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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

  • UPDATES AND EVENTS

    Know someone who might be interested in receiving our e-newsletter and event notifications? Share this link: https://tiny.one/MAFNews. 

  • NEW VIDEO

    Students with disabilities have options when it comes to post-secondary education! Check out our latest video College Planning with an IEP .

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Michigan Alliance for Families

2 hours ago

Michigan Alliance for Families
🕛October 22 at 12PM Assistive Technology: What It Is and Why It Matters with Alt+Shift Register at tinyurl.com/nc44tr92Assistive Technology (AT) enables people with disabilities to participate more fully in all aspects of their lives – at home, at school, and in their community. Parents play an important role when it comes to finding possible assistive technology solutions.Join us for a family-friendly session designed to demystify assistive technology. @altshifteducation joins us to explore what AT is, share examples across a range of tools, from no-tech strategies to high-tech devices, and discuss how AT supports learning and participation across all ages and stages.This webinar will discuss AT in the Individualized Education Program:- Help you understand what assistive technology is and how it can be used in everyday life- Provide examples of tools and strategies for children of different ages, from no-tech to high-tech- Share free and low-cost AT resources available to Michigan families through schools, lending libraries, and statewide programsAT: What It Is and Why It MattersOctober 22 @ 12PM tinyurl.com/nc44tr92January 12 @10AM tinyurl.com/bdm2xy95 April 5 @ 6:30PM tinyurl.com/2eu6ta6s Full details and complete list of upcoming webinars: www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org/upcoming-events/ ...

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Michigan Alliance for Families

15 hours ago

Michigan Alliance for Families
Our 20-year anniversary is a celebration of the people who make a difference every day—say hello to Katrina Moore-Wilson! Katrina is a valuable addition to the Information and Resource Office. Katrina is direct in her communication with families, talking through their options for possible next steps that are available. As a parent herself, she shares her lived experience with a son moving through early intervention, special education services, graduation, transition services, and now having a job and living independently. Katrina is proud to work for an organization that understands every child is unique and deserving of an individualized education that prepares them for further education, employment, and independent living.Throughout the year, get to know our team members who use their lived experience navigating special education to support families across Michigan every day as we celebrate twenty years of special education mentoring. #maf20years ...

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Michigan Alliance for Families

24 hours ago

Michigan Alliance for Families
When your young child is referred to Early On, you may have questions about what happens next, how long the process takes, and what decisions you'll be part of along the way.MiLEAP has created a new resource to help families understand the process, from referral to developing an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) and starting services. The graphic highlights important timelines and family rights.Available at www.michigan.gov/mileap/-/media/Project/Websites/mileap/Documents/Early-Childhood-Education/Early... Want to learn more about the IFSP and your role in the process? Michigan Alliance for Families has additional resources to help you feel informed and prepared:🔗Understanding the IFSP: www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org/ifsp/🔗IFSP Meetings: www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org/ifsp-meetings/Remember, you are an important member of your child's Early On team, and your voice matters! ...

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Michigan Alliance for Families

2 days ago

Michigan Alliance for Families
🕡October 20 @ 6:30PMFAPE in the LRERegister at tinyurl.com/5n6h4efuSpecial education is not a place - it is a set of supports. In Michigan, we start with knowing that all students are general education students first. Students with disabilities are full members of their school communities, not guests in the general education classroom.The law requires that to the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities must be educated with their peers who are nondisabled. Removal to special classes or separate schooling should occur only if a student's needs cannot be met in the regular classroom, even with the use of supplementary aids and services. The parent is an essential member of the IEP team who makes this decision.Register to join us on October 20 for FAPE in the LRE. This online workshop will dive into two foundational concepts of IDEA and how they apply to your child.tinyurl.com/5n6h4efuVisit our website to see our full schedule of upcoming events. www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org/upcoming-events/ ...

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Michigan Alliance for Families

2 days ago

Michigan Alliance for Families
𝗙𝗔𝗣𝗘 and 𝗟𝗥𝗘 - two core principles ensuring the educational rights of children and youth with disabilities. Register to join us tonight, Tuesday October 20 for 𝗙𝗔𝗣𝗘 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗥𝗘. This online workshop will dive into two foundational concepts of IDEA and how they apply to your child. tinyurl.com/5n6h4efu𝗙𝗔𝗣𝗘Free Appropriate Public Education is foundational in IDEA. Every child who is eligible for special education has a right to FAPE in the Least Restrictive Environment. Schools provide FAPE through the programs and services agreed upon in the IEP. FAPE must meet the student’s unique needs and provide educational benefit.The purpose of special education is to ensure that all children with disabilities have available to them a FAPE that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living.Free — Special education and related services provided by public schools at no cost to parentsAppropriate — An education that meets the child’s education and disability-related needs through an IEPPublic — A right to receive an education provided by the public school system, including public charters schoolsEducation — An education that prepares all children for their future including postsecondary education, employment, and independent livingEvery child who is eligible for special education has a right to a Free Appropriate Public Education.Parents need to understand the important words that impact their child's special education services. Follow this page as we help decode this alphabet soup.Learn more about FAPE and other special education matters on our website www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org/FAPEThis video explanation can be viewed on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/shorts/2qrmQviQ4sg 𝗟𝗥𝗘Special education is not a place -- it is a set of supports. In Michigan, we start knowing that all students are general education students first. Students with disabilities are full members of their school communities, not "guests" in the general education classroom.The law requires that to the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities must be educated with their peers who are nondisabled. Removal to special classes or separate schooling should occur only if a student's needs cannot be met in the regular classroom, even with the use of supplementary aids and services. The parent is an essential member of the IEP team who makes this decision.Parents need to understand the important words that impact their child's special education services. Follow this page as we help decode this alphabet soup.Learn more about LRE and other special education matters on our website www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org/lre-placementThis video explainer can be viewed on our YouTube channel youtube.com/shorts/1Kk0KorWnjs ...

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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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