Michigan Alliance for Families:
Your free guide to special education.
Michigan Alliance for Families provides information, support, and education for families who have children (birth through 26 years of age) who receive (or may be eligible to receive) special education services. This website can help you with finding information on special education issues as well as disability specific information.
Answers about your child's special education program
Information about your child's disability
Hear from one of our Parent Mentors
Find a workshop near you
Need help navigating the special education system? Talk to a parent who's been there.
Connect directly with one of our local parent mentors to address your family's needs. Their perspective can not only help you navigate the system, but they can also help you be more involved in your child's education. All Michigan families are able to access an extensive collection of electronic or printed resources, informational support and referrals to local community resources. To get in touch with a Michigan Alliance for Families staff member, Contact Us.
News & Updates
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NOW HIRING
Now hiring a Parent Mentor for Bay, Arenac, and Saginaw counties. See job description for full details. Deadline extended to March 25,2019.
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IEP QUESTIONS?
- Do you have concerns about your child's IEP? Connect with our Parent Mentor in your part of the state for help.
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LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
- Don't miss a workshop near you! Sign up for regional event notifications today.
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RESOURCES
-Three important resources from Michigan Department of Education: Family Matters Fact Sheets, Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education, and Michigan Special Education Reference.
Five stories about the the struggle to get children needed mental health treatment from Michigan Radio last month.
They say their son needs to be in a psychiatric hospital. He went to jail instead.
www.michiganradio.org/post/they-say-their-son-needs-be-psychiatric-hospital-he-went-jail-instead
Study: More than 40,000 Michigan teens and kids don't get needed mental health treatment
www.michiganradio.org/post/study-more-40000-michigan-teens-and-kids-dont-get-needed-mental-health...
With a shortage of psychiatrists, MI pediatricians take lead in mental health care for kids
www.michiganradio.org/post/shortage-psychiatrists-mi-pediatricians-take-lead-mental-health-care-kids
Class action lawsuit argues state isn’t doing enough to help children with mental health issues
www.michiganradio.org/post/class-action-lawsuit-argues-state-isn-t-doing-enough-help-children-men...
To find help for her disabled daughter, Michigan mother had to leave the state
www.michiganradio.org/post/find-help-her-disabled-daughter-michigan-mother-had-leave-state
Earlier this month, the State Board of Education approved a Resolution on Dignity in Schools. Reaffirming the Board's commitment to helping school districts enact policies that improve school climate, safety, and do not have a disparate impact on students based on their race, sex, LGBTQ status, disability status, or age; and eliminating the use of ineffective exclusionary discipline and increasing equity for all students.
You can read the resolution here:
www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/Resolution_on_Dignity_in_Schools_final_649233_7.pdf
michigan.gov
We'll be in Flint on April 3 for a Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports workshop. RSVP today to save your spot.
• What is a Functional Behavior Analysis (FBA) and how to request one
• How a FBA leads to the development of a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP)
• Making sure the BIP utilizes PBIS
• What to do if the BIP isn’t working
Full details, more events, and online registration at www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org/upcoming-events
On World Down Syndrome Day, sharing this newer resource in Detroit, GiGi's Playhouse Detroit www.fox2detroit.com/news/local-news/gigi-s-playhouse-detroit-opens-for-people-with-down-syndrome
Gigi's Playhouse Detroit opens for people with Down syndrome
fox2detroit.com
Today is World Down Syndrome Day. Did you know: March 21 is chosen because the genetic condition causing the extra chromosome in Down Syndrome is trisomy 21 (3/21).
www.today.com/series/things-i-wish-i-knew/down-syndrome-stories-21-things-parents-wish-they-knew-...
With love, acceptance, and support, the possibilities are endless.
Funding Statement
Michigan Alliance for Families is a Michigan Department of Education IDEA Grant Funded Initiative. Michigan Alliance for Families is our state's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center. The contents of this website were developed under a grant from the US Department of Education, #H328M150066. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the US Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. Project Officer, David Emenheiser.