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.
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.
Understanding the Special Education Process
See the materials below to help families and educators better understand special education process.
| Universal Support Material | Suggested time for Distribution | Link to Order Document |
| FEP Brochure |
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FEP Brochure |
| Procedural Safeguards Part B Bookmark |
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| Early ACCESS Procedural Safeguards Bookmark |
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Bookmark For Early ACCESS |
| Planning for Your Child's IEP Meeting |
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Planning Your Child’s IEP Meeting |
| Special Education: Child Find Process |
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Special Education: Child Find Document |
Graduation Guidance for Families
Click here to view the full document.
Graduation Guidance for IEP Teams
Click here to view the full document.
Stomp Out Stigma - October 14
Iowa Department of Education seeks public input on use of
seclusion and restraint in schools
DES MOINES -- The Iowa Department of Education today announced six meetings to gather public input on proposed revisions
to rules regarding the appropriate use of seclusion and restraint in schools. The meetings run Sept. 24 through Oct. 3.
Proposed revisions to Iowa Administrative Code chapter 281-103 (“Chapter 103”) were voted down by the State Board of Education in
August so that more feedback can be collected on some parts of the proposed rules, including seclusion room requirements, parent
notification, and the term “serious physical injury.” (Please see 281-103.7(1), 281-103.7(2), and 281-103.8 of the proposed rules.)
Department leaders will facilitate the statewide meetings, make further revisions to the proposed rules based on feedback, and will take
revisions back to the State Board of Education in November.
The public input meetings will run from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Dates and locations are as follows. For more information about the meetings,
contact tana.mullen@iowa.gov.
Written comments about the rules may be emailed to nicole.proesch@iowa.gov.
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Tuesday, September 24 |
Wednesday, September 25 |
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Thursday, September 26 |
Tuesday, October 1 |
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Wednesday, October 2 |
Thursday, October 3 |
Free Online Learning Opportunities
Families and Educators
For free online 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.
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
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A link to our housing and community living portal can be found at https://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/housing-and-community-living
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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
Parent Support Groups/Classes
- Ft. Madison/Keokuk Salute to Parents of ASD and Non-Typical Individuals
- Mt. Pleasant - Our Special Kids
- Oskaloosa - Families of Autism
- Ottumwa - Rocking the Spectrum
Related Links
- Autism Society or 1-800-3-AUTISM
- CHADD: The National Resource on ADHD
- Department of Education
- Disability Rights Iowa
- Easter Seals Iowa
- Epilepsy Foundation of Iowa
- Information and Referral Search, 2-1-1 help with food, housing, employment, health care, counseling, etc.
- Iowa Compass Disability Resources Database
- Iowa Family Support Network
- NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness
- National Tourette Syndrome Association
- Office of Civil Rights
- Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)
- Parent Guide to Section 504 from the Iowa Department of Education
- Parent Training and Information/ASK Resource Center
- Secondary Transition Website; Transition Iowa
- Understood: for learning & attention issues
- US Department of Education Publications
- Youth Advocate to Advocate
Related Documents
- Child Find Document for Special Education
- Education Terms/Definitions
- Family Resource Guide
- Graduation Information & Guidance for Families
- Graduation Information & Guidance for IEP Teams
- IA Family & Educator Partnership Brochure
- IA Family & Educator Partnership State Wide Repository
- IFSP vs. IEP
- Impact of Home-School Partnerships
- Parents Guide to Transition Planning Brochure
- Parent Rights Summary
- Planning for Your Childs IEP Meeting
- Procedural Safeguards Bookmark for Part B Parents (Regions 1-4, Clarahan)
- Procedural Safeguards Bookmark for Part B Parents (Regions 5-7, Wallace)
- Procedural Safeguards Bookmark for Early ACCESS Parents
- Regional Coordinators of Disability Services-Full list of Contacts
- Special Education Discipline Guide
- Universal Tier Materials List and Suggested Use
- University of Iowa Transition Clinic
Newsletters
- 2019 March
- 2019 January
- 2018 November
- 2018 September
- 2018 March
- 2018 January
- 2017 December
- 2017 October
- 2017 March
- 2017 January
- 2016 September
- 2016 April
- 2016 February
- 2015 December
- 2015 October
Other Newsletters
- Each and Every Child, Iowa Department of Education
- Center Lines, Newsletter from the U of IA Center for Disabilities and Development
- Please Pass the Love, Empower school communities to embrace and sustain mental health and wellness supports for their students.
