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Ask almost any family caring for a child who needs additional supports and/or services, and they’ll tell you: the education system can feel confusing, overwhelming, and frustrating. It’s not just the paperwork or the terminology — it’s not always knowing what questions to ask, or even where to begin.
At the Coalition, we hear this from families all the time. That’s why we wanted to share this new resource from the Wisconsin Family Connections Center (WIFCC): Educational Supports and Advocacy, a guide to the Wisconsin organizations dedicated to helping families navigate exactly this.
The resource connects families to:
- Wisconsin Statewide Parent Educator Initiative (WSPEI) — helps families and schools build positive working relationships and navigate the special education and IEP process together.
- Wisconsin Family Assistance Center for Education, Training, & Support (WI FACETS) — offers training, resources, and support to help families understand educational services and systems.
- Special Education Resources for Parents and Families, a page from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), with resources and information for parents and families.
- Wisconsin Special Education Mediation System (WSEMS) — helps families and schools work collaboratively to resolve special education disputes.
- Wisconsin Wayfinder — connects families of children with delays, disabilities, special health care needs, and mental health conditions to a Children’s Resource Guide and the Children’s Resource Network.
- Disability Rights Wisconsin — a private nonprofit that helps people access services and opportunities through advocacy and legal expertise.
- Autism United of Wisconsin — the state’s largest Autism Spectrum service organization, offering programs, events, resources, and support.
Every family’s path through the education system looks different, but no family should have to walk it without knowing where to turn. That’s the idea behind connection: families navigating complex situations don’t have to do it alone.
Explore Educational Supports and Advocacy →
The Coalition empowers families navigating the complexities of child welfare and adoption, providing resources and connections to help them thrive.