ASK Resource Center

02/20/2026

🌟📚 Understanding Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) 📚🌟

A key principle of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is the expectation that students with IEPs are educated alongside their non-disabled peers as much as appropriate. This is known as the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE).

LRE means giving students the supports they need while keeping them included in the general education classroom as much as possible. Inclusion fosters learning, belonging, and meaningful participation — and every student deserves that opportunity. 💙

Involvement in music, art, physical education, school trips, clubs, etc. must be accommodated. LRE is not always the general education room.

02/19/2026

📘✨ Understanding the Contents of the IEP: The Big Picture ✨📘

Before looking at the specific components of an Individualized Education Program (IEP), it’s helpful to step back and consider the purpose of the IEP as a whole. An IEP is more than a document—it’s a blueprint for a child’s special education and related services under IDEA.

It outlines the supports, services, goals, and settings designed to help the student learn and participate meaningfully in school. From classroom instruction to related services and accommodations, the IEP guides the entire educational journey.

Knowing the “big picture” helps families and educators build stronger, more effective plans. 💙

Current as of April 2022 This information in Spanish | Esta información en español IEP stands for “individualized education program.” An IEP is a written statement for a child with a disability that is developed, reviewed, and revised in a meeting in keeping with certain requirements of law an...

02/19/2026

⏰ Reminder: Join Us for Support ⏰

Don’t forget to join our ASK Each Other Online Support Group — a welcoming, confidential space for parents and caregivers of children with disabilities to connect with others who understand.

📅 Monday, February 23
🕕 6:00–7:00 PM
💻 Online

Come as you are. Share if you’d like, listen if you prefer — you are always welcome.

👉 Register here:
https://www.askresource.org/events/february-23-ask-each-other---online-support-group---600-to-700-pm

02/18/2026

📣 Today’s the Day! 📣

Join us today for the ASK Each Other Online Support Group — a supportive, judgment-free space for parents and caregivers of children with disabilities.

🗓 Today, February 18
🕛 Noon–1:00 PM
💻 Online

Whether you want to talk, listen, or just feel less alone, you are welcome.

👉 Register here to join:
https://www.askresource.org/events/february-18-ask-each-other-online-support-group---february-18th-from-noon-to-100-pm

02/17/2026

⏰ Reminder: Join Us for Support ⏰

Don’t forget to join our ASK Each Other Online Support Group — a welcoming, confidential space for parents and caregivers of children with disabilities to connect and support one another.

📅 Tonight! Tuesday, February 17
🕡 6:30–7:30 PM
💻 Online

Come as you are. Share, listen, or simply be present with others who understand.

👉 Register here:
https://www.askresource.org/events/february-17-ask-each-other-online-support-group---630-to-730-pm

Join ASK Family Support Specialists and other parents on February 17 from 6:30–7:30 p.m. for a facilitated online support group. Register today.

02/17/2026

🔍✨ Independent Educational Evaluations: Know Your Options ✨🔍

In Iowa, special education evaluations are typically conducted by Area Education Agency staff alongside your child’s school team. But if you believe the Educational Evaluation Report (EER) is incorrect, incomplete, or doesn’t tell the full story, you have the right to request an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE).

An IEE can provide a fresh perspective and help ensure your child’s needs are fully understood and supported. Families deserve clarity, accuracy, and meaningful input in the evaluation process. 💙

Discover how an IEE can help you better understand your child’s needs and support their special education services.

02/16/2026

🔄✨ Re-Evaluations in Special Education: What Families Should Know ✨🔄

For students ages 3–21 receiving special education services, federal law requires IEP teams to consider a re-evaluation at least every 3 years. This helps ensure that the IEP continues to meet the student’s needs as they grow and change.

Parents can also request a re-evaluation once per year — especially helpful when new concerns arise at school or when a child receives a new diagnosis that may impact learning or behavior.

Re-evaluations keep support plans accurate, up-to-date, and effective. 💙



https://www.askresource.org/resources/re-evaluation-for-special-education-eligibility

02/16/2026

Navigating Blindness in School: From Learning by Example to Taking Action

Supporting a student who is blind or has low vision can feel overwhelming — but you don’t have to figure it out alone.

Join ASK Resource Center for this practical, parent- and educator-friendly session focused on real examples, effective strategies, and actionable next steps for navigating blindness in school settings.

You’ll learn how to:
✔️ Better understand educational supports and accommodations
✔️ Learn from real-life experiences and examples
✔️ Turn information into meaningful action for your child or student

Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, or professional, this session is designed to help you feel more confident and informed.

👉 Register here:
https://www.askresource.org/events/navigating-blindness-in-school-from-learning-by-example-to-taking-action

Please feel free to share with anyone who may benefit 💙

Join a personal webinar with Monica and Elizabeth Rouse on navigating blindness in school, advocacy, self-confidence, and student success.

02/13/2026

🎥 Webinar Recording Now Available: Understanding Host Homes

Curious about host homes and how they support people with disabilities in meaningful, community-based ways? The recording of this informative webinar is now available to watch.

Join ASK Resource Center, Abby Barker from Mosaic, and Joan Baumert—a guardian of an individual who lives in a host home—as they break down what host homes are, how they work, and why they can be such a powerful living option for some individuals with disabilities.

This session offers both professional insight and a real family perspective, helping families and caregivers better understand whether a host home might be the right fit for their loved one.

Participants will:
✔️ Learn what a host home is and how the model works
✔️ Understand how host homes provide daily support and promote community living
✔️ Hear real-life examples of successful host home partnerships—and what makes them work well

This webinar is designed for families and caregivers who want clear, practical information about this unique and supportive residential option.

▶️ Watch the full webinar here:

Join ASK, Abby Barker from Mosaic, and Joan Baumert, a guardian of an individual who lives in a host home, to learn what host homes are and how they provide ...

02/13/2026

📣 Join us on Monday, February 16, 2026!

Don’t miss Empowered Employment: Job Coaching and Work-Based Learning Solutions — a virtual session focused on helping individuals with disabilities access meaningful employment supports.

This event will explore:
✔️ Job coaching supports
✔️ Work-based learning opportunities
✔️ Strategies that promote independence and success in employment

📅 Monday, February 16, 2026
💻 Virtual

👉 Register here:
https://www.askresource.org/events/empowered-employment-job-coaching-and-work-based-learning-solutions

02/13/2026

🎥 Webinar Recording Now Available: Empowering Conversations Around Sexual Health with Eyes Open Iowa.

The recording of our webinar “Empowering Conversations: Navigating Sexual Health for Kids and Young Adults with ID/DD” is now available to watch on YouTube.

This important session is designed for parents, caregivers, and support teams who want practical, respectful, and developmentally appropriate ways to talk about sexual health with children and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Too often, individuals with ID/DD are excluded from these conversations—leaving them without the information they deserve to stay safe, informed, and empowered. This webinar helps change that.

Participants will learn about:
✔️ Why sexual health education is essential for all individuals, including those with ID/DD
✔️ Effective strategies for having open, age-appropriate sexual health conversations with your child and their support team
✔️ High-quality, trusted resources for teaching sexual health to children and youth with ID/DD

▶️ Watch the full webinar here:

Join us for the webinar "Empowering Conversations: Navigating Sexual Health for Kids and Young Adults with ID/DD." This session equips parents, caregivers, a...

02/12/2026

📝✨ What Is a Comprehensive Special Education Evaluation? ✨📝

A comprehensive evaluation looks at all areas that may be impacted by a disability — not just academics. This process helps identify every special education and related service need a student may have.

To be truly comprehensive, the evaluation must assess all relevant performance domains, meaning any area connected to the student’s disability or the concerns raised by families or educators.

Thorough evaluations lead to better support, stronger plans, and more meaningful progress for students. 💙



https://www.askresource.org/resources/a-comprehensive-special-education-evaluation