(cont'd)
- You also have the right to reschedule the IEP meeting until all personnel can be available. I strongly recommend this if it is the first IEP meeting. Keep in mind that your child's doctor will not attend the IEP. He or she will write a doctor's order certifiying the disability, medically necessary equipment, etc..
- You have the right to request an IEP meeting or make changes to an existing IEP with another meeting at any time during the school year with advance notice to the school.
- If you do not agree to any part of the recommendations in the IEP, DO NOT sign the IEP.
- You have the right to appeal the IEP.
It is wise, wise, wise never to attend an IEP meeting alone! You can take your friend, an attorney, another parent/advocate, etc., but never attend all by yourself. If it is your first IEP, take an experienced advocate/parent. Inquire at your area parent resource organization.
EVERY person attending your child’s IEP must, must sign the IEP!!
If your local school district cannot accommodate the special needs of your child, then your local school system must pay the closest nearby school district that can. This includes a private school.
Understand that this process becomes very complicated and an attorney specializing in special education is necessary. In most cases, the local school will pay to have those services delivered to your child in his or her local school rather than pay the expenses of a private school or cost to send your child to a nearby school district that can accommodate the child’s special needs.
In any case, explore all options and keep the best interest of the child first and foremost. While a private school may be desirable, private schools are not subject to all the federal mandates that a public school must follow because it is a private school. It could end up that your battles with the private school for basic accommodations are worst without the IEP rights!
Likewise, if your child with special needs attends a private school, you are paying for more specialized services than if your child attended a public school and receives special education services at no cost to you. Beware, the child can be hindered and suffer more at a private school if he or she has special needs, but not in all cases.
Remember ~ if it is not written down and spelled out in the IEP, it never happened!
Extended Year Schooling
Extended Year Schooling (“EYS”) is when some times a child will regress over the summer school vacation through no fault of his or her own, but due to the nature of his or her disability. If your child is at risk to “regress” over the summer school vacation, he or she may be eligible to attend an EYS which typically is an additional few weeks of school during the summer months and includes school bus transportation and lunch if applicable. The EYS does not have to be held at your child’s regular school as long as it provides the services, accommodations, and modifications your child needs. The EYS must be written into the IEP each year!!
Modifications
Modifications are the specific therapies, medical equipment, etc. a child will need to help him or her learn. It could include computer technology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, one-to-one instructional aide, speech therapists, ramp, home tutoring, modified class schedule, special adaptive equipment, etc. tailored to the individual child. Any and all Modifications must be spelled out in writing in the IEP!
Accommodations
Accommodations are also tailored to the individual child and can include, special classroom preferential seating, books, class location, special passes to leave the classroom at special times, school bus transportation with or without wheelchair accommodation, etc. Accommodations must be reasonable and must be written in the IEP each year, too!
Developmental Disabilities Administration
Every state in the USA has a federal Developmental Disability Administration (“DDA”) agency that either provides services to persons with disabilities including children or ensures that the child indeed receives access to disability services and community inclusion. It is federal law. There is no cost to the child or family for DDA services. This includes community services resources, family services resources, and individual services resources, short-term care resources, long-term care resources, medical assistance entitlement resources, child welfare services resources, and IEP services resources. DDA will also case manage the child.
- You can access DDA the moment you learn your child has a developmental disability.
- Either a social worker at the clinic or hospital can help you complete the application; or
- You can contact your DDA in your state directly for an application for services;
- Understand that there is typically a waiting list for services depending on your area. It is wise to complete the application right away no matter the length of time of waiting for services to begin. This is because DDA has access to many, many resources that will benefit your child over the long run. It is critical not to delay filing an application because this will always delay when you actually begin to receive services.
- DDA provides wrap-around case management for the family once the child’s needs are identified and then the family’s special needs because of the disabled child. This affects housing accommodations, home modifications, wheelchair purchases, educational assistance case management, etc. The DDA representative should be at every IEP meeting to understand the services the child will need and assist the family as a case manager.
Passing the peace,
(cont'd)
Posted By: agnes levine
Monday, September 19th 2011 at 1:36PM
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