welcome, Families!

We are dedicated to providing information and materials that you can use to be empowered to teach your child or student with Down syndrome. As you plan your approach, remember to focus on their ABILITIES versus disabilities.

If you believe people can learn, they WILL!

Have questions or concerns?  Contact DSACT at admin@dsact.org or (512) 323-0808.

Special Education Legal Consultations

DSACT is pleased to offer to DSACT members a free, one-time legal consultation on special education issues only. A consultation will last up to two hours. Our consultations generally focus on inclusion/placement in the least restrictive classroom environment and provision of appropriate supports and services, including modifying the curriculum. The consultation's purpose will be to help you be a better advocate for your student by giving you legal information about your special education issue. DSACT does not provide legal consultations about placement in private schools, preschool services or services after 12th grade. Our services do not include help with mediation, due process hearings or complaints to state or federal agencies. The DSACT attorney does not accompany you to meetings with school staff, including ARD meetings.

To request a special education legal consultation, complete and submit the "DSACT Special Education Legal Consultation Request Form." We will usually be able to notify you within 5-7 days after you have submitted the form if we can provide you with a legal consultation for your special education issue.

Topics of interest and Notable websites

Academics

• Teaching Money Skills: Coins

• Teaching Money Skills: Bills

• Tips for Working with your Child

• Daily Math Practice

• DSACT App Day - Notable Apps

• Locking your iPad - restricted access

• DSFOC - Learning Program Materials

• Numicon

• See and Learn

• Reading Comprehension

• Creating Personal, Motivating Books for Your Child

• Apps for Academics and More!

Books

• Books of Interest: ARD, Behavior, Communication, Inclusion, Independence, Math, Motor Skills, and Reading

• My Keepsake Tales: Keepsake Tales makes personalized books so every child can see themselves as the champion of their own story

Behavior

• Behavior 101

• Behavior Tips

• Using Visuals to Support Independence & Behavior

• Handling Challenging Behavior - Step One

• Handling Challenging Behavior - Step Two

• Avoiding Power Struggles

• Fading Prompts to Create Independence

• Personal Boundaries, Social Expectations, Acceptance & Safety

• Video Modeling: Helping a Child Understand Expectations

General School Topics

• Letter to parents in your child's class

• How to Choose a School District

• Introduce your Child to School Staff

• Executive Functioning - Why it is Important

• Supplemental Special Education Services Funds

Homeschool Resource List

Inclusion

• NDSC - this is a wonderful list of IEP, inclusion, and UDL (Universal Design for Learning) resources, as well as some social media pages by parents and advocates

Sexuality and Puberty

• Elevatus Training

• Scarlateen

• Sinergia (hosts webinars for caregivers on a variety of topics, including sexuality and sex ed)

Special Education and the IEP Process

• Five Elements of Successful Advocacy

• IEP Overview or Admission, Review and Dismissal Meeting

• Criteria for well written Individual Education Plan Goals and Objectives

• Educational Assistants 101

• Acronyms

• Defining Terms Used by Parents & Teachers

• What to Consider When Determining Placement

Transition to Adulthood

• Texas Project First transition resources (includes transition resources for various ages/stages)

• Transition Checklist (this is from Pennsylvania, but many checklist items apply for young adults living anywhere)

• Planning for the Future

• Look, Cook, and Eat

Lists of Notable Websites

• Helpful videos and webinars - includes a wide variety of video and webinar topics including academics, behavior, health, sexuality + puberty, transition, and more

• Academic

• Autism & Down syndrome

• Behavior

• Communication

• Inclusion

• IEP Topics

• Transition to Adulthood

• Post-Secondary

• Kid Friendly Websites

• SPEDTex