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xMinds Logo - xMinds in teal and dark blue where the X looks like a person with an orange head; followed by the words Partnership for Extraordinary MindsImproving education for autistic students in Montgomery County, MD

Parent Guidance on Special Education Advocacy During COVID-19



Free IEP Check-In with Parent Educators at Parents' Place of MD

You can sign up here for a free one-hour virtual review of your child's IEP so you can understand it better and determine whether a tune-up is needed.  You can also discuss whether any compensatory services are needed to help remediate any loss of learning during virtual instruction. You just need to sign up and send in your IEP ahead of time. These sessions are available in Spanish or English. 

Free Q&A with Disability Rights Maryland Every other Wednesday night

FACEBOOK LIVE Q&A EVERY OTHER WEDNESDAY @6:30pm  -- March 24, 2021 and every other Wednesday after that date

Every other Wednesday, Disability Rights Maryland’s (DRM) Education Team hosts a live Q&A (on Facebook) to help parents and families understand their children’s rights to special education services, IEPs and 504 plans. This is a great opportunity to get your special education questions answered!  No registration is required and it is free.  Just use this link to the DRM Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/DisabilityRightsMD

Spanish Interpretation is provided. Transcription using Maryland Relay Services is provided for hearing impaired. Recordings are available.  If your questions can't wait -- send it any time to Susana Barrios at SusanaB@disabilityrightsmd.org

Free Advocacy Assistance from xMinds

A small group of xMinds parents who have both experience and training navigating the MCPS special needs system provides help to parents who are new to the system or who need guidance or support in finding a school placement or advocating within the IEP process. These volunteers provide advice, support, and can connect parents with resources (including educational consultants and lawyers, if needed), but these volunteers do not provide legal advice.

If you want to speak to one of our volunteer advocates, please complete this form. This service is offered free of charge.

Parent Guides

Compensatory Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Disability Rights Maryland

Maryland State Department of Education Guide to Navigating Compensatory Education/Recovery Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic (4/2021):  MSDECompensatoryEd.pdf


Maryland State Department of Education guide for parents of special education students during the COVID-19 Pandemic:  ParentsGuide-COVID19-Maryland.pdf

Disability Rights Maryland brief guide for parents of a child with an IEP during the COVID-19 pandemic:  drmparentltr.covid19.pdf


Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) resources for parents during COVID-19 pandemic: https://www.copaa.org/page/covid-19


Questions and Answers on Providing Services to Children With Disabilities During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Outbreak: U.S. Department of Education



Webinars

xMinds Webinar on Navigating Special Education for Autistic Students in Maryland, April 24, 2021


Presenter: Special Education Advocate Monica Martinez

Video of this online webinar April 24, 2021 Webinar

Power Point slide show: Navigating Special Ed.pdf



xMinds Webinar on Special Education in the Time of Distance Learning --Take Two, April 16, 2020


Presenter: Kimberly Glassman, Esq.

Video of this online webinar (password K2=.1122): April 16, 2020 Webinar

Power Point slide show, which is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be understood as legal advice: SpecialEducation Covid-19 MD.pdf


xMinds Webinar on Compensatory Educational Services, September 18, 2021 and follow up Q&A on October 25, 2021


Presenter: Kimberly Glassman, Esq.

Video of webinar  September 18, 2021 Webinar

Video of Q&A October 25, 2021 Q&A  

Power Point slide show, which is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be understood as legal advice: xMinds IEP Clinic -- 9-18-21 Glassman.pdf


The Arc@School's Advocacy Curriculum

The Arc offers an excellent online, self-paced course that provides the basic information needed to navigate the special education system, including early intervention services, individualized education programs (IEPs), Section 504, and more. The price as of November 2021 is $99. To find out more about this training, visit: The Arc@School's Advocacy Curriculum.


Technical Assistance Bulletins

Technical Assistance Bulletins (TABs) from the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) are issued to provide guidance for implementing laws and regulations. TABs include questions and answers, which are intended to be accessible to non-experts.


Serving Children with Disabilities Under IDEA During School Closures Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

MSDE TAB #20-01, March 30, 2020  

http://marylandpublicschools.org/programs/Documents/Special-Ed/TAB/20-01-ServingchildrenunderCOVID-19Pandemic.pdf


Providing Continuity of Learning to Students with Disabilities Through Nonpublic Special Education Schools During DOVID-19

MSDE TAB # 20-02, April 6, 2020
http://marylandpublicschools.org/programs/Documents/Special-Ed/TAB/20-02-ProvidingContinuityLearningStudentsNonpublicCOVID-19.pdf

Navigating Secondary Transition Services for Students with Disabilities during COVID-19

MSDE TAB # 20-05, April 2020 

http://marylandpublicschools.org/programs/Documents/Special-Ed/TAB/20-05-NavigatingST.pdf


Providing Continuity of Learning for Students with Disabilities who require Extensive, Intensive, Individualized Instruction and Support during the COVID-19 Pandemic

MSDE TAB # 20-07, April 2020 

http://marylandpublicschools.org/programs/Documents/Special-Ed/TAB/20-07-ContLearningSWSCD.pdf


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