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Parent Resources

Co-op for Special Services - BISD, CISD, MISD, & WISD

ParentResourcesCo-op for Special Services - BISD, CISD, MISD, & WISD

A Resource Guide for Parents of Students with Special Needs

2024-2025 School Year

BISD, CISD, MISD, and WISD Families,


I hope that you are able to locate some helpful resources on this page, which range from special education information, academic support, to supporting your child's social/emotional needs and mental health. Thank you for entrusting your children in our care and your willingness to help our students continue to be successful.


WE ARE ALWAYS UPDATING, SO BE SURE TO CHECK BACK SOON!

Series for Parents of Students with Special Needs

New to special education? Wish to learn more about your child's disabilities? Below you will find helpful information regarding various disabilities and the implications of such on your child's learning and emotional needs.

TASP - Resources for Parents
Disability and sped links, ADHD information, bilingual education, implementation of IDEA, a searchable indices of disability related resources, and more.
SPEDTEX
For questions regarding students with disabilities, please contact the Texas Special Education Information Center. This is a resource to inform and support parents, teachers, and anyone commited to the success of children with disabilities.
30 Essentials for Parents of Children with ADHD
In this informative, engaging < 3 hour presentation, Dr. Russel Barkley discusses ideas for parents of children diagnosed with ADHD.

Free Parent Training/Learning Opportunities

Free A&M Parent Training - Coach to Communicate
Our coaching sessions are effective at improving parental knowledge of and skill in implementing behavioral techniques. What’s more, the parents have learned skills that have been effective in improving social communication skills in their children!
Texas Tech Tele Health Outreach -Autism Support
This is an amazing resource for families of students with Autism. Connect them with this information for this free service. They provide: parent and group training all over the state of Texas!
JOIN THE PARENT E-MAIL LIST!
Education Service Center (ESC-15) Organizational Chart

Mental Health Support

Our teachers take a comprehensive approach to our students' learning. This includes ensuring that our students receive the social and emotional supports needed to be successful in the school setting. The following resources will allow you to continue these supports as you see fit in the home setting.
Ways to Build Trust Between Parents and Teens
Trust in a relationship takes time to build and requires both people actively work to maintain it. It’s also a two-way street: you place your trust in another individual and ask that they place their trust in you.
New Horizons - Free Counseling for Youth and Families
New Horizons Family and Youth Success Counseling (FAYS) provides free counseling services to children ages 6 to 17 who are experiencing family conflict.
Your Mental Health Matters - TCHATT
This program seeks to improve mental health of communities across Texas through collaboration with school districts by linking families with community resources, and assist in directing counseling and telepsychiatry to students.
Anxiety & Kids - The Basics
The Child Mind Institute created a resource page covering a variety of topics related to anxiety in kids. Topics include parenting anxious kids, anxiety in schools, specific phobias, and information on different types of anxiety.
Talking to Children About Violence
Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents & Teachers
REACHOUT.COM
Relevant and engaging online support for youth, covering an array of topics (stress, depression, bullying, sadness, setting goals, sleep, body image, grief, and more).
Character Lab
Character Lab is a nonprofit organization that connects researchers with educators to create greater knowledge about the conditions that lead to social, emotional, academic, and physical well-being for young people throughout the country.
Suicide & Mental Health Supports
Courses, delivered by licensed therapists, on topics such as helping a child with depression, identifying anxiety, and coping with grief and loss. Parents can anonymously submit questions and receive a written/video response by a therapist.
Adam Parker - Social Emotional YouTube Channel
Your child can sing along with this school psychologist as he teaches important life skills (i.e., doubt, grit, time management, courage, and more!)
Mental Health Resources for Parents
This webpage offers guidance on a wide range of mental health topics (i.e., suicide, depression, anxiety) & how you can reach out for help for your kid.
School Safety and Mental Health State Initiative Smore
The priority content area for the State Initiative is Safe and Healthy Students.

Tips for Parents to Use at Home

Fostering an Attitude of Gratitude
Parents can help their children to develop the attitude of gratitude through a variety of simple acts and activities (NASP)
Social & Emotional Supports - PARENT RESOURCES
Social and Emotional Supports for Parents, Including: Behavior Help at Home
BASC Intervention Tip Sheets for Parents
UPDATE: 5/7/20 These will be available at no cost through June 30, 2020 and can provide support for:

Attention Problems, Anxiety, Depression & Difficulties with Academics
My Calm Down Toolkit
Self-Regulation Station (Printables)

Academic Supports

Whether it's a game of BINGO featuring Reading and Math activities, or links to our favorite academic websites, these academic resources are sure to keep your kids learning and engaged.
Mark Rober - Science & Engineering YouTube Channel
Need a quick break from working on assignments? Watch these cool science and engineering videos with your kids. Sure to keep them interested and they may accidentally learn something, too!
Fun Academic Websites for Children
ABCYa, Prodigy, FunBrain, PBS Kids, National Geographic & More!
Virtual Accommodations and Modifications
Parents can help their children utilize the accommodations and modifications found in their student's IEP
Reading & Writing Supports
Read text to students; Highlight areas of the screen for focus; Add colored overlays; Speech to text; Zoom the screen; And more!
(Google Chrome, iDevice, Microsoft, Word Online)
BINGO - ELAR, Math, Science, Soc. Studies
Complete 5 ELAR tasks to earn a privilege!

Physical & Occupational Therapy Supports

Whether or not your student receives Occupational Therapy (OT) and/or Physical Therapy (PT) services, these exercises and techniques are recommended to keep your children active and in the best shape to learn.

PHYSICAL THERAPY (PT)

Physical Therapy with Ms. Ashley

https://padlet.com/ms_ashley/e0lj7m325sywbqa2

Looking for some physical therapy activities for your child? Our awesome therapist, Ms. Ashley, has everything you need here on her Padlet! Find some of the best therapist-approved activities to help strengthen your child's core, or just help them to get up, be active and have fun!

Gross Motor Activities
Crossing Midline, Body Awareness, & Bilateral Coordination Activities
Movement Breaks for Kids at Home
Links to Websites for Movement Fun
Motor Pathway
DIY Motor Pathway for Home (Printables)

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY (OT)

Occupational Therapy with Ms. Beth

https://padlet.com/beth149/e01fzxldby3n

An AWESOME website created by one of our favorite occupational therapists, Mrs. Owens. Parents can get some of the very best exercises, OT-related activities, and more, all on one page!

Pre-Writing Skills
Tracing Lines, Visual Discrimination, Bilateral Integration (Printables)

Speech Therapy Resources

Speech & Language Supports
UPDATE: 12/02/2020 Multiple websites with great speech and language supports for parents to use from home.
LAMP
Storm Speech Therapy - Lamp Words for Life Resources

Visual Impairment

VI Resources
A list of wonderful websites for parents to access to help their children with visual impairments be successful from home.
VI Resources
Here are some links recommended by our Visual Impairment service provider.

Other Fun!

Fun ideas and activities to get students involved at home!
Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems
Free Video Series
National Park Virtual Tours
33 National Park Tours You Can Take Virtually From Home
Virtual Field Trips
Over 30 Virtual Field Trips with Links (Mars, San Diego Zoo, etc.)

More Parent Resources

Support Services
Local Emergency Services, Emergency Hotline Services, Local Mental Health Authority, Counseling, Clothing/Household/Utility/Travel/Food Assistance, & Substance Abuse
Center for Life Resources, Brownwood, TX
The Center for Life Resources provides a wide variety of services, from children's mental health, peer support, autism services, and services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Stay Together - A High Sky Program
The Stay Together program offers free professional assistance to help resolve issues causing concern and tension in the home.
Explanation of IDD Services & Supports
Texas Health & Human Services - Explanation of Services & Supports - Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (including Medicaid programs, residential options, selecting service providers, and more)
Crisis Resources for You and Your Child (NEW!)
Provides contact info for resources covering a range of topics (i.e., suicide, abuse, addiction, disaster distress, and more)
West Texas Counseling & Guidance
Provide a range of counseling and therapy services to the community
helpandhope.com
Help for Parents & Hope for Kids - Parenting tips from experts and family fun!
Aunt Bertha
By simply entering a zip code, the site will find food, counseling, health, housing, legal, job training and much more in the area.
HHS Children's Autism Program
Provides focused ABA services through local community agencies & organizations at minimal cost (requires parent training)
Texas Community Partner Program
Great way for families to apply for benefits (anything & everything, including available waiver programs)

Boardmaker visuals for at-home schedule

Our AMAZING Co-op Staff!

Ballinger ISD

Kari Calcote - Director of Special Services

Kristi Cook - School Psychologist & SPED Counselor

Paige Grimes - Speech Pathologist

Missy Calcote - ARD Facilitator

Coleman ISD

Kari Calcote - Director of Special Services

Kristi Cook - School Psychologist & SPED Counselor

Vanessa Richards - JH/HS Educational Diagnostician

Lee McKelvain - Speech Pathologist / Auditory Impairment Service Provider

Denise Cervantez - Elementary Educational Diagnostician

Winters ISD

Kari Calcote - Director of Special Services

Kristi Cook - School Psychologist & SPED Counselor

Jackie Timmerman - Elementary Educational Diagnostician

Kay Whitfield - Speech Pathologist

Kristen Pruser - ARD Facilitator

Miles ISD

Kari Calcote - Director of Special Services

Kristi Cook - School Psychologist & SPED Counselor

Shay Fischer - Speech Pathologist & ARD Facilitator

Genni Colombo - Educational Diagnostician / ARD Facilitator

Co-Op For Special Services Office Staff

Darlene Kelly - Office Manager

Bridget Wakefield - Dyslexia Specialist

Ginger Speaks - Diagnostician's Clerk

Service Providers

Samantha King - Visual Impairment Service Provider

Ashley Book - Physical Therapist

Robbi Hoelscher - Occupational Therapist

T. Roach - Occupational Therapist

Kristi Cook
Kristi is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters

School Psychologist, Child Advocate