Special Education and IEP Support
The following organizations can provide information and answer questions from families around the IEP process and Special Education.
- WI FACETS assists families through their Help Desk line, with staff providing support in English and Spanish. Their website features archives of webinars on various special education and related topics. wifacets.org/training/training-archives/
- WSPEI (Wisconsin Statewide Parent Educator Initiative) supports families and school districts, with Family-School Partnership Coordinators based in local CESAs. You can request IEP support by filling out this form, call 833-879-7734 or emailing WSPEI at . They also host training and groups throughout the school year, virtually and in-person.
- Robyn Morris, CESA 5 (Portage and Wood counties)
- Heidi Lehman, CESA 9 and 10 (Marathon, Lincoln, Langlade, Taylor, Oneida, Vilas)
- Sara Nerenhausen, CESA 8 (Florence and Forest counties)
- Stephanie Lulich CESA 12 (Ashland, Bayfield, Iron, Price, Sawyer)
- WI Family TIES has Parent Peer Specialists who can support families in navigating the special education system around questions about children’s mental health services, behavior supports, and seclusion and restraint. Phone: 1 608.267.6800
- Midstate Independent Living Choices-Consultants: MILC can help families navigate the special education process and provide advocacy in their North Central service area. You can reach out to Madison Matijevich at 715-344-4210 or .
- Disability Rights Wisconsin is the state of Wisconsin’s protection and advocacy agency, providing advocacy and legal support, including inclusive education.
Information
DPI Special Education website: dpi.wi.gov/sped
What happens when my child turns 3?: What is the difference between an IEP and an IFSP? Fact Sheet from Pacer Center- www.pacer.org/guides/early-childhood/ec-600/
Special Education in Plain Language is a helpful guide from the Department of Public Instruction:
dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/sped/pdf/spec-ed-plain-lang-english.pdf
Positive Student Profile (Fill out before the IEP meeting to help parents/guardians be an active participant in the child’s IEP meeting. “Parent Concerns” should be added to the document.):
wspei.org/documents/positive-student-profile.pdf