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IEPs prepare your child for FURTHER education, employment and independent living, but your vision for the future should drive IEP goals.

How can we prep for the new school year? PIP special ed expert, military spouse and EFMP parent Crystal DeVoss Mahany shares how you can get prepared & share your summer updates to start the new school year the right way.

When it comes to being an advocate, I don’t believe we’re born. I think we’re–often reluctantly–created. Molded by our experiences, our failures, our triumphs and most importantly, by a deep desire to help our children. If you asked me in 2019, when my then four-year-old was diagnosed with autism, if I would be sitting here writing this, I would’ve laughed at the absurdity of it all. But three years later, here I am, a reluctant advocate.

Partners in PROMISE volunteer Mary Monrose shares what she has learned about the 2023 NDAA: As a military spouse, when I first learned of the NDAA, I thought it was a law that only impacted my active duty spouse. There was talk about pay raises, changes to retirement packages and other benefits like whether or not the Commissaries would remain in operation. But what I didn’t realize is that we, as military spouses, can play a vital role in this process. We can engage our Co

Hear from military spouse Carrie Conley about her experience with EFMP enrollment. "It never occurred to me that the very thing I was doing to help relieve my stress and anxiety would end up being the cause of more stress and anxiety."

For parents of special needs children, summer camp presents a big challenge for parents, students and camp providers. Partners in PROMISE guest blogger, special ed teacher and military spouse Jessica Monteverde, helps parents learn how to pick the right camp & how to keep kids on track all summer long.

As the world shut down for COVID-19 and nothing was normal, I discovered I had stage 3 breast cancer. After a seven-month deployment, my husband was out to sea on COVID-19 quarantine. I was home with three kids, trying to navigate the new reality. When I discovered a painful spot in my breast around Halloween, life was already upside down. My doctor evaluated me after Thanksgiving, and I was officially diagnosed with cancer after Christmas. I wasn't trying to delay my care. H

Some nonprofits call out leaders on Twitter. Some have a handle on hashtags. While others are breaking into TikTok. At Partners in PROMISE we are a fan of all of the above, but we also know the importance of individuals telling their own stories. We are here to elevate the voices of military families so you can tell your story. So when Meredith Flory reached out to us after her Tweet went viral we listened to her and worked with her to help her tell her own story, her way. W

As most states and major cities roll back mask mandates and relax a multitude of other COVID safeguards, many breathe a sigh of relief to return to pre-COVID life. But let’s not forget the unintended consequences of closing schools and virtual learning: a significant loss of learning especially for children with disabilities. This makes compensatory education a vital tool in a parents' toolkit. Compensatory education (a.k.a. “comp ed”) is educational programming designed to r

So why do we need to move past “merely knowing” and the passiveness of awareness? For starters, you can be aware of something while not doing anything about it. Awareness campaigns alone rarely improve the lives of autistic people. In fact, they can lead to widespread dissemination of misinformation and outdated perspectives because sometimes they neglect to include the voice of the neurodiverse community.

ABA. Maybe you’ve heard this term dropped before in casual conversation. Perhaps you have talked to a parent at your child’s school who mentioned that their child receives ABA services for an ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) diagnosis. Maybe it has been recommended to you that your own child receive this insurance-covered therapy. But what is ABA exactly? Let’s take a look at what ABA therapy is, what it isn't and five of the most important terms to know about this important se

The differences between 504 plans and IEPs can be exceedingly perplexing for parents, who may not have access to the same professional expertise. The processes, verbiage and ever-changing ideology can leave a parent throwing their arms up in dismay. Special education teacher Jessica Monteverde and military spouse shares a breakdown of the differences between each plan and when one option may outweigh the other.

Did you miss our data release with Easterseals' Candid Conversations? Did you attend, but not see your questions answered? Watch the recording and/or read the answers we compiled with the help of our panelists, Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission (MIC3) and EFMP Coalition partners EFM!

The Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission, or MiC3, is an agreement that has been signed by all 50 states. This compact provides rights to military-connected children and their families to protect them from being a school district afterthought. MiC3 operates through committees comprised of local and state government officials and active duty military representatives. What does not currently exist is a spot on these councils for military spouses, who often manage

Partners in PROMISE along with researchers from The Ohio State University fielded our annual Military Special Education Survey from Sep - Oct 2021. We asked over 140 questions covering topics including special education, the Exceptional Family Member Program, employment, out-of-pocket costs, DoDEA, ABA therapy and more. Over 1,100 military families shared their stories with us. Military special education families are experiencing the following barriers to accessing a free and

Hear from special education teacher and military spouse, Jessica Monteverde as she shares her insights into how to integrate IEPs into your overall PCS prep. "Although it won’t solve all the challenges of PCSing, knowing your child’s IEP is up-to-date and ready for a transition to a new school will help. Research shows that your input and collaboration are immeasurable to the success of your child now and in the future. The new team will be grateful for your preparation, com

Military children with special education needs are facing significant delays in getting services they need, according to a new report based on a parent survey. Written By Karen Jowers via MilitaryTImes The delays are systemic and parents are resigned to expecting those delays — findings which are no surprise to special needs families in general, said Jennifer Barnhill, chief operating officer and lead researcher for Partners in Promise, a nonprofit focused on protecting the

No matter what strategies you adopt, taking a proactive approach and building family reading strategies will help you assess your child’s progress and build a solid foundation for your child as they continue their educational journey. Marine Corps spouse and elementary educator, Kelley Siclari shares her tips for all reading levels.

Want to learn more about Partners in PROMISE survey findings? Unsure how these results will be transformed into solutions or resources provided by the DOD, DOE, Partners in PROMISE or nonprofits like Easterseals? On February 18, 2022 at 1 pm EST join Partners in PROMISE and Easterseals DC, MD, VA for a Candid Conversation where we hope to answer your questions about our annual survey findings: Military Children in Special Education - The Real, Perceived and Unknown Barriers t

"In my experience, if schools and families work together as a team, children in special education will be more likely to excel academically, socially and emotionally" writes special education teacher/mom and Marine Corps spouse Kelley Siclari.