Education

• Parent Resources
  • A Parent’s Advocacy Guide to Special Education: Designed to be a companion guide to WV Department of Education Policy 2419. Explains numerous legal rights and self-advocacy tools that parents have at their disposal to obtain necessary services for their children.
  • Pacer Center: Provides individual assistance, workshops, publications and other resources to help families make decisions about education and other services for their child or young adult with disabilities.
  • Parents as Teachers: Promotes optimal early development, learning and health of children by supporting and engaging their parents and caregivers.
  • Understood Parent Resources: A nonprofit that provides resources and support so people who learn and think differently can thrive in school, at work, and throughout life.
  • West Virginia Advisory Council for the Education of Exceptional Children: State advisory council charged with advising decision-makers regarding the needs of exceptional children which includes students with disabilities and students identified as gifted. The public is encouraged to attend all meetings, which are in-person and live-streamed. During meetings, parents, educators and community members can hear what counties are doing to improve outcomes for students with exceptionalities.
  • West Virginia Parent Training and Information, Inc.: Goal is to enhance education, inclusion, and transition opportunities for children and youth with disabilities by empowering parents and caregivers to be effective self-advocates for their children and youth through training, information, resources, and building leadership skills.
  • Wrightslaw: Parents, advocates, teachers, and attorneys come to Wrightslaw for reliable, up-to-date information about special education law and advocacy for children with disabilities.
• Re-entry
  • Back-to-School Emergency Preparedness Tips: Advice for updating medical info and emergency contacts as your child heads back to school. Compiled by the West Virginia Emergency Management Division.
  • West Virginia Department of Education COVID-19 and Respiratory Illness Protocols: Updated COVID-19 and respiratory illness protocols for 2024. Overview of what to do if you are sick or test positive and gives mitigation tips for schools.
• Students with Disabilities
  • GreatSchools: Learning Disabilities section of the GreatSchools website, which features free, evidence-based parenting resources to support the learning and well-being of children.
  • Learning Ally: Resources for individuals with dyslexia and/or reading difficulties. Information on IEPs, 504 Plans, multi-sensory learning, assistive technology, audiobooks, self-advocacy and more.
  • Learning Disabilities Association of America: Provides support to people with learning disabilities, their parents, teachers and other professionals with cutting edge information on learning disabilities, practical solutions and a comprehensive network of resources.
  • Learning Disabilities Online: Features hundreds of helpful articles, expert interviews, videos, columns by noted experts, first-person essays, children’s writing and artwork, and a comprehensive resource guide.
  • Marshall University HELP Program: Dedicated to supporting students with learning disabilities, ADHD and related disorders. Mission is to provide personalized academic support and comprehensive resources to help students achieve their full potential.
  • MindFit: Offers three types of services for WVU students: learning disorder and ADHD consultation and assessment, academic enhancement services, and cognitive enhancement services.
  • Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS): The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) is dedicated to improving results for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities ages birth through 21 by providing leadership and financial support to assist states and local districts.
  • Pathways to the Future: A collection of resources, tools and people to help students with disabilities, through the journey from youth to adulthood.
  • Understanding Alternate Diplomas: Information for students, parents and teachers regarding how to pursue an alternate diploma in West Virginia. This process can allow a student to work towards their high school diploma until the age of 21.
  • WV Department of Education Office of Special Education: Responsible for improving results for children and youth with exceptionalities, primarily through leadership and financial support to local education agencies and for the administration of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA).
  • WVU Autism Support Program: A fee-for service program through the Office of Accessibility services that is focused on supporting WVU students with autism spectrum disorder as they navigate college life.
  • WVU Country Roads Program: Prepares students with intellectual and developmental disabilities for independence by providing program-related academic courses, social engagement and real-world work experiences. Students live in a shared residential housing arrangement, participate in social activities across campus and receive career education and training.
  • WVU Office of Accessibility Services: Dedicated to enhancing educational opportunities for students with permanent and temporary disabilities at WVU and all of its campuses.
• Handbook for Reasonable Accommodations in the College Classroom

*Alternate formats of WVU CED produced material is available upon request.