About Michigan Alliance

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Michigan Alliance for Families and Michigan Alliance - PTI provide information, support, and education to families of children and young adults with disabilities from birth to age 26. Michigan Alliance connects families to resources in their own community. In established geographic areas, the groups also help facilitate parent involvement as a means of improving services and results for children with disabilities. The efforts of Michigan Alliance align with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to help improve results for children with disabilities. Michigan Alliance can assist you in knowing your rights, effectively communicating your child’s needs, and advising how to help your child develop and learn.

Call (800) 552-4821

Individuals who call the toll-free number seeking information are connected to:

• the Parent Mentor in their area
  or, if there is not an office in the area, to

• the Parent Consultant & Information Specialist from one of the Michigan Alliance I & R offices – Tri-County or Ann Arbor – which is covering their area.

Each Michigan Alliance staff member is:

• a parent of an individual with disabilities who has first-hand experience with all aspects of the educational system.

• trained in listening, communicating, and problem-solving skills.

Information and Referrals

Michigan Alliance offers comprehensive information and referrals on all disability and education issues involving children and young adults from birth to age 26.

Services include:

• one-on-one support,

• online and/or printed resource information,

• referrals to the appropriate community resources.

Mentoring
Michigan Alliance provides a Parent Mentor with expertise in disability and educational issues at each geographic site.

Parent Mentors:

• are knowledgeable about community resources, including organizations, professionals, and other parents who might be of assistance,

• connect families with the resources they need,

• provide information and assistance, and

• mentor parents as requested.

• support existing and emerging parent leaders involved with Local Interagency Coordinating Councils (LICCs), Parent Advisory Committees (PACs), the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC), the Statewide Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC), and other groups.

Leadership Mentoring:
Each Parent Mentor helps create a learning community through a series of leadership mentoring activities over several months. The Leadership Mentoring Modules, based upon nationally recognized standards, include:

• School governance.

• Advisory groups: roles and expectations.

• Communication skills.

• Problem solving/negotiation skills.

• Tools for change.

Training
Learning opportunities for parents are provided:

• statewide in collaboration with other statewide organizations.

• locally as determined by Parent Mentors and families in the area.

The learning opportunities include:

• Individualized education programs (IEPs).

• Individualized family service plans (IFSPs).

• Mediation and facilitated IEPs.

• Overview of IDEA.

• Transitions.

• Positive behavioral supports.

• Assistive technology.

• Parent/professional collaboration.

• Rights and responsibilities.

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A Mandated Activities Project of the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Special Education

and Early Intervention Services administered by The Arc Michigan.

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© 2007-2010 Michigan Alliance for Families. Site designed by Jackie D. Igafo-Te'o.