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Iowa Family & Educator Partnership

Iowa Family & Educator Partnership/FEP works to develop and sustain effective partnerships between families, educators, and community providers to promote the success for all children and youth with disabilities.

FEP coordinators work with parents, educators, and local school districts to provide FEP programs, services, and activities; they are also parents of children or young adults with special needs. Please call your coordinator for more information about what the FEP can do for you.

Check out the new Child Find Document!

A great resource to help parents and educators understand the child find process.

Click here to view the full document.

LINKS TO REGISTER
Navigating the Transition Process
Planning Workshop for Educators and Families - Free 2-day workshop:
(Licensure Renewal & Participant Only) - https://bit.ly/2A8l8wS
(Graduate Credit) - https://bit.ly/2ExDWsC

Free On-line Learning Opportunities

For free on-line educational opportunities from the PACER Center
please visit http://www.pacer.org/workshops/

Just look for the live streaming symbol below, to find classes offered on the web.

Outreach Funding Opportunity for Families of Deaf or Hard of Hearing Children

Iowa families of young children who are deaf or hard of hearing (D/HH) are encouraged to apply for outreach activity funding offered through ASK Resource Center and the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program

This funding opportunity is an effort to connect Iowa families of children who are D/HH, ages 0-3. These funds will provide financial support to any community organization, group or individual with an idea of how to introduce and bring together young D/HH children and their families. The goal for these outreach activities is to create opportunities for families with young D/HHchildren to connect, socialize, share resources and build relationships.

You can submit your application by email karen@askresource.org using subject line: FAMILY SUPPORT APPLICATION, fax to 515-243-1902, or mail to ASK Resource Center attn: Karen Thompson, 5665 Greendale Road, Johnston, IA 50131.

Join a Discussion

Do you have a child who’s struggling to learn and want to discuss this with other parents or experts? Understood.org offers a secure place for parents to connect with other families of children with learning and attention issues. Click here to see the full list of discussion topics.

Children at Home

The Children at Home program is designed to assist you and your family in securing the services and supports that you identify as necessary in helping your child remain at home. An underlying principle of the Children at Home program is that you and your family retain control of decisions which affect your child and family. Financial assistance is intended to enable you to obtain those services and supports which are not met by other programs.

This program is designed to assist families raising a child with a disability in obtaining needed services and supports. The Family's intent must be to secure services and support that enable their child to remain in the family home.

“Services and support” help children with disabilities to remain at home, function more independently, and increase community inclusion. Services and support may include, but are not limited to, funding for:

Purchase of equipment, respite care, supplies, or assistive technology.
Payment of other costs that relate to the individual’s disability.

For more information, click here.

Transition Related Resources

Transition Toolkit

The Transition Toolkit provides valuable information on the transition to adulthood. Topics include, self-advocacy, independent living skills, legal matters, and many other important topics. The transition page includes state specific transition timelines and can be found at https://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/tool-kits/transition-tool-kit

Family members of adolescents and young adults with autism between the ages of 13 and 22 in the United States may request a complimentary hard copy of the Transition Tool Kit by filling out the Transition Tool Kit order form. Transition Tool Kit Hardcopy Request

For professionals, service providers, and family members of individuals with autism outside the U.S. and those who do not fall in the age range, we encourage you to download the kit free of charge. Transition Toolkit Download Form

A link to our housing and community living portal can be found at https://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/housing-and-community-living.
A pdf of the Housing and Residential Supports Toolkit can be found at https://www.autismspeaks.org/sites/default/files/housing_tool_kit_web2.pdf

In addition, we have a job portal for individuals with autism https://www.thespectrumcareers.com. It is a free site for employers, service providers and job seekers.

Pacer Center- Transitioning to Life After High School

Pacer Center is a great place for students or young adults with a disability, to explore options for their future. Pacer Center offers student led videos and other resources to help with decisions about life after high school in the areas of; living, learning, working, transportation, health, finances and recreation. For more information please visit https://www.pacer.org/students/transition-to-life/ .

Transition Documents

Community Resources

Sieda in Action

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Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP)

Share the Warmth Coat Drive

Festive Community and Family Events

Contacts

Annette Clarahan
Family & Educator Coordinator
641-682-8591 or 800-622-0027 Ext. 5517
annette.clarahan@gpaea.org

Districts Covered: Albia, Cardinal, Centerville , Chariton, Davis County, Eddyville-Blakesburg , Fairfield, Fremont, Keota, Maharishi, Moravia, Moulton - Udel, North Mahaska, Oskaloosa Christian, Oskaloosa, Ottumwa, Ottumwa Juvenile Shelter, Ottumwa Seton Catholic School, Pekin, Seymour, Sigourney, Tri County, Van Buren, Wayne.

Kelly Wallace
Family & Educator Coordinator
319-753-6561 or 800-382-8970 Ext. 3034
kelly.wallace@gpaea.org

Districts Covered: Burlington, Central Lee, Danville, Ft. Madison, Harmony, Keokuk, Mediapolis, Morning Sun, Mt. Pleasant, New London, Waco, Wapello, West Burlington, Winfield/Mt. Union.

Parent Support Groups/Classes

Newsletters

Each and Every Child, Iowa Department of Education

Center Lines, Newsletter from the U of IA Center for Disabilities and Development

Procedural Safeguards for Parents

Parents have rights, known as procedural safeguards, which apply to every aspect of the special education process. State and federal laws and regulations outline what needs to happen to ensure that children with identified disabilities and on an Individualized Education Program (IEP) receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE).

Iowa Family & Educator Partnership