Special Ed FAQ

Special Education Frequently Asked Questions

PAVE www.wapave.org

What is an IEP?

An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a dynamic program written and tailored to the needs of a student with a disability, aged 3-21, in order to help them participate in and make progress in their education. Read this article to learn more about the IEP.

What do I do if the school will not evaluate my child for an IEP?

If the school refused to evaluate your child, request that they provide you with prior written notice of this decision. You may send a letter requesting an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) or pursue dispute resolution options under the procedural safeguards.

How do I know if my child has a developmental delay?

If you suspect that your child might have a developmental delay, you should talk with your child’s pediatrician. They may conduct a developmental screening.

Legislative Advocacy 101

Registration open for the Arc of WA’s Advocacy Days https://arcwa.org/advocacy/2024-advocacy-days/ 

Advocacy Days are held virtually (via Zoom) during each legislative session to involve individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD), their families, and their service providers in the legislative process. 

Legislative Notebook https://arcwa.org/advocacy/2024-legislative-session-notebook/

Each year before legislative session, The Arc of Washington State, the Developmental Disability Council, and the Community Advocacy Coalition collect information from disability advocates, providers, families, and community members, and compile it into a Legislative Notebook for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). The Notebook is available on the Arc of WA website

Action Alerts https://arcwa.org/action-center/ 

Sign up with the Arc of WA to receive Action Alert emails or text messages when legislators need to hear your voice on specific budget or policy issues. Make a difference! 

Washington State Legislature www.leg.wa.gov 

Find your legislators, contact them via email, connect with them during session, find information on bills that have been filed, and sign up to testify or note your position on a bill.

Kittitas County Parent Coalition http://kc-parentcoalition.blogspot.com/

Contact Michelle Williams kittitascountyparent2parent@gmail.com to learn about statewide advocacy.

DDA GovDelivery

Visit https://www.dshs.wa.gov/dda/dda-messages and sign up to receive timely messages and updates from DSHS and the Developmental Disabilities Administration

IEP Advocacy

Learning Advocacy in Special Education

Article by: Rachel Nemhauser, The Arc of King County

This article from the Informing Families Fall newsletter covers tips on advocating for your child in special education along with resources for families to learn more about special education. Read the full article at the link below.

https://informingfamilies.org/a-guide-to-learning-advocacy-in-special-education/