Employing HLPs and EBPs to Support Collaboration By Mary Long by Mary Long

Seeds of Partnership – Family Empowerment Centers

longmx2 — 2025-07-02 04:36:43 UTC

Family Empowerment Centers help parents and families of kids with disabilities (ages 3 to 22) by offering support, training, and info on navigating special education and services. Seeds of Partnership, backed by the California Department of Education, helps these centers with coordination and resources so families feel more confident and connected. Each center offers different services depending on the local community’s needs.

ACCESS

longmx2 — 2025-07-02 04:40:47 UTC

ACCESS is a guide designed to help students with disabilities, especially those who are blind or visually impaired, prepare for independent living, work, and life after school. Originally created by California Transcribers and Educators for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CTEBVI), it offers tailored resources for students, parents, and teachers, including tools that support learning and life skills.

Person First Language

longmx2 — 2025-07-02 05:08:25 UTC

The principles outlined in person-first language emphasize respectful and inclusive communication, which is essential when collaborating with fellow educators, service providers, and families. By using language that centers students as individuals rather than by their disabilities, professionals build stronger, more empathetic partnerships that support shared decision-making and promote student success.

Equity vs Equality

longmx2 — 2025-07-02 05:11:14 UTC

The image highlights the difference between equality and equity, showing that equal treatment doesn’t always lead to equal outcomes. Professionals must collaborate to provide differentiated support that meets each student's unique needs, just like adjusting the number of boxes so everyone can see the game. This shared commitment ensures every student has a fair opportunity to succeed.

longmx2 — 2025-07-02 05:12:48 UTC

When general and special education teachers work together, students do better. By sharing ideas and planning as a team, they can make sure every student gets the help they need to succeed in school. This is exactly what HLP 1 is all about, working with others to help students do their best.

Tips for Enhancing Workplace Communication

longmx2 — 2025-07-02 05:15:10 UTC

The document outlines 20 practical tips for improving workplace communication, including listening actively, using respectful language, asking for feedback, and avoiding assumptions. It emphasizes the value of clear, empathetic exchanges and strategies like paraphrasing, clarifying, and reflecting to ensure understanding. Strong communication helps build trust and collaboration, making teams more effective and supportive.

Standards-aligned Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)

longmx2 — 2025-07-02 05:25:03 UTC

This document focuses on making sure everyone, teachers, specialists, and families, is on the same page during IEP meetings. It highlights the importance of sharing information clearly, including families in decisions, and using language that is understandable and transparent so everyone stays informed. Avoiding acronyms is also key. It’s all about teamwork and building trust.

Accommodations Toolkit

longmx2 — 2025-07-02 05:30:14 UTC

The National Center on Educational Outcome (NCEO) Accommodations Toolkit helps teachers and school staff work better together when planning supports for students with disabilities. It gives easy-to-understand information about what kinds of accommodations are helpful and what’s allowed in different states. This way, everyone on the team can make smart, informed choices to help students do their best

Video: Reducing the Barriers

longmx2 — 2025-07-02 05:38:56 UTC

This video focuses on how educators can work together to shift their mindset from fixing student “deficits” to identifying and removing barriers in the learning environment. That kind of teamwork This kind of collaborative mindset can help educators to create an environment where every student can do their best.

Testing and Classroom Accommodations

longmx2 — 2025-07-02 05:42:05 UTC

This tool offers a clear list of classroom and testing accommodations that can help team members understand what supports are available for students with disabilities. When professionals have a shared resource like this, it makes it easier to plan together, align strategies, and make sure students get the help they need.

Tech Tool 1: Diffit

longmx2 — 2025-07-02 05:48:58 UTC

Web.diffit.me helps teachers and school staff work together by making reading materials easier to use for different students. It lets you change the reading level of a passage, so everyone on the team can share the same content in a way that fits each student’s needs. This makes planning and teaching as a team a lot smoother.

HLP 1: Evidence-Based Practices

longmx2 — 2025-07-02 06:00:16 UTC

“What, How, Who” Planning Strategy
- What: Decide what content to teach, like main topics, goals, or standards. The teacher who knows the subject best can lead this part.
- How: Choose how will the material be taught? Decide which co-teaching methods will work best, like parallel teaching or one teaching while the other supports.
- Who: Identify which students may need extra support or adjustments. The special education teacher often helps guide this part.
(Da Fonte & Barton-Arwood, 2017)
Using Fact Sheets to Help Teachers Support Students
Teachers don’t always have the same training as special education teachers. It is important to help bridge those gaps, by making short helpful fact sheets.
- Disability fact sheets explain students' disabilities and how to support them in class.
- Academic content sheets help special ed teachers understand what’s being taught and how it’s organized.
- Student fact sheets describe individual students’ strengths and needs.
- IEP fact sheets make key IEP details clear, like needed supports and accommodations.
  (Da Fonte & Barton-Arwood, 2017)

Organize Effective Meetings

longmx2 — 2025-07-02 06:05:25 UTC

This guide explains how to plan and lead strong team meetings that include both school staff and families. It gives clear steps like setting a goal, using a meeting agenda, and making sure everyone understands the student data, so the meeting stays focused and productive. This approach creates a positive and organized space.

Words that Show Support

longmx2 — 2025-07-02 06:09:02 UTC

This website shares tips to help IEP meetings go more smoothly, especially when people don’t agree. It talks about things like staying calm, listening to others, and using clear language, so that meetings feel respectful and focused on what’s best for the student. These ideas can help to create a safe and productive space.

Video: How to Create Strengths-based IEPs?

longmx2 — 2025-07-02 06:18:27 UTC

This video highlights how IEP meetings can be more positive by focusing on what students are good at, not just what they struggle with. It shows how teachers and families can use a student’s strengths to make better plans and goals.

Move Beyond Compliance

longmx2 — 2025-07-02 06:24:57 UTC

This shows how IEP meetings can become more meaningful when IEP team members focus on building relationships and teamwork between school staff and families. Instead of just checking off boxes or following rules and regulations, the article encourages educators to create a welcoming space where everyone’s voice matters, especially the family’s. It shows that when meetings are flexible, open, and centered on the student, they lead to better plans and stronger support for inclusion.

Person-Centered IEP

longmx2 — 2025-07-02 06:39:58 UTC

This website explains how to make IEP meetings better by focusing on the student’s goals, strengths, and what they want for their future. It shows how families and school staff can work together, listen to each other, and make a plan that really fits the student’s needs.

HLP 2: Organize and Facilitate Effective Meeting with Professionals and Families

longmx2 — 2025-07-02 06:43:18 UTC

Pre-Meeting Planning

Brainstorm ideas and communicate and have all team members contribute to the IEP.
Parents and other team members should share ideas about the student's strengths, needs, and goals beforehand. This allows everyone to process information and feel fully involved in the decision-making process.

(Diliberto & Brewer, 2012)

Establishing and Following Ground Rules

Ground rules give IEP team members clear guidelines for positive communication during the meeting and encourage good interactions.
Rules often include:
Communicating clearly and listening carefully.
Asking and welcoming questions for clarification.
Respecting others' views.
Sharing views willingly.
Being open to different ideas.
Focusing on future planning, not dwelling on the past.
Keeping a "person-centered planning" focus can further improve communication throughout the IEP meeting

(Diliberto & Brewer, 2012)

If/Then Situations

longmx2 — 2025-07-02 06:44:35 UTC

This guide helps schools run smoother and more successful IEP meetings. It offers simple "if/then" scenarios, for example, “If parents aren’t showing up, then ask why and try different ways to include them.” It also gives helpful tips for handling common problems like late meetings, missing staff, or unsigned forms, so that the whole team can stay organized, work together, and keep the focus on supporting the student.

Engaging Parents

longmx2 — 2025-07-02 06:49:54 UTC

The article shares how building strong, respectful relationships with families leads to better support for students. It gives practical tips like listening carefully, planning meetings that include everyone, and using clear communication that help families feel valued and involved. When families and educators work together like this, students are more likely to get the services and learning support they need.

Advocating for Your Child with Special Needs

longmx2 — 2025-07-02 06:58:09 UTC

This guide helps families learn how to speak up for their child in a confident and respectful way. It shows parents how to prepare for meetings, learn about special education laws, and build strong communication with teachers and school teams. When families feel informed and involved, they can work better with educators to get the right support and services for their child.

Talking Points for Parents

longmx2 — 2025-07-02 14:53:22 UTC

The Talking Points for Parents helps families understand their rights and how to actively participate in the IEP process. It encourages strong communication between parents and schools, showing that families are essential partners in making sure students get the services they need.

Center for Parent Information

longmx2 — 2025-07-02 15:00:35 UTC

The Center for Parent Information website gives families easy access to trusted information, tools, and local resources that help them take an active role in their child’s education. It connects parents with training centers and guidance so they can better understand special education services and work closely with school teams. This creates collaboration between families and educators.

Tech Tool 1: Read & Write

longmx2 — 2025-07-02 15:07:30 UTC

Read&Write for Google Chrome offers features likes text-to-speech, word prediction, and vocabulary support, Read&Write can be used at home, which opens the door for families to support learning outside of school. Teachers can show parents how to use features like audio playback or picture dictionaries to help with homework. This builds a bridge between school and home.

Tech Tool 2: Remind

longmx2 — 2025-07-02 15:14:51 UTC

The Remind app makes it easier for teachers and families to stay connected and work together to support student learning. It allows educators to send quick updates, reminders, and messages in real time, helping families stay informed about assignments, IEP meetings, and student progress.

Tech Tool 3:

longmx2 — 2025-07-02 15:29:15 UTC

Google Classroom supports families a clear window into their child’s learning—through assignment updates, teacher feedback, and class announcements. When teachers invite guardians to receive email summaries or post important information, it helps families stay informed and involved in supporting their child’s progress. This ongoing connection builds trust and makes it easier to work together to secure the services and support students need.

Tech Tool 2: Google Forms & Sheets

longmx2 — 2025-07-02 15:49:37 UTC

Google Forms and Sheets can make it easy for teachers, specialists, and support staff to collect and share real-time data on student behavior or academic progress. For example, a team can use a shared form to track reading fluency or behavior incidents, then review the data together in Sheets to adjust strategies. This helps everyone stay aligned and make informed decisions based on data. Teachers can provide feedback directly on the Google Forms to make the data collection process smoother and more efficient for everyone.

Tech Tool 3: Padlet

longmx2 — 2025-07-02 15:55:40 UTC

Padlet gives educators a shared digital space to brainstorm, plan lessons, and exchange resources in real time. It’s great for teamwork between general education teachers, special educators, and support staff. While Padlet should never be used to post private student information, it’s perfect for sharing general resources that help everyone support students better, without risking confidentiality.

HLP 3: Collaborate with Families to Support Student Learning and Secure Needed Services

longmx2 — 2025-07-02 15:56:14 UTC

Wraparound Approach to Services
The Wraparound Approach is a team-based method that brings support to children and families within their own communities, especially helpful for kids with emotional or behavioral needs.
- Personalized Plans: Services are tailored to each child’s strengths.
- Family-Driven: Families are key partners in planning and decisions, making sure support fits their values and culture.
- Community-Based Support: Help is provided in the child’s home, school, or local setting and not in an isolated places.

(Cohen et. al, 2006)

Family Support and Education

Helping families is a proven way to support children with emotional or behavior challenges. It works best when schools and communities involve families as partners in planning and support.
Programs should match the family’s values and culture.
When families are part of the process, kids do better in school, at home, and in the community.
Families understand their child’s needs at home and can help connect the school with the community.
Benefits of involving families include:
- Better grades and test scores
- More classes passed and credits earned
- Fewer absences
- Improved behavior
- Stronger social and school skills
  (Cohen et. al, 2006)

Tech Tool 1: Calendly

longmx2 — 2025-07-03 03:04:23 UTC

Calendly can make it easier to schedule meetings that work for both families and professionals, reducing back-and-forth emails and missed connections. Educators can share a link with available time slots, allowing team members and families to choose what works best for them. This helps ensure meetings are timely, well-attended, and more focused on collaboration and student support.

Tech Tool 2: Talking Points

longmx2 — 2025-07-03 03:09:16 UTC

TalkingPoints can help educators communicate clearly and consistently with families before and after meetings. It allows teachers to send messages in families’ home languages, making it easier to share meeting times, agendas, and follow-up notes. This builds trust, encourages participation, and ensures that all voices are heard during important planning discussions.

Tech Tool 3: Otter.ai

longmx2 — 2025-07-03 03:13:20 UTC

Otter.ai helps during meetings by writing down what everyone says in real time, like live note-taking. This makes it easier to remember important points and follow up on tasks later. It’s especially helpful for families or team members who missed the meeting or want to review what was discussed, making meetings more organized and inclusive.

Video: Building Better Collaboration Between Families and Schools

longmx2 — 2025-07-03 03:30:39 UTC

The "Building Better Collaboration Between Families and Schools" shows how parents and teachers can work together to help students succeed. It explains simple, real-life ways to build trust, listen to families, and set shared goals.