Resources

Autism Waiver (AW) & Coronavirus (COVID-19) Frequently Asked Questions

On January 25, 2021, AW providers and Service Coordinators (SCs) received updated guidance that given an announcement from the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) the PHE would likely be extended through 2021; the Appendix K flexibilities will remain in place at this time and likely through calendar year 2021.In response to this new and exciting news, we have received a number of questions from AW SCs and providers. The following guidance has been prepared by the MSDE and MDH to address frequently asked questions.

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A Guide for Transition to Adulthood (Available in English and Spanish)

Created by the Organization for Autism Research, this guide provides information about autism and the transition to adulthood.

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Navigating the Special Education System Guide

Created by the Organization for Autism Research, this special education guide is designed to give each family the information and tools needed to successfully navigate the education system anywhere in the country.

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MSDE TAB Supplement to #20-09: Tips to Support Concurrent Virtual and Face to Face Instruction

Maryland State Department of Education Technical Assistance Bulletin: Tips to Support Concurrent Virtual and Face to Face Instruction

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MSDE TAB: Recovery Efforts: Addressing the Provision of FAPE through Alternative Service Delivery Models for Students with Disabilities during the Re-Opening of Schools

Recovery Efforts: Addressing the Provision of FAPE through Alternative Service Delivery Models for Students with Disabilities during the Re-Opening of Schools

This document has been developed in alignment with Technical Assistance Bulletin (TAB) #20-01,
Serving Children with Disabilities under IDEA during School Closures due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
and TAB #20-03, Providing Continuity of Learning to Students with Disabilities during COVID-19.

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Homeschooling, Home & Hospital Instruction, Remote Learning… What Do They All Mean?!

Understanding terms is important. Use this factsheet to understand the difference between home school, home and hospital instruction, and remote learning.

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MSDE TAB Supplement to #20-09: Tips to Support Behavior & Social Emotional Well-Being During Transitions Across Service Delivery Models

Maryland State Department of Education Technical Assistance Bulletin: Tips to Support Behavior & Social Emotional Well-Being During Transitions Across Service Delivery Models

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Questions to Ask Your Child’s School Team for Support with Behaviors

PPMD collaborated with TIES Center to bring you a factsheet that will help you ask questions to your child’s school team to support your child’s behaviors at home during distance learning.

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Ditch the Clip! Why Clip Charts are NOT a PBIS Practice and What To Do Instead

Read this to learn why clip charts are inconsistent with a PBIS approach and can be harmful. This document also describes alternative strategies that are more likely to improve student behavior while promoting a safe, positive classroom.

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Directions for Completing the Victim of Bullying, Harassment, Or Intimidation Form

This document has instructions on how to complete a bullying, harassment, or intimidation form.

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Bullying, Harassment or Intimidation Reporting Form

Use this form to report an incident of alleged bullying harassment, or intimidation of a student.

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Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation Incident School Investigation Form

This is the form that is used by school personnel when investigating reported incidents of bullying.

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Lower Shore Judy Centers Webinar

Watch this webinar to learn about the Judy Centers on the Lower Shore of MD.

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Youth Workforce Programs and Services Brochure

Use this brochure provided by the Department of Labor to learn about youth employment services and programs in your area.

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Picking a Summer Camp for a Child with a Disability or Different Needs

Here’s a great article from Exceptional Parent magazine on picking a summer camp! “Every child with a disability has different needs, even those with the same diagnosis. Families may be at a loss to find summer activities for their children with special needs.”

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How to Get Unstuck During Remote Learning

As parents, we face challenges when we try to help our children in their school work. It is even more challenging when we are “going to school” from home. Sometimes children may get stuck and frustrated during remote learning. Here are some strategies and tools to help your child get “unstuck” when they are frustrated with learning. These will help your child be more independent and successful learners. Choose what works for you.

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Parent’s Guide to Compensatory Education and Recovery Services

MD State Department of Education created a guide to help families understand what Compensatory Education and Recovery Services is, how the process works, and the steps that families can take if a family has questions or disagrees with the school.

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Confronting COVID-19-Related Harassment in Schools

The U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights have created a resource for families to help if they believe that their children have been harassed in school. If a child/youth has experienced harassment this resource includes steps a family can take.

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What is Virtual Learning

We hear so many terms like E-learning, Hybrid, Distance and Asynchronous Learning, but what actually is Virtual Learning? Use this resource for the most parent friendly definition of Virtual Learning.

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MSDE TAB Supplement to #20-09: Tips to Support Data Collection by Parents During Virtual or Hybrid Learning

Maryland State Department of Education Technical Assistance Bulletin: Tips to Support Data Collection by Parents During Virtual or Hybrid Learning

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MSDE TAB Supplement to #20-09: Tips to Support Concurrent Virtual and Face to Face Instruction

Maryland State Department of Education Technical Assistance Bulletin: Tips to Support Concurrent Virtual and Face to Face Instruction

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Resources for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing

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Hear to Learn

This website houses materials for parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing and aims to foster a community of learning.

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Sign it (American Sign Language Classes Online)

Learn American Sign Language at your own pace with a fun online course taught by ASL professionals.

The Signing Time Foundation also offers a program that provides free access to this course for families with deaf or hard-of-hearing children under age three (36 months). To apply for their My Deaf Child program, parents can fill out the short application at www.mydeafchild.org.

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How to Find Inclusive Childcare

Choosing care for your child with a disability means you have to decide which program and facility best meet your child’s needs. Finding a welcoming, educated childcare provider that cares for each child’s differences is important. Use this checklist to help you find the right fit for your child.

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Maryland Procedural Safeguards Notice

This notice includes an explanation of parental rights for children receiving services through an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) or an Individualized Education Program (IEP).

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Alphabet Soup: A Guide to Special Education Acronyms

There are lots of acronyms in the Special Education world, which can be very confusing. Use this list as a guide to understanding the meaning of Special Education acronyms.

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Servicios de intervención temprana: El IFSP

Una vez que sepa que su hijo es elegible para un IFSP, es posible que tenga algunas preguntas. ¿Cómo se comienza con un IFSP? ¿Quién asiste a estas reuniones? ¿Qué puedo esperar? Siga leyendo para conocer las respuestas a estas preguntas.

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Nivel actual de logros académicosy desempeño funcional (PLAAFP)

A menudo nos preguntan durante una reunión del IEP “¿Cuál es el nivel actual de su hijo? PLAAFP? ” ¿Sabes lo que significa este acrónimo? Utilice este recurso para ayudarlo a responder y contribuir a la conversación.

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El qué, cómo y por qué dela toma de decisiones apoyada (Supported Decision Making-SDM)

La toma de decisiones apoyadas son apoyos y servicios que ayudan a una persona con discapacidades a tomar sus propias decisiones.

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Emergency Information Form for Children With Special Needs

Here find an emergency information form that you can complete for your child in preparation for a disaster or emergency.

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Emergency & Disaster Preparedness for Individuals with Disabilities and Other Special Needs

In this document find tips on what you can do to prepare for an emergency or disaster as well as how to create an emergency plan for your child with special needs.

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Seizure Log/ Registro de Convulsiones

This form can be used to record duration, frequency, and other details about your child’s seizures that can help in treatment.

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Seizure Action Plan For School

This form helps in creating an action plan for your child with epilepsy which explains their condition and steps to follow when a seizure occurs.

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Model Section 504 Plan for a Student with Epilepsy

This form contains a sample list of accommodations and services that a student with epilepsy may require while they are at school.

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Supported Decision Making for People with Disabilities

Watch this webinar on Supported Decision Making for People with Disabilities presented by Yetta Myrick, PPMD’s Health Information and Communications Specialist, sponsored by the Maryland Hub for Inclusive Higher Education. Also find related resources below.

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Social Story: Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine

The Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities at Kennedy Krieger Institute is part of a national collaboration to create a virtual “Center for Dignity in Healthcare for People with Disabilities.” The Center created the attached plain language social story regarding getting the vaccine.

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Sexuality and Developmental Disabilities

Watch our webinar about Sexuality and Developmental Disabilities to learn about the importance of discussing sexuality, comprehensive sex education, sexual development, and more with your children and adolescents.

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What Military Families Need to Know about COVID-19

The National Military Family Association has created a hub of information for military families regarding COVID-19. This website is updated regularly.

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Financial Resources for Military Families

For a military family, the need for a financial resource can pop up when least expected. Use this resource to learn about direct services, financial support, or information and referral.

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A Guide for Military Families

Created by the Organization for Autism Research, this guide is a resource for military families that have children with autism. Their purpose is to give each family the tools and access to information that it needs on its unique life journey through autism.

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Section 504

This brief fact sheet gives an overview of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, a law banning disability discrimination in public schools.

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The Role of School Nurses in Transition Planning

The nurse can be a vital member of the IEP team. This short video explains their role in the development of the IEP.

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Questions and Answers on OCR’s Complaint Process

This document will answer questions about the OCR complaint process. It includes how to file a complaint and what to include.

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Parent’s Guide to Compensatory Education and Recovery Services

MD State Department of Education created a guide to help families understand what Compensatory Education and Recovery Services is, how the process works, and the steps that families can take if a family has questions or disagrees with the school.

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Collecting Data at Home

How do you know if  your child is meeting their IEP goals?  How can you collect data at home? Use the questions and suggestions attached to help you.

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Building Independence

Building independence at home is possible during this time when so many are working and doing school at home.  Look at these suggestions for ways to build independence at home and master some IEP goals.

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Supported Decision-Making for People with Disabilities

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Transition to Adulthood: A guide to helping you and your student

This tool will help guide families of transition age youth on next steps during transition planning by their youth’s age.

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Self-Directed Services: A Handbook for People with Developmental Disabilities Who Are Interested in Directing their DDA Services in Maryland

A handbook for people with Developmental Disabilities who are interested in directing their DDA services in Maryland.

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Telehealth: What is it and Why is it Important?

Watch this webinar to learn the importance of Telehealth from PPMD and Dr. Debbie Badawi from the University of Maryland Department of Pediatrics.

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Pre Employment Transition Services

Learn about Pre-Employment Transition Services from PPMD and the Maryland State Department of Education Division of Rehabilitation.

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How to do an Early Intervention Referral

Watch this webinar to learn how to make an early intervention referral.

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