Being part of a military family can be filled with many surprises, challenges, and opportunities. Part of the military life is moving to new locations every few years or even more frequently. This can be a bit more challenging when there’s a child in the family who has a disability. Fortunately, there is help available to make the family’s transition from one location to another a bit more smoothly.
Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans is the Louisiana Parent Training and Information Center in our state. We are here to connect parents of children with disabilities and special healthcare needs with resources, information & training, and peer-to-peer support. Please contact us at 504-888-9111 or 800-766-7736 if you need assistance.
Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA)
The office of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) issues extensive guidance for military families with children who have special needs and who are receiving, or are eligible to receive, a free appropriate public education either domestically or overseas.
DoDEA can be reached at:
Department of Defense Education Activity
4040 N. Fairfax Drive
Arlington, VA 22203
Telephone: 703-588-3104
If you are moving from Louisiana to another state and want to locate information for the parent training and information center there, please visit the Center for Parent Information and Resources.
Helpful Resources
Military OneSource
Offers help with parenting and child care, education, relocation, financial and legal concerns, and everyday issues.
National Military Family Association
Provides education and information regarding rights, benefits, and services for military families.
Courage To Care, Courage to Talk…about War Injuries | Available in English and Spanish
The Courage to Care Courage to Talk campaign focuses on the importance of injury communication between healthcare providers and the family of the injured service member, as well as within the family itself, especially when communicating with children. Find helpful tipsheets here to guide conversations with family, veterans, and children. Available in English and Spanish.
Military Child Education Coalition
Helps military children cope with being transferred from school to school around the world.
Military and DoD Child Care Assistance
Child Care Aware® of America partners with the United States Military and Department of Defense to serve and support their families through the Fee Assistance and Respite Child Care Programs.
Military and Veteran Families Support
ZERO TO THREE has developed resources specially designed for military and veteran families and the professionals who serve them. This includes tools for parents to use as they navigate the many transitions that are a part of military-connected life.
United States Department of Education – Restraint and Seclusion
A link to each states restraint and seclusion statues, regulations, policies and guidance.
Source: US Department of Education
Planning for the Future – Special Needs Trust
Specific guidelines for military families who want to use their Survivor Benefit Annuities to set up a Special Needs Trust.
Source: Military Parent Technical Assistance Center (MPTAC) Branch
Reading & Activities
Little Listeners in an Uncertain World.
This 8-page book’s subtitle is: Coping strategies for you and your child during deployment or when a crisis occurs. It outlines what parents may see in their babies and toddlers during stressful times and offers concrete guidance and activities to support their young children throughout these challenging events.
Moving to a New Location.
Lots of practical suggestions for planning that move.
Relocation for Military Families.
From the experts at the Branch.
Helping children handle deployments.
Your child’s moodiness and behavior during the deployment may be a sign of stress or anxiety. Here’s what you can do to help your children handle deployment.
Helping children cope with deployments and reunions.
From Real Warriors: Children respond differently to a parent’s deployment depending on their age and maturity level. These materials will help families negotiate the stages of deployment with tips on helping children cope while Mom or Dad is deployed. Families can also use these materials to organize pre-deployment family meetings and review age-level activities, books, and videos.
updated 8/12/2024
