Education
Resource Hub
Navigating the education system for a child with a disability, chronic illness, or complex healthcare needs can be challenging. We are grateful to our partnering agencies that specialize in this type of support to families.
As Tennessee’s Parent Training and Information Center, they are dedicated to supporting families of children and youth with disabilities who are navigating special education services and youth who are transitioning from high school into adulthood. They provide accurate, timely, and relevant information and training related to special education rights, equal access to quality education, and connections to community resources.
- Recommended Resources (available in English/Spanish):
- A Parent’s Introduction to Special Education: Training on Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
- Preparing for Effective Participation in IEP Planning
- Difference between IEPs and 504 plans
- Examples of Modifications and Accommodations
- Supporting Dual Language Families: Overview of Services
- Transition Resources (available in English/Spanish)
The mission of TransitionTN is to ensure that students with disabilities have access to opportunities, instruction, supports, and services to elevate their in-school and post-school outcomes. Some of our work includes:
- Free training and resources for educators, Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) providers, and other transition stakeholders
- Assessment and Curriculum Databases
- Instructional guides for Pre-ETS
- Access to live and recorded webcasts and other virtual events
- Information about outside agencies
- Practical tip sheets and resources for families
- Monthly newsletter
Explore their website here: https://transitiontn.org/family-resources/
Family Engagement in Special Education – Tennessee
Family Engagement in Special Education is a collaborative project of The Arc Tennessee and the Tennessee Department of Education.
This group consists of eleven individuals with background experiences as educators, mental health professionals, parents, caregivers of individuals with disabilities, and disability-related fields. The family engagement team members can provide the knowledge and support from an educator and parent perspective.
You can find more resources here: https://familyengagementtn.com/resources-for-parents/
Resource Guide for Exceptional Education Caregivers in Tennessee
This resource guide was created to provide caregiver guidance when planning for exceptional education needs and success within the school system and when transitioning out of the school system into post-secondary education or independent living.
This guide was created by the collaboration of the following individuals following the completion of their eight-month Partners in Policymaking course through the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities:
Kristie Kirby (Putnam County), Lindsey Lind (Hamilton County), Mandeep Kaur (Madison County), and their mentors Elise McMillan (Davidson County) & Amy Smith (Rutherford County). Any questions, concerns, or comments can be sent to: TNexedresourceguide@gmail.com
Download the Resource Guide here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1emS79j2pGhSRzMLyGEnFiAqoA8lKYS5V/view