Special Education

Education Advocacy Program

The program enables families to:

• Connect with 1:1 support from a local mentor to address the families’ needs.
• Access electronic and printed resource information and referrals to local community resources.

Advocates provided by the MAF have first-hand experience navigating the special education system as parents or close family members of children who have or are navigating the system.

These individuals:

• Educate families on the proper processes to avoid breakdowns in communication to ensure that the child’s needs are met using referrals, recommendations, resources, materials, and meetings when necessary.
• Listen to concerns from families and schools, create agendas for meetings, facilitate discussion between school staff and families, promote positive problem solving, bring best practices to the table, and aim to assist families and schools in keeping open communication that puts the student’s need at the center of every conversation.

To Request an Advocate

Obtaining special education assistance from The Arc requires connecting with our partner, Michigan Alliance for Families.

Step 1:

Interested parents, educators, and/or guardians contact Michigan Alliance for Families at 1.800.552.4821 to request support from a Parent Mentor.

Step 2:

Michigan Alliance will connect you to our region’s Parent Mentor.

Step 3:

You will receive support and education regarding special education services from MAF’s parent mentor.

If it is determined that an Educational Advocate will be needed, the Parent Mentor will notify The Arc of Allegan County and an advocate will be assigned.

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