Resources
Watertown Resources
Check out this great Watertown Community resource guide for families of children with disabilities, created by Megan Olowinski, a WPS Speech therapist working towards a special education administrative degree.
When making this guide for a class project, Megan contacted the Watertown SEPAC to get our input on what types of resources families need. We told her many Watertown families need resources for home and community safety.
We were thrilled to see that the resource guide starts with links to various safety products and services to help keep your loved one safe.
Parent's Notice of Procedural Safeguards
https://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/prb/
English and Translated Versions available
The Parent's Rights Brochure details the rights of the parent's when their child has been referred for or is receiving special education services. The procedural safeguards described protect parents' right to participation in the IEP process.
A Parents Guide to the IEP
The Federation for Children with Special Needs (FCSN), in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Education (DOE), put together "A Parent’s Guide to Special Education".
The Guide is available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese
The DOE has also created a user-friend interactive module of the Guide
Advocacy Organizations
DESE has a complied a great list of State and Federal Disability Rights organizations and resources:
Find it here: https://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/links/Advocacy.html
A Parent's Guide to Selecting A Special Education Advocate in Massachusetts
Written collaboratively by the Federation for Children with Special Needs and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, "A Parent's Guide to Selecting A Special Education Advocate in Massachusetts" was developed to assist parents in choosing an advocate in the Special Education process when needed.
Find it here: https://fcsn.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/08/Selecting-an-Advocate-English.pdf
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law ensuring services to children with disabilities throughout the nation. IDEA governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education and related services to more than 6.5 million eligible infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities.
Infants and toddlers with disabilities (birth-2) and their families receive early intervention services under IDEA Part C. Children and youth (ages 3-21) receive special education and related services under IDEA Part B.
The IDEA Website has lots of great information and resources!