.
PACER (Birth - 22)
PACER improves educational opportunities and enhances the quality of life for children and young adults with disabilities and their families. Visit the PACER website link above to learn more!
Other social-style groups (for all ages) are held at UMD/CSS, etc. For example, there is a yoga class which meets every Wednesday evening during most of the school year at the College of St. Scholastica OT/PT/Speech building. Contact either of those schools to learn more about these opportunities!
Medical
TEFRA [see TEFRA section in General (MN/Duluth) Resources Page] - Medical Assistance for those who do not qualify financially
Available until child is 19
SMRT [see SMRT section in General (MN/Duluth) Resources Page]
Social
Bridging Hearts is a non-profit dedicated to connecting young adults with learning differences in the Duluth/Twin Cities areas. They aim to provide and maintain a supportive community where everyone feels valued! This can be a great way to connect with others and meet new friends.
General/Transition Age Resources
Transition Age Resources | The transition from school to adult life!
Access North "Planning for Adulthood" workbook
This may be helpful as your child begins to transition to adulthood and possibly having a job and living more independently. It goes through many crucial things to know before (and while) you help your child make this exciting transition!
The Special Education Transition Planning page on Access North's website does a great job of guiding you through this transition and providing a lot of good information surrounding the process.
Independence
Independent Living
Access North Independent Living Services
Access North provides services for those who are beginning to transition to living independently. Visit the link to learn more on their plentiful resources on this matter!
Housing Link is a great resource to find subsidized and disability housing in existing apartments in the area. Visit the link, enter your zip code/city/state, and requirements for a living area and it will show you potential living arrangements in the city (mostly apartments). This is a great resource for those who require subsidized housing as it allows you to filter results to only include subsidized (as one example of many)!
Transportation
Public Transportation Assistance Application (from Access North)
Social
Bridging Hearts is a non-profit dedicated to connecting young adults with learning differences in the Duluth/Twin Cities areas. They aim to provide and maintain a supportive community where everyone feels valued! This can be a great way to connect with others and meet new friends.
Independence
Independent Living
Access North Independent Living Services
Access North provides services for those who are beginning to transition to living independently. Visit the link to learn more on their plentiful resources on this matter!
Housing Link is a great resource to find subsidized and disability housing in existing apartments in the area. Visit the link, enter your zip code/city/state, and requirements for a living area and it will show you potential living arrangements in the city (mostly apartments). This is a great resource for those who require subsidized housing as it allows you to filter results to only include subsidized (as one example of many)!
Transportation
Public Transportation Assistance Application (from Access North)
Care
Transitioning Care
As your child has transitioned into adulthood, and you are in turn getting older, it is important to start creating a "team" for them so they will continue to be cared for as time goes on. These could include PCAs, family members, or other friends/community members with whom you or your child may be close.
Social
Bridging Hearts is a non-profit dedicated to connecting young adults with learning differences in the Duluth/Twin Cities areas. They aim to provide and maintain a supportive community where everyone feels valued! This can be a great way to connect with others and meet new friends.
General Aging Support
In-Home Resources (aging in place)
You can make several changes to a home to make it more physically accessible as one ages. Examples of these changes include:
Adding hand rails and grab bars
Adding a home stair lift (helps lift you up your existing stairs)
Adding wheelchair ramps
Replacing an existing door with a wider one
Getting furniture that is high enough for a wheelchair or other physical need
This website directs you to many other helpful resources which may help you help a loved one as they age.
During the end of one's life, it may be helpful to find hospice opportunities to allow them to receive adequate support. Click the link above to learn more about the hospice resources Ecumen provides.
Home Instead Home Care Services
Home Care services can be immensely supportive in end-of-life care. Visit the Home Instead Home Care Services website above to learn more!
Sudden Loss Support | Carson's Village
