The goal of The Arc of Southwest Colorado’s Education Advocacy services is to facilitate communication between families and schools. We provide the following education advocacy services:

• Assistance to families for attaining legally required early intervention and public education services.
• Assistance to families for attaining an education evaluation
• Help with development and implementation of Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and 504’s.
• Help resolving conflicts with early intervention service providers and school district staff.
• Conflict resolution between individuals of families to address service delivery issues.
To receive Education Advocacy services, contact us.

We advocate for the following disabilities:

Developmental Disability:
Developmental disability is an umbrella term that encompasses all disabilities that impact the individual’s physical, behavioral, learning, or language areas of development. The onset of this disability must occur before the age 22.
According to the Developmental Disabilities Act, the term developmental disability means a severe, chronic disability that:
is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or a combination of those impairments;
occurs before the individual reaches the age of 22;
is likely to continue indefinitely;
results in substantial functional limitations in three or more of the following areas of major life activity (i)self-care, (ii)receptive and expressive language, (iii)learning, (iv) mobility, (v)self-determination (vi) capacity for independent living, and (vii) economic self-sufficiency; and reflects the individual’s need for a combination and sequence of special, interdisciplinary, or generic services, individualized supports, or other forms of assistance that are a lifelong or extended duration and are individually planned and coordinated.

Intellectual Disability:
Intellectual disability is a below-average cognitive ability with three (3) characteristics:
Intelligent quotient (or I.Q.) is between 70-75 or below
Significant limitations in adaptive behaviors (the ability to adapt and carry on everyday life activities such as self-care, socializing, communicating, etc.)
The onset of the disability occurs before age 18.