August 2025 Back to School

Staying in High School Past Senior Year: What Illinois Students with IEPs Should Know

In this episode, we explore what Illinois families need to know about students with IEPs staying in high school past their senior year. We explain how students may continue receiving special education services until the end of the school year in which they turn 22, when the IEP team determines additional transition support is needed. The episode also covers the importance of IEP team decision-making, transition planning, and Brittany’s Law, which allows students to participate in graduation ceremonies while continuing services. Families will learn how these additional years can help students build skills for employment, independence, and adulthood.

What's New at FMPTIC

Family Matters is a podcast from Family Matters Parent Training and Information Center (FMPTIC) sharing updates, resources, and guidance to help families of children and young adults with disabilities navigate special education and transition planning with confidence. Learn how FMPTIC’s expanded services — now including the Chicago metro area — support families across Illinois through education, advocacy, and person-centered planning.

Charting a Whole Life: The Power of Student-Centered Transition Planning

Join Abbi Mars, Transition Facilitator with Family Matters PTIC, for a meaningful conversation on the importance of student-centered transition planning and how the Charting the LifeCourse (CtLC) framework helps students plan for a full, meaningful life beyond school. This episode explores how CtLC tools empower students, families, and professionals to focus on strengths, build self-advocacy skills, and create transition plans that reflect real life—not just graduation requirements. Listeners will also learn about exciting new FMPTIC initiatives launching in 2026, including the Charting My Course virtual self-advocacy group for students ages 14–22 and the Charting the LifeCourse Interactive Monthly Series. Ideal for students, self-advocates, families, and disability professionals.

August 2025 Back to School

In this episode of the Family Matters PTIC Podcast, we share practical tips for helping students with disabilities transition smoothly back to school. Learn how families can build supportive routines at home, strengthen partnerships with teachers and school staff, and use tools like the Charting the LifeCourse one-pager to improve communication. We’ll also talk about simple ways to check in with educators throughout the year to ensure ongoing success.

July 2025 Charting the Life Course with FMPTIC

In this episode of the Family Matters PTIC podcast, host Abbi Mars introduces listeners to Charting the LifeCourse (CtLC), a powerful person- and family-centered planning framework designed to help individuals with disabilities envision and achieve meaningful futures. Abbi explains the basics of CtLC, how it supports whole-life planning, and the unique way FMPTIC is applying it across Illinois. With staff trained as CtLC Ambassadors, FMPTIC serves families, professionals, and self-advocates throughout the state—empowering them with tools for self-advocacy, transition planning, and collaboration.