Distance-Based Resources

The I-Team has created a bank of resources for working, learning, and connecting remotely. View our distance-based resources.

Resources for Families and Guardians

I-Team Quick Facts

Not familiar with the I-Team? Check out Quick Facts for Families and Guardians (PDF) for frequently asked questions and brief descriptions of who we are and what we do.

Choosing Outcomes and Accommodations for Children (COACH) Tool

Choosing Outcomes and Accommodations for Children (COACH) is a planning tool used by education teams and families for students with a wide range of developmental disabilities (aged 3-21). It promotes an inclusive education model and assists families and school professionals to collaborate by using a clear, methodical way of gathering, recording, and organizing information about a child. To learn more about the COACH tool, please view Quick Facts about COACH for Families and Guardians (PDF).

McGill Action Planning System (MAPS) Tool

MAPS is a student- and family-centered planning tool based on the McGill Action Planning System (Marsha Forest and Evelyn Lusthaus, 1987). The I-Team encourages the use of the MAPS process because it provides an opportunity to involve families and students in the decision-making process related to educational planning. For more information about MAPS, please read Quick Facts about MAPS for Families and Guardians (PDF)

Top Five Requests from Families

The I-Team's Family Resources Consultants (FRCs) perform outreach and provide ongoing support and technical assistance to the families of students receiving I-Team services. Additionally, the FRCs provide information to other families and professionals upon request. The top five requests from families have been identified and compiled in the Family Support Requests (PDF).

Online Resources

Listed are just a few of many online resources regarding disability. Below you will find sites, videos, and articles regarding introductory information for parents, educators, and community members. If you would like to see an online resource added to our list, please email the information to Darren McIntyre.

• Association of University Centers on Disability: The Center on Disability and Community Inclusion is part of a national network of University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. All University centers in collaboration with the AUCD are listed with contact and website information.
• Blog by Dr. Paula Kluth: Dr. Kluth is a former special educator and inclusion facilitator. Her personal mission is to provide inclusive, responsive, and engaging school experiences for students with disabilities. She has co-written ten books on special education and received multiple awards regarding her work on autism and inclusion.
• Center for Applied Special Technology: CAST is an educational organization that applies Universal Design of Learning to promote learning and development opportunities to individuals.
• Clinics for Children with Special Health Needs: CSHN clinics range from cardiology clinics to hearing outreach programs. Visit the website to see a full list of Vermont CSHN clinics.
• Communicating Partners: This website is especially valuable for parents of children who have no formal language, or little formal language. It has valuable tips for interacting with children using body language, and for encouraging the development of verbal language once the non-verbal interactions are established.
• Council for Exceptional Children: CEC is an international organization that focuses on professional development and educational success for individuals with disabilities, talents, and gifts.
• Early Intervention: This informational site provides guidelines for early intervention for children with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and other disabilities.
• Including Samuel: Watch the trailer for Dan Habib's film "Including Samuel", a documentary following Habib's challenges and achievements in making his son's school and community an inclusive environment. This eye-opening film shows how important it is to spread awareness of disability and questions "what is normal?"
• Literacy Instruction: This informational site provides guidelines for teaching literacy skills to students with special needs and/or complex communication needs.
• Parent Technical Assistance Center Network: The National PTAC provides parents with TA, up to date information, and other materials and resources.
• Rewarding Work: Rewarding Work can help find the right person to provide support for individuals and families.
• Self-Advocacy: Allies in Self Advocacy are partners with the Association of University Centers on Disabilities and encourages its networks to encourage and support self-advocates. Click above to find out more.
• Special Education Resources: This site holds an in-depth list of special education information including inclusive education, parent information and support, advocacy organizations, and more.
• Special Olympics: Visit the Vermont Special Olympics homepage to find information on fundraising, getting involved, or entering competitions.
• Vermont Family Network: Vermont Family Network promotes better health, education, and well-being for all children and families, with a focus on children and young adults with special needs.
• Webinars from AUCD: View the AUCD library to view new and archived webinars.
• Webinars from the Indiana Institute: The Indiana Institute provides webinar trainings focusing on topics such as early childhood, school improvement, transition, supported employment, and financial literacy.
• Webinars from Vermont Family Network: VFN presents webinars on a variety of topics including autism, assistive technology (presented by Leslie Ermolovich from the AT Tryout Center at the CDCI), developmental disabilities, transition, early childhood development, health, and special education.
• West Virginia Department of Education's Deafblind Resources: This link provides various Deafblind resources including tools, publications, links of interest, and CVI partnership information.