Family Resources
Need help understanding the world of Special Education? How about a dictionary for all of those Special Education terms and acronyms? Access to important updates? Your FDLRS Center can get you connected to all of those resources in one easy place!
Special Ed Connection® is a web-based resource that parents can use to gain an understanding of what special education is and how it works, as their child enters, progresses through and exits the world of special education requirements. From legal rights to practical application and from student referrals to IEPs, Special Ed Connection® explains specific procedures and provides real-world application strategies so parents can learn the complexities surrounding special education supports and services.
As a special resource for parents and families of students with disabilities in our constituent area, we have created an agency resource catalog covering all four counties of DeSoto, Glades, Hendry and Highlands. This resource can be used for finding agencies and/or organizations available to assist with a multitude of needs. This document is entitled “Special Places/Special Faces” and the link is below (you will need Adobe Reader to open).
For parents/families who do not have internet access, please contact FDLRS Heartland Parent Services Specialist, Rebecca Cox at 863-531-0444 ext. 232. She can provide you hard copies of materials. Please share this information with the families of your students who may be in need.
Problem Solving Video for Parents
This video for parents introduces parents to the use of problem-solving and how it may affect their child in the context of school-wide implementation of a multi-tiered system of supports, often still referred to as RtI.
FIEP Vignettes for Parents
The Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services (BEESS) developed this series of four short vignettes to help parents understand the benefits of using the FIEP process to enhance collaboration with IEP teams.
Helpful Links for Families
Early Steps Offices
- Gulf Coast Early Steps: DeSoto and Highlands - 941-487-5400
- Southwest Florida Early Steps: Glades and Hendry - 866-547-2793
Early Learning Coalition Offices
- Early Learning Coalition of Florida's Heartland: DeSoto and Highlands - 941-255-1650
- Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida: Glades and Hendry - 239-935-6100
Agency for Persons with Disabilities
- Suncoast Region: DeSoto, Glades, and Hendry - 800-615-8720
- Central Region: Highlands - 407-245-0440
Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD)
- Tina Harmon: DeSoto, Glades, and Highlands - 813-816-0115
- Christine Maughan: Hendry - 800-333-4530
Project 10 Transition
- Frederico Valaldez: DeSoto - 941-920-4317
- Lisa Friedman-Chavez: Glades and Hendry - 786-417-3904
- Franklin Coker: Highlands - 407-721-6905
Vocational Rehabilitation
- Rehab Works
- Christina Martin: DeSoto and Highlands - 863-386-6077
- Robert Richards: Glades and Hendry - 239-658-3300