Ready or not, school is coming soon. July marks the halfway point of summer, and for many families, the frantic countdown until the first day of school. The to-do list seems endless: school supplies, registration, teacher meet-and-greet, and that last family vacation before summer comes to an inevitable end.
For many families with special needs children, July introduces another task: navigating the complex and stressful special education system in Indiana. From Individualized Educational Program (IEP) meetings to understanding the laws surrounding fair education for special needs children, the whole process can sometimes feel like a headache. It’s difficult to know where – or how – to start such a complex process.
At Integrity, we support many students in the school setting by providing ABA therapy. Our clinical team is well acquainted with the special education regulations in Indiana. We want every child to have all the support they need to thrive in school and receive the education they rightfully deserve.
We want to introduce you to IN*Source: an organization with a presence in every county in Indiana dedicated to supporting you during all the complexities of the special education process. Integrity is not affiliated with IN*Source – we just want to share a community resource we really love! Take a look at their brochure for an overview of what they offer (bonus: multiple languages are available so you can access this content confidently)!
What does IN*Source offer?
IN*Source is a completely free resource that helps parents navigate special education in Indiana. This organization isn’t just for families new to public school either – they will help and support families during their child’s entire educational career and beyond. They provide free training on a variety of topics to help you advocate for your special needs child. Topics include, but aren’t limited to:
- Training about relevant laws, including:
- IEPs
- Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA)
- Article 7 of Indiana State Law
- Regulations on seclusion and restraint
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
- How to collaborate with schools
- Bullying prevention training
- Inclusion in general education classrooms
- Discipline at school for special education students
- Advocating for your child
- Supporting transitions to adulthood for your child
They have plenty of other resources on their website as well. We recommend you explore their website to get a fuller picture of everything they can support you in for free. Some highlights include:
- Parent to Parent Guide in both English and Spanish: A guide to Title 511 Article 7 of Indiana state law, which discusses rules for special education in Indiana.
- Navigating the Course in both English and Spanish: a step-by-step guide on how to navigate special education to get exactly what you need for your child.
IN*Source also provides a young adult program for individuals with disabilities transitioning out of high school. While many families connected with Integrity aren’t quite there yet, this is a great resource to keep in mind for the future. And like all their other resources, it’s free!
How do I get involved?
IN*Source has liaisons across the entirety of Indiana ready to help you navigate special education. If any part of this process feels overwhelming (and trust us, we know the feeling), reach out to a liaison in your area to get support via phone, email, or in-person.
You can find the liaison closest to you by inputting your zip code on their “Find a Liaison” webpage. For your convenience, we’ve already searched the liaison for our area, Central West. This area includes Avon, Plainfield, Danville, Brownsburg, and many other towns nearby. You can contact:
- Chavonne Sauer at csauer@insource.org (If you were at our open house in April, you may have met her!)
- Maria Alvarez Rodriguez (Spanish only) at maria@insource.org
You can also contact IN*Source during their regularly scheduled business hours. Their information is listed below:
- Office hours: Monday – Friday 8 AM to 4 PM
- Phone: (574) 234-7101
- Email at: insource@insource.org
- Contact form at: https://insource.org/contact-us/
Final Thoughts
We hope this community resource will help your family feel more confident and supported during this transition into school. Here at Integrity, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to grow, thrive, and succeed in every environment – including the classroom. If IN*Source can help make the special education process less overwhelming, we’re happy to share this valuable resource. Whether this is your first experience with special education or you’ve been advocating for your child in the school setting for years, IN*Source can help you feel more informed and prepared for everything from IEP meetings to knowing your child’s educational rights. IN*Source provides more than we could ever cover in this blog, so we hope you’ll explore this resource more fully as you prepare for the fall!
Find out more about IN*Source at https://insource.org/
Author: Erin Walker, RBT, BS, BA
