STEP Center

Disability Related Topics Overview of Special Education Process Parents new to Special Education as well as those seeking information about specific parts of the IEP process will find helpful information under these links. Clicking on these links will take you away from the Anchorage  School District's Web site. Each link will open in a new window.

Return to Disability Related topics

Alaska Parent Guide to Education and the Exceptional Child
www.eed.state.ak.us/tls/sped/Resources.html#Parents
The Alaska Parent Guide provides basic practical information for parents of exceptional children. You will find links to its versions in English, Spanish, Tagalog and Yupik from this site.

Communicating with Your Child’s School Through Letter Writing
www.nichcy.org/pubs/parent/pa9txt.htm
This guide is rich in examples of the letters you might write to your child’s school. It details how to ask for an evaluation, express concern about progress, request an IEP meeting, even praise the school’s efforts! Learn more about what makes for an effective letter.

Developing Your Child’s IEP
www.nichcy.org/pubs/parent/pa12txt.htm
Be a full participant in developing your child’s IEP! This Parent’s Guide tells you how. It looks in detail at the IEP and discusses how to work effectively with schools to help your child get an education tailored to his or her needs.

General Information On Disabilities
www.nichcy.org/pubs/genresc/gr3.htm
Read the definitions of the 13 categories of disabilities under which a child with a disability may qualify for special education services under the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act).

Guide to the Individualized Education Program
www.ed.gov/parents/needs/speced/iepguide/index.html
The purpose of this guidance is to assist educators, parents, and state and local educational agencies in implementing the requirements of Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) regarding Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for children with disabilities, including preschool-aged children.

Questions Often Asked by Parents about Special Education Services
www.nichcy.org/pubs/ideapubs/lg1txt.htm
This publication explains in easy to read terms how students with disabilities access special education and related services.

Your Child’s Evaluation
www.nichcy.org/pubs/basicpar/bp1txt.htm
This publication describes the steps the school system will take to evaluate your child to determine if he or she has a disability and is eligible for special education.