Latest news from the Blog
Meet Our Family Engagement Team!
The Family Engagement Team is now complete, and we want to introduce you to everyone! Our group consists of a team of individuals with background experiences as educators, mental health professionals, parents, caregivers of individuals with disabilities, and...
Student-Led IEPs
Should your high school student be at their Individual Education Plan (IEP) meetings? YES! Students can offer a great amount of information that will help plan their school and future, but they are often left out of the IEP team meeting. So, what age should a student...
Family Engagement Networking Night with AnLar
The Arc of Tennessee’s Family Engagement Team hosts a monthly networking group for families involved in Special Education across the state of Tennessee. These meetings take place on the last Tuesday of the month and will cover a variety of topics ranging from early...
Family Engagement Networking Night with TCG Health Connect
The Arc of Tennessee’s Family Engagement Team hosts a monthly networking group for families involved in Special Education across the state of Tennessee. These meetings take place on the last Tuesday of the month and will cover a variety of topics ranging from early...
Summer Options for Students with Disabilities
The state of TN has created many summer learning opportunities to help address learning loss that occurred during the pandemic. We wanted to share information about the various opportunities available so you can consider which of these, if any, might be the best fit...
Questions? Now you can directly ask the experts at the Department of Education!
Parents and caregivers often have questions related to various topics in special education. The TN Department of Education has created some “direct line” emails to help! If you have questions about any of the three topics listed below, feel free to use the email...
March Family Engagement Networking Night with TN Respite Coalition
February Family Engagement Networking Night with ECF Choices
January Family Engagement Networking Night with Signal Center
People First Language
People First Language (PFL) is a way of communicating that reflects knowledge and respect for people with disabilities by choosing words that recognize the person first and foremost as the primary reference and not his or her disability. Empowering people with...
November Family Engagement Networking Night with TRIAD
Procedural Safeguards Quick Guide
When you attend an IEP Meeting, you should be offered a copy of the Procedural Safeguards. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming to understand all of the parental rights that are described in that packet. The link below breaks it down into something that might be a bit...
August Family Engagement Networking Night – TN Dept of Mental Health School Based Initiatives
July Family Engagement Networking Night: Back to School/High Expectations
In July, Alison Gauld, the Low Incidence and Autism Coordinator for the TN Department of Education, joined us to talk about the new Teaching All Students (TAS) Grant that will be implemented at the high school level this coming school year. To view/download a copy of...
Dyslexia Screening Process
“Say Dyslexia” law (T.C.A. § 49-1-229) is a law that requires school districts to implement a screening process for identifying characteristics of dyslexia. You may have received a letter from your child’s school identifying that your child has reading difficulties...
“Say Dyslexia” Law
In 2016, the Tennessee legislature passed a law that is also referred to as the “Say Dyslexia” law. The law requires schools to screen for characteristics of Dyslexia through Response to Intervention (RTI) and to provide “Dyslexia-specific intervention” for those...
When Should a Child with Dyslexia be Evaluated for Special Education?
If a student is expected to have dyslexia, you may wonder what steps should be taken to ensure an appropriate education. The student may have some characteristics of dyslexia and be receiving intervention during the school day. A student may have been tested for...
Teacher Tip Sheet for Family Engagement Back to School Events
We are sure your brain has been running with creativity to make this year the best yet. Research indicates when families are involved in their students’ education outcomes are improved both academically and within the home and community. As you’re planning your...