If you’re a Florida parent navigating the special education system, we would wager that you do not have the time to search for state specific parent resources (regardless of how helpful they may be!). Do not worry, we did the research for you! After much research, we have listed the best Florida special education parent resources below.
1. Procedural Safeguards Notice
When advocating for your child, knowing your rights is always a great place to start. You were most likely given the Procedural Safeguards Notice when your child was referred for an assessment, but if you can not find your copy the notice can also be found on Florida’s Department of Education’s website. The Procedural Safeguards Notice can seem intimidating, but it is an important document that lays out your rights and the safeguards in place for you and your child. Do not worry if you don’t understand all of it. Numbers 7 and 8 on this list break down the Procedural Safeguards Notice.
2. Special Ed Connection
Florida’s Department of Education allows parents to access Special Ed Connection for free! Special Ed Connection is an online tool that helps parents better understand the special education system and offers insights on hundreds of special education topics. You can access Special Ed Connection by emailing your school district’s contact person. All contact information can be found online.
3. Kidvokit for Florida
Have you ever found yourself scrambling before an IEP meeting? I think we all have. Keeping track of all the emails and paperwork can be exhausting. Kidvokit can help! Kidvokit is an online tool that does the organizing for you by automatically filing IEP related emails, creating a timeline, and maintaining a paper trail. Additionally Kidvokit’s AI assistant is able to quickly answer your special education questions. Visit the “How it Works” page to learn more.
4. Florida Diagnostics and Learning Resources System
Online resources are amazing, but sometimes receiving assistance from a real person is what you need. The Florida Diagnostics and Learning Resources System (FDLRS) is a part of Florida’s Department of Education and can provide that personal assistance. FDLRS has online resources (such as webinars), but the beauty of the FDLRS are their “Parent Services Specialists” located at their centers. A Parent Service Specialist can answer your questions and help you find resources. You can find a Parent Service Specialist at one of the 18 FDLRS centers located throughout Florida. Visit the Florida Diagnostics and Learning Resources System’s website to find the center near you.
5. Center For Parent Information and Resources
Speaking of in person assistance, Parent Centers are another great resource! Parent Centers are local agencies that are a part of the Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR). Florida has 4 Parent Centers located across the state that provide services ranging from advocacy and educational materials to referrals and support groups. You can find the Parent Center near you on the Center for Parent Information and Resources website.
6. Parental Readiness and Empowerment Program
If you’re looking for quick explanations, the Parental Readiness and Empowerment Program’s website is a good tool for you. Their website provides an easy to understand FAQ style page on special education in Florida. Their page provides answers in plain english allowing parents to access the information they need quickly.
7. Disability Rights Florida
Another well organized educational resource is Disability Rights Florida. There are so many layers to the special education system and remembering everything is impossible. Disability Rights Florida provides easy to access information on all the layers. The Disability Rights Florida website is well organized and provides easy to understand information on all the legal components of special education. If you find the Procedural Safeguards Notice confusing, Disability Rights Florida can help.
8. Family Network on Disabilities
Another great resource that breaks down some of the more complicated parts of the special education system is the Family Network on Disabilities (FND). The Family Network on Disabilities’s website has many excellent downloadable resources, including a slide deck that explains the Procedural Safeguards Notice. Additionally, they have many great one pagers and infographics available to download for free.
9. Understood.org
Everyone deserves to be understood. That’s the mission behind the national resource Understood.org. Understood offers hundreds of special education blogs written by experts. The website is well organized and you can easily find blogs by topic. Understood is a great resource for parents because it saves you the time of searching the internet for information on your child’s particular challenges. Visit Understood.org for more information!
10. Facebook Groups
Have you ever spoken to another parent navigating the world of special education and felt understood? That’s the beauty of support groups. A great platform for support groups is Facebook. Facebook has many groups, but a Florida specific group worth checking out is IEP-504 Support Group of Florida. More specific Facebook groups exist and can be found by searching keywords in Facebook.
Florida Special Education Resource Recap
Advocating for your child is hard work, but you are not alone! There are many parents navigating the same system as you with all the same questions and concerns. We hope the above resources better equip you to advocate for your child by knowing your rights, accessing referrals, and finding a support group.
