Michigan Alliance for Families

Michigan Alliance for Families Michigan Alliance for Families and Michigan Alliance - PTI provides information, support and education Michigan Alliance for Families is a moderated page.

SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY
Michigan Alliance for Families (MAF) will use its Facebook (FB) page and any other social media siteS to connect with and inform parents and other interested parties about our organization. We encourage all MAF supporters to be involved in online tools such as Facebook, which can promote MAF, connect people with the information and resources that they need and positively impact the lives of families of children receiving special education services. Your use of MAF social media sites is acceptance of this Policy and has the same effect as if you had actually physically signed an agreement. If you do not agree to the terms of this Policy, you may not view or post any content to any MAF Social Media site. As a guest posting content to any MAF social media sites, you agree that you will not:
violate any local, state, federal and international laws and regulations, including but not limited to copyright and intellectual property rights laws regarding any content that you post;
transmit any material (by uploading, posting, email or otherwise) that is unlawful, disruptive, threatening, profane, abusive, harassing, embarrassing, tortuous, defamatory, obscene, libelous, or is an invasion of another's privacy,
make comments about a person or groups’ culture, race, ethnicity or disability that is hateful or objectionable as solely determined by MAF;
impersonate any person or entity or falsely state or otherwise misrepresent your affiliation with a person or entity;
transmit (by uploading, posting, email or otherwise) any unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, or promotional materials about a product or Web site
post any content that may be construed as political lobbying, solicitations or endorsements. MAF reserves the right, in its discretion, to restrict or remove any content that violates these policies or any applicable law or revoke a user’s privilege to post on its page. All comments, visuals, videos and any other type of material posted by guests on MAF social media sites do not necessarily represent the views of The Arc Michigan, MAF, or their employees or affiliates. MAF assumes no legal responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information posted by guests. To protect your privacy, never post personal contact information on a social media site. If you need to reach MAF, call the main number at 1-800-552-4821 or send an email to info@michiganallianceforfamilies.org

MAF reserves the right to report any comments that imply harm or imminent danger to yourself or others. By submitting a comment for posting, you accept that MAF has the right to contact the appropriate authorities to report any suspicious activities, threats, or behaviors. By posting on this site, you are granting permission to MAF to reproduce, distribute, publish, display such content and the right to create derivative works from your content, edit or modify such content and use such content for any purpose. MAF reserves the right, but undertakes no duty, to review, edit, move, or delete any material submitted as a comment to information posted on its social media sites without notice. MAF reserves the right to edit comments for grammatical purposes. This policy may be updated at any time without notice, and each time you access a MAF social media site, the new policy will govern, usage, effective upon posting.

Let's plan for the future!  These webinars are for middle school and high school students who have an IEP to attend with...
03/14/2026

Let's plan for the future! These webinars are for middle school and high school students who have an IEP to attend with their family. These webinars focus on the transition from special education to adult life.

📍Transition to Adulthood webinars with Karen Wang on Thursdays in April at 5:30PM!
➕Youth Self-Determination Course starting May 14. Registration opens April 13.

Full details and easy registration on our website ➡️ https://www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org/upcoming-events/

03/14/2026

Using disability-related words as insults is a thing of the past.

A strong literacy foundation is vital for all Michiganders to thrive in their classroom, community, and future workplace...
03/13/2026

A strong literacy foundation is vital for all Michiganders to thrive in their classroom, community, and future workplace right here in Michigan.

I’ve got a plan for our students:

Every child reads
Every child eats
Every child succeeds

Plain and simple. Let’s get it done!

2006: Michigan Alliance for Families introduced2007: First iPhone introducedWe are not older than dirt, but we are older...
03/13/2026

2006: Michigan Alliance for Families introduced

2007: First iPhone introduced

We are not older than dirt, but we are older than smartphones!

We’ve seen a lot of upgrades since 2006, but our commitment to families remains the same.

🕛 March 13 Assistive Technology: What It Is and Why It MattersRegister at https://tinyurl.com/yxytej2j
03/13/2026

🕛 March 13
Assistive Technology: What It Is and Why It Matters
Register at https://tinyurl.com/yxytej2j

Assistive Technology (AT) enables people with disabilities to participate more fully in all aspects of their lives – at home, at school, and in their community. Parents play an important role when it comes to finding possible assistive technology solutions for their learner.

But how do families know what's available, appropriate, or necessary? Alt+Shift joins us for a family-friendly session designed to demystify AT.

March 13
Assistive Technology: What It Is and Why It Matters
Register at https://tinyurl.com/yxytej2j

Never forget the power of grassroots advocacy!
03/13/2026

Never forget the power of grassroots advocacy!

Today's A Mighty Girl Community Pick is in honor of the 36th anniversary of the Capitol Crawl: "All The Way To The Top: How One Girl's Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything" by Annette Bay Pimentel. Jennifer Keelan was just an ordinary girl who happened to use a wheelchair. But even as an 8-year-old, she knew her life would be a lot easier if people would think about what people with disabilities needed -- like cuts in a curb, lifts and elevators, and ramps so kids could easily go to school.

So Jennifer joined adult activists in the disability rights movement, and in 1990, as Congress debated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) -- a law that would make public spaces accessible -- she got out of her wheelchair at the bottom of the steps to the Capitol Building and climbed -- all the way to the top. Her part in the famous Capitol Crawl helped bring nationwide attention to the activists' fight -- leading Congress to pass world's first comprehensive civil rights law protecting the rights people with disabilities! This inspiring picture book shows young readers that anyone, no matter their age, can make an impact. Highly recommended for ages 5 to 9.

"All The Way To The Top" is available at https://www.amightygirl.com/all-the-way-to-the-top

For more books for children and teens starring Mighty Girls with disabilities of all varieties, visit our blog post "Many Ways To Be Mighty: 35 Books Starring Mighty Girls with Disabilities" at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=12992

To inspire children and teens with the true stories of courageous girls and women who changed the world, visit our blog post, "Dissent Is Patriotic: 50 Books About Women Who Fought for Change," at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=14364

For one of our favorite shirts celebrating the power of girls and women, check out the "Though She Be But Little She Is Fierce" t-shirt -- available in a variety of styles and colors for all ages at https://www.amightygirl.com/fierce-t-shirt

03/13/2026

Today is the 36th anniversary of the Capitol Crawl. On March 12, 1990, disability advocates called for Congress to pass the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Disability rights activists left their wheelchairs and mobility aids behind to crawl up the Capitol's inaccessible steps. Never forget the power of grassroots advocacy!

Throughout the year, get to know our team members who use their lived experience navigating special education to support...
03/11/2026

Throughout the year, get to know our team members who use their lived experience navigating special education to support families across Michigan every day as we celebrate twenty years of special education mentoring.

Say hello to Margarita Rodriguez-Curry, Parent Mentor for Spanish speaking families across Michigan! Margarita’s bilingual skills in English and Spanish allow her to bridge language and cultural gaps between families and professionals. She frequently translates documents, develops accessible materials, and coaches families on effective communication with schools.

Margarita’s passion comes from her own journey as a parent of a child with a disability, which fuels her commitment to ensuring families feel seen, supported, and empowered every step of the way.

Saluden a Margarita Rodriguez-Curry, Mentor de padres de habla hispana a nivel estatal. Sus habilidades bilingües en inglés y español le permiten conectar con familias y profesionales. Con frecuencia traduce documentos, desarrolla materiales accesibles y asesora a las familias sobre cómo comunicarse eficazmente con las escuelas.

La pasión de Margarita proviene de su propia experiencia como madre de un niño con discapacidad, lo que alimenta su compromiso de garantizar que las familias se sientan vistas, apoyadas y empoderadas en cada paso del camino.

Assistive Technology (AT) enables people with disabilities to participate more fully in all aspects of their lives – at ...
03/11/2026

Assistive Technology (AT) enables people with disabilities to participate more fully in all aspects of their lives – at home, at school, and in their community. Parents play an important role when it comes to finding possible assistive technology solutions for their learner.

But how do families know what's available, appropriate, or necessary? Alt+Shift joins us for a family-friendly session designed to demystify AT.

March 13
Assistive Technology: What It Is and Why It Matters
Register at https://tinyurl.com/yxytej2j

March 11 at 4:30PMFAPE in the LRERegister at https://tinyurl.com/52fpxp4d  Every child with a disability has the right t...
03/11/2026

March 11 at 4:30PM
FAPE in the LRE
Register at https://tinyurl.com/52fpxp4d

Every child with a disability has the right to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). But what do these terms actually mean for your student?

Join us for FAPE in the LRE, a free online workshop where we break down these two foundational concepts in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and how they apply to your child.

𝗙𝗔𝗣𝗘 ensures your child receives a public education designed to meet their unique needs at no cost to you.
𝗟𝗥𝗘 focuses on keeping your child in the general education classroom with their peers to the maximum extent appropriate, using the right supports and services.

Everyone who attends the IEP is important and has a role. Including the student! Students with disabilities should be in...
03/11/2026

Everyone who attends the IEP is important and has a role. Including the student!

Students with disabilities should be invited to attend and actively engage in their IEP Team meetings to share their strengths, preferences, interests, and areas where additional support may be needed.

By age 16, the student becomes a required IEP Team member. Student participation in the IEP process is encouraged prior to age 16. To create a more meaningful transition plan, districts can include the student begin the transition planning process at 14 years of age, or even younger if appropriate for that individual student.

View the guidance athttps://www.michigan.gov/mde/-/media/Project/Websites/mde/specialeducation/iep/IEP-Roles_Responsibilities.pdf

A new guidance document from Michigan Department of Education Office of Special Education gives an overview of the roles and responsibilities of the IEP Team participants.

Meaningful participation by all IEP Team members, especially families, is important to ensure IEPs promote access to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE).

By deepening understanding of each participant’s role, this document supports equitable, student-centered decision-making and fosters strong partnerships, helping every student thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

The document is available here:https://www.michigan.gov/mde/-/media/Project/Websites/mde/specialeducation/iep/IEP-Roles_Responsibilities.pdf

Address

1325 S Washington Avenue
Lansing, MI
48910

Telephone

+18005524821

Website

http://www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org/upcoming-events

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Michigan Alliance for Families posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Michigan Alliance for Families:

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram