Navigating Special Education can feel like a maze of regulations and legal jargon. Luckily, Virginia parents have access to many resources that can help! We know your time is precious, so we did the research for you. Keep reading for Virginia special education resources that can make your life easier!
1. Procedural Safeguards Notice
Before we go into other resources, let’s go over Virginia’s Procedural Safeguard Notice. The Notice, also known as “Your Family’s Special Education Rights”, is foundational as you navigate the special education system. Knowing your rights is crucial, and the Notice lays out your rights and the safeguards in place for you and your child. If you feel overwhelmed or confused, don’t worry the next item on this list can help!
2. Virginia Family Special Education Connection
Have you checked out Virginia Family Special Education Connection (VFSEC) yet? If not, you should! This website is an information hub specifically created for parents advocating for their children in the special education system. VFSEC offers step-by-step guides, a directory of helpful organizations, a list of events, and more. Additionally, VFSEC is a great tool to help you better understand the process of Virginia special education and the Notice of Procedural Safeguards.
3. Kidvokit for Virginia
Kidvokit is a tool to keep you organized! We know the pain of frantically digging through emails in preparation for an IEP meeting. Kidvokit can make last-minute email digging a thing of the past. By automatically detecting and filing emails and creating a timeline of documents, Kidvokit keeps you ready for IEP meetings. Additionally, Kidvokit has a built-in AI assistant that can answer your special education questions. Visit our “how it works” page to learn more!
4. Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC)
When you need personal assistance, PEATC is the place to go. The Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center is Virginia’s nationally funded Parent Center and offers a free and confidential helpline. Their website also offers parent trainings, toolkits, and letter drafts. PEATC exists to make your life easier.
5. Virginia Department of Education Ombudsman
“Ombudsman” often sounds ominous, but getting to know yours can be helpful (even if you do not have a dispute). The Virginia Department of Education’s Ombudsman is able to help with more than just dispute resolution and regulation guidance. The Ombudsman can also help families with referrals and guidance on the special education process. Learn more about what the Ombudsman offers by visiting the Virginia Department of Education’s website.
6. The Arc Virginia
The Arc Virginia is another tool you can utilize when you need advice. They provide services to all individuals with disabilities in Virginia, and have a specific chapter focused on children. The children’s chapter of the Arc provides advice and referrals via phone call or email. Check out The Arc’s website because you can never have too much support when you are advocating for your child.
7. disAbility Rights Virginia
Another resource to keep handy is disAbility Rights Virginia. Like the Arc, they can provide assistance or guidance via email or phone. Although they mainly focus on advocacy, they also offer many step-by-step guides and links to additional resources. They also created a guidebook to Virginia special education that can be purchased for $15.
8. YouTube
Speaking of disAbility rights Virginia, their YouTube channel is extremely helpful. disAbility Rights Virginia’s youtube channel has a whole playlist dedicated to special education, in addition to their 100+ videos on other disability topics. Another channel worth checking out is the Center for Parent Information and Resources’s youTube Channel which contains multiple webinars that could be helpful.
9. Understood.org
A national resource that all parents can benefit from is Understood.org. Understood’s mission is simple: everyone deserves to be understood. Their website actively furthers this mission by providing blogs written by experts on different learning differences. This resource is wonderful when you want to know more about what your child is experiencing and how to best support them.
10. Facebook Groups
You are walking down a road that many have walked before. Support groups are important because they allow you not only to learn from others who are more experienced but also to feel solidarity in speaking to parents in similar situations. Facebook can be an easy and great platform for support groups. Many Facebook groups exist, but a few Virginia-specific groups worth checking out are: Special Needs Parents of Virginia, Spectrum Parents, and Parents of ADHD Kids: Chesterfield County.
Virginia Special Education Resource Recap
It is normal to have moments of feeling overwhelmed. Advocating for your child takes a lot of work and energy. Thankfully, there are resources available to help you. Remember, you can never have too much support! The above resources prove there are people and organizations ready to help you learn your rights, answer questions, and find support groups. It’s hard work, but you’ve got this!
Learn how Kidvokit can save you time and keep you organized!