Parent Information Videos/Trainings
Tips and Tools for Talking with School Staff
This webinar recording provides parents of special education students practical tips and interactive problem-solving experiences to build the skills necessary to communicate effectively with school staff and resolve differences. After watching the webinar, please complete a related survey.
Special Education: What Do Parents Need to Know
Special Education: What Do Parents Need to Know
A audio/video overview of special education created to help parents of children with disabilities understand what special education is, how a child might get into special education, how to resolve disagreements, and what role parents play. Developed by PACER Center, it is funded in part by a grant from the Minnesota Department of Education.
Special Education: What Do Parents Need to Know | Spanish version
An overview of special education created to help parents of children with disabilities understand what special education is, how a child might get into special education, how to resolve disagreements, and what role parents play. Developed by PACER Center, it is funded in part by a grant from the Minnesota Department of Education.
Please complete a short survey after watching this overview.
Special Education: What Do Parents Need to Know | Hmong version
An overview of special education created to help parents of children with disabilities understand what special education is, how a child might get into special education, how to resolve disagreements, and what role parents play. Developed by PACER Center, it is funded in part by a grant from the Minnesota Department of Education.
Special Education: What Do Parents Need to Know | Somali version
An overview of special education created to help parents of children with disabilities understand what special education is, how a child might get into special education, how to resolve disagreements, and what role parents play. Developed by PACER Center, it is funded in part by a grant from the Minnesota Department of Education.
Special Education: What Do Parents Need to Know | ASL version
An overview of special education created to help parents of children with disabilities understand what special education is, how a child might get into special education, how to resolve disagreements, and what role parents play. Developed by PACER Center, it is funded in part by a grant from the Minnesota Department of Education.
At The Table
Help! I’m Going to My First IEP Meeting
Your child has been evaluated and found eligible for special education. Now you will be attending your first Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting. This short presentation will help you prepare and build your confidence. It’s a step-by-process — you will learn more and more as you move through special education with your child.
Preparing for Your First Evaluation Planning Meeting for Your Child
The first step in the process of special education is the identification or recognition that a child may be in need of special education services. The next step is planning for the evaluation which will determine if the child qualifies for special education. This webinar will help parents prepare to work with the school to develop an evaluation for the child.
After watching the video, please complete this survey.
At the Table: Receiving the Results of Your Child’s Special Education Evaluation
We’re “at the special education planning table” again. This short video presentation will help you prepare for your meeting with the school to discuss the results of your child’s special education evaluation.
Parent Homework Sheet
PACER parent advocates have developed a tool called the Parent Homework Sheet. We developed it to help parents of children with disabilities understand how the needs of the student as stated in the special education evaluation report connect with the goals and support in the student’s IEP (Individualized Education Program). Watching this series of short videos will help parents prepare to discuss their child’s special education services with the IEP team.
Part 1 - Parent Homework Sheet: Why Should Parents Use It?
Do you wish you could go to IEP meetings better prepared to understand and discuss your child’s special education needs? Do you wish you could understand your child’s Evaluation Report better? Do you think your child needs a particular service but don’t know how to ask for it effectively at an IEP meeting? This video will explain the PACER Parent Homework Sheet and how it may be helpful to you.
Part 2 - Parent Homework Sheet: How to Complete the Form.
The goal of this video is to help parents of special education students complete the Parent Homework Sheet.
Part 3 - Parent Homework Sheet: How to Use the Results.
You have a new tool to help you effectively participate and plan services to meet your child’s needs now and in the future. This video will help you put your hard work on the Parent Homework Sheet (PHS) to use.
Resources
Now, where did I put that? Keeping Special Education Records
Good record keeping is an essential part of the special education process. This presentation will help parents of children with disabilities understand: the importance of special education records, which records to keep, how to organize them, and how to use them.
“Leo’s Story: Empowered by Assistive Technology”
In this video Leo's mom discusses the important role of assistive technology in helping Leo communicate.
