Resources
Access is the mission.
Every guide, conversation, and resource here exists to open a door. For families navigating systems. For professionals who want to do better. For communities ready to build something real.
Featured resource
Navigating the IEP Process: A Family Guide
Individualized Education Programs can feel overwhelming. This guide walks families through every stage — from the initial evaluation to annual reviews — with plain-language explanations, questions to ask, and advocacy tips from lived experience.
From Arlene's desk
Essays on caregiving, disability pride, and community.
Arlene P. Chandler
I pay attention. I ask questions. I learn in real time. Mother, author, speaker. Growth rarely happens quietly, and I've stopped pretending mine does.
What My Mother Taught Me About Opportunity
For years, I thought my career had taken several different paths. Then I realized they were all the same path — just different doors.
Read on SubstackHere's What I Heard You Say
I've been sitting with something for a long time. About listening. About what we actually hear when families speak — and what we miss.
Read on SubstackParent Chat videos
Watch the conversations.
45 episodes and counting. Real parents, real professionals, real talk — on IEPs, caregiving, disability pride, assistive technology, life after special education, and so much more.
Strengthening Communication Through Daily Routines
with LaChone Pitchford
6:24Creating Her Own Lane: Disability, Music & Advocacy
with Victoria Boateng
4:08Life After Special Education: A Parent's Perspective
with Tiffoni T. Stepney
6:26The Shift No One Prepares Dads For
Parenting, Disability, and Finding Your Voice
4:18Special Education Is Changing — What Does That Mean for Families?
SFT Community Discussion
10:24Unlocking the Value of Respite Care
with Sensory Sitters
41:29Curated tools
Resources we trust
Part of curating access means pointing families and professionals toward organizations and tools that have earned trust. These are the ones we recommend.
Arc of the United States
AdvocacyNational advocacy organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
Visit resourceNational Down Syndrome Society
Down syndromeResources, advocacy, and community for individuals with Down syndrome and their families.
Visit resourceAutism Society of America
AutismEducation, advocacy, and support for autistic individuals and their families across the country.
Visit resourceUnderstood.org
Learning differencesPractical tools and expert guidance for families of children with learning and thinking differences.
Visit resourceChicago SNAP
ChicagoSpecial Needs Advocacy Partnership — connecting Chicago-area families to local services and support networks.
Visit resourceIllinois State Board of Education
SchoolsOfficial IEP resources, special education rights, and family guides for Illinois families.
Visit resourceBlack Disability Society of America (BDSA)
AdvocacyCentering the voices, experiences, and advocacy of Black disabled people and their families across the United States.
Visit resourceLittle Friends
Family supportProviding life-changing services and support for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities and their families.
Visit resourceHave a resource to share?
We are always looking to grow this library with tools, guides, and organizations that families and professionals actually trust. Reach out and let us know what belongs here.