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    Michigan Alliance for Families:

    Your free guide to special education.

    Michigan Alliance for Families provides information, support, and education for families who have children and young adults (birth to 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.

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Special Education Resources

Answers about your child's special education program

Disability Information

Information about your child's disability

Support

Hear from one of our Parent Mentors

Upcoming Events

Find an online workshop or view a recording

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

  • IEP ATTENDANCE 

    Everyone who attends the IEP is important and has a role. This IEP roles guidance supports equitable, student-centered decision-making and fosters strong partnerships, helping every student thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

  • NEWSLETTER NOTIFICATIONS

    Keep in touch with Michigan Alliance for Families! Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter and event notifications for updates delivered to your inbox. 

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Michigan Alliance for Families

4 hours ago

Michigan Alliance for Families
Notice is an explanation provided when the district wants to take an action, or when the district refuses to take the action. Sometimes called Notice, PWN is a legal requirement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Notice provides the reason that the district is proposing or refusing an activity, keeping parents informed. Notice includes information on procedural safeguards and resources for getting assistance in understanding your rights.Notice must include✔️Description of what the school is proposing to do✔️Why the school district is proposing or refusing to take that action✔️The assessments and reports the used to decide the action✔️Other choices considered by the IEP Team and the why those choices were not selected✔️Any other factors relevant to the district’s decisionParents need to understand the important words that impact their child's special education services. Follow this page as we help decode this alphabet soup. Reach out to your Regional Parent Mentor for more support crafting your parent input statement.Learn more about the PWN and other special education matters on our website www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org/notice ... See MoreSee Less

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Michigan Alliance for Families

21 hours ago

Michigan Alliance for Families
New learning this summer with a new webinar on determining eligibility for special education services.IEP EligibilityJuly 14 @ 5PMRegister at tinyurl.com/3kcs97e3 If you suspect a disability is impacting your child's learning, behavior, or social-emotional growth, please come.If your child already receives special education programs and services and you want to better understand eligibility categories and criteria, please come.We will explore:❔the difference between medical diagnosis and IEP eligibility❔importance of "educational impact"❔criteria for the 13 eligibility categories❔evaluation and eligibility resources💻See the whole lineup of July webinars at www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org/upcoming-events/ ... See MoreSee Less

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Michigan Alliance for Families

3 days ago

Michigan Alliance for Families
Summer means managing behavior needs and expectations at home. Positive words can clearly and simply tell the child what to do instead of focusing on what not to do. ... See MoreSee Less

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Michigan Alliance for Families

4 days ago

Michigan Alliance for Families
In 2025 Michigan Alliance for Families hosted our first Youth Summit to guide young adults in finding and using their voices to shape their futures.🗓️Thursdays in July (July 9, 16, 23, & 30) a new interactive, four-week online Youth Self-Determination Course: Preparing for Work!This isn't just a webinar—it’s an interactive, student-focused space where young adults can come ready to share, learn, and practice real self-determination skills.👉 Learn more and save your spot today: tinyurl.com/ysdwork🖥️More Young Adult Resources at www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org/transition-to-adulthood/ ... See MoreSee Less

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Michigan Alliance for Families

4 days ago

Michigan Alliance for Families
As our kids, teens, and young adults try new things and work towards goals, mistakes will happen! It means you're trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, doing things you've never done before.🤔 Have you heard the term "dignity of risk?"💡 That's the idea that every person, including those with a disability, has the right to make informed choices and take reasonable risk to learn and grow, and be independent. By practicing little decisions every day, our children with disabilities can become adults who are confident in big decisions. 📚https://www.mhddcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Self-Determination-Dignity-of-Risk-Fact-Sheet.pdf ... See MoreSee Less

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IDEAs that Work

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, H328M200015. 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, Anna Macedonia.

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