Guest post by: Advocacy Specialist Hannah Widmer

October kicks off Colorado’s 4th Annual Family and School Partnership in Education Month, and The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) has a wealth of resources to help you get involved in your child’s education. The Arc Pikes Peak Region strongly supports the CDE’s efforts to educate and encourage collaboration, not only because these efforts help IEP meetings run smoother, but also because evidence shows that groups working together to support student learning makes a HUGE difference in the rate of success for students with disabilities.

Get involved in your child's education

Taking an active role in your child’s education helps your child reach important goals.

A New Wave of Evidence“, released by Southwest Educational Development Laboratory, reveals that when parents actively care and take part in the education process, students tend to reach their academic and social goals sooner and enjoy school more. IEP meetings are paramount in building trust between school and home. Use this time to build a partnership with your school. Voice your concerns, honor the school’s contributions and share decision-making responsibilities.

Your child probably spends a large amount of his or her day in a class room; you should be able to trust that the educational team is doing everything on the IEP with fidelity. As a parent or guardian, you play a huge role in making relationships with educators successful! You should have clear expectations of what each team member is responsible for, and you should feel able to ask questions. Communication logs are a great way to keep informed throughout the school year. If you feel a breakdown in communication, respect or understanding at meetings, be sure to call an educational advocate to help you you feel supported and involved.

There are many ways to get involved in your child’s education on a school, district and state level. The CDE website has fantastic resources for the best practices to create positive public schools. Beginning this fall, the series Multi-Tiered Family, School, and Community Partnering will offer webinars and courses to educate community members on advocacy and collaboration. The CDE’s Multi-Tiered System of Support is a valuable step towards the best education for students. Click here for more information.

To help your child excel in school, The Arc Pikes Peak Region provides educational advocacy for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. If you have any questions or would like to reach one of our educational advocates, contact:

Connie McKenzie – elementary school, middle school – (719) 471-4800, ext. 116; connie@thearcppr.org

Hannah Widmer – transition and high school – (719) 471-4800, ext. 103; hannah@thearcppr.org


Additional Resources

Parents Encouraging Parents (PEP) Conference:

PEP Conferences are family-centered events designed to offer support, information and education to both parents and professionals who work with children with disabilities across Colorado. PEP promotes the partnerships between parents and professionals that are essential in supporting and including children with disabilities in schools and communities.

Conference Dates and Locations for 2015-2016:

• October 15-17, 2015 – Vail, Colorado
• January 28-30, 2016 – Fort Collins, Colorado
• April 7-9, 2016 – Colorado Springs, Colorado

PEP Conference Application for 2015-2016:

Apply on SurveyMonkey
• Do you need a different format of the application? Please contact David Ramer at 303-866-6943.

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The best way to ensure that you receive our newsletter, our event invitations, SMS reminders and other important information is to become a member of The Arc of the Pikes Peak Region.

The best way to ensure that you receive our newsletter, our event invitations, and other important information is to become a member of The Arc of the Pikes Peak Region.