As the final days of summer wind down, many of us are preparing for the big shift back to school. But if you’re parenting a child with disabilities, this transition can feel a little more layered. It’s not just the lunch-packing and supply-shopping — it’s navigating a whole new web of teachers, aides, schedules, environments, and emotions. So how do we, as parents, ease that transition and help our kids feel safe, seen, and supported?
We’ve rounded up our best back-to-school resources to help you and your kiddos tackle the first day, and week, of school.
In this newsletter:
🎒 Back-to-school printable visual stories, picture book list, templates, checklists, expert advice, and more
🗓️ 8/12 FREE virtual event: back-to-school support & first look at Undivided’s IEP Assistant
👨👩👧👦 8/20 office hours: special education
🎧 New podcast episode: back-to-school tips for kids with disabilities
🎤 8/9 & 8/10 Undivided Conversations: start the school year right + get kids motivated to head back to school
All the back-to-school essentials you need
Whether you need tools to introduce your child to a new teacher, visuals to help them prepare for what’s to come, or just a handy back-to-school book list, these Undivided resources have got you covered. How many can you check off the list?
- “All About Me” + IEP summary→ Help teachers get to know your kiddo with our easy-to-use templates and tools. ✓
- Campus orientation checklist→ Use our checklist to help your child get familiar with their school layout and routines (even if you can’t visit in advance). ✓
- Visual schedules→ Whether it’s a wall calendar, magnetic board, or app, a custom visual schedule can help make new routines feel predictable and manageable. ✓
- Adaptive tools for learning→ From noise-reducing headphones to iPad stands, check out our top 35 picks for the classroom. ✓
- Visual stories→ We’ve created two back-to-school story templates, one for elementary and one for middle/high school, plus tips on customizing your own Social Story. ✓
- Back-to-school book list→ Our team has rounded up some wonderful children’s books that tackle back-to-school shopping, the first day of school, and more. ✓
- Motivational strategies→ Check out expert tips from Dr. Vivian Wang, PsyD, and Dr. Faye Carter, PhD, BCBA-D — from vision boards to reward apps. ✓
- Tips for back-to-school jitters→ Find helpful tips and insights from CARE-LA’s team of child anxiety specialists to help your child feel calm and confident through big transitions. ✓
- How to communicate with the teacher→ Start the year strong with 4 expert tips to connect with your child’s team — plus a communication log! ✓
On the go? Tune into our bite-sized, AI-powered podcast episode on back-to-school tips for kids with disabilities.
📢 Undivided Updates 📢
There’s some hopeful news coming out of the Senate. A key committee has agreed to protect funding for important special education programs. They pushed back on proposals that would have cut support for IDEA or moved federal program funding into state block grants. The result? When Congress reviews the next budget bill in September, it won’t include those proposed cuts or changes. This isn’t final yet, but it’s a strong sign that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle want to keep these programs in place. Want more details? Check out the full update here.
One of our parent members told us, “Undivided has valuable resources, clear step-by-step online guides to help you stay on track to get your child’s needs met, incredible Navigators who give you ideas and help hold you accountable with action steps, and access to experts in various health and educational fields to help support your family. I highly recommend their services.”
FREE virtual event: RSVP now → Support that eases the back-to-school stress! Join us on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. for a FREE virtual event to hear from Undivided CEO Seth Besse and Navigator Onyx Moore about how Undivided can help you coordinate the back-to-school transition and work with your school team. Plus, get an exclusive first look at Undivided’s IEP Assistant — a revolutionary new tool designed to take the guesswork out of IEPs! Register for free here to get the event link and a full replay if you can’t make it to our live event.
Join us for expert office hours→ Get your back-to-school questions answered by a special education expert! If you’re an Undivided member, join us for office hours on Wednesday, August 20, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. PT with Undivided Non-Attorney Education Advocate Lisa Carey to ask your questions on Zoom and get actionable answers. If you’re not an Undivided member yet, get started here to join us for office hours every week.
Upcoming Undivided Conversations→ Tune in to our Facebook page to watch!
- August 9, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. PT: Starting the School Year Right! As the new school year approaches, let’s rejoin Non-Attorney Education Advocates Dr. Sarah Pelangka and Lisa Carey as they guide us through essential strategies to start the school year on the right foot.
- August 10, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. PT: Getting Your Kids Motivated to Go Back to School. Don’t miss the re-stream of our inspiring conversation with licensed psychologist Dr. Vivian Wang, who provides tips and strategies to help kids feel motivated for the new school year.
Have your own back-to-school tips to share with other parents in the disability community? Join the discussion in our private Facebook group→
Calm the back-to-school jitters with these 3 tips! Check out this Instagram post→
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How do our experienced parent Navigators prepare for back to school? Hear their tips in this YouTube video→
Help other parents and providers prepare for a new school year! Share Undivided’s resources on LinkedIn→
