10 Steps to Finally Get Your Child Appropriate Special Education Services!

Are you the parent of a child with autism or a7. Your child should have their educational progress
learning disability? Have you been fighting for yearsmonitored at least every 3 months (academic and
to get your child an appropriate special education?functional). Many educational programs have progress
Then this article is for you. This article will bemonitoring built in, so check with your child's teacher.
addressing 10 steps that every parent needs to take8. Consider getting an Independent Educational
to finally get their child appropriate special and relatedEvaluation (IEE) with a child friendly evaluator that is
services!willing to assess your child and write a comprehensive
Children with disabilities have the right to a freereport, to include your child's disabilities, and
appropriate public education (FAPE) that preparesrecommendations for needed related and special
them for post school learning, employment,education services. Ask other parents if they know
independent living and financial self sufficiency,of any really good evaluators that you can take your
according to the Individuals with Disabilities Educationchild to. It will be worth it!
Act (IDEA).9. Look into giving your school district 10 day formal
Below are the 10 steps:written notice that you will be privately providing
1. Be assertively persistent and persevere for as longyour child the related and special education services
as it takes, for the benefit of your child.that they need (backed up by an IEE) and you will
2. Document everything on a consistent basis, whichbe asking for reimbursement. There are very specific
means writing lots of letters. Remember that if it isthings that must be done to ensure reimbursement,
not written down it never happened. Documentationso check in IDEA to make sure that all procedures
develops a paper trail, if you ever have a disputeare followed. Also check for cases on reimbursement
with your school district. Especially write letters toto help you with your advocacy.
follow up when the school district makes promises,10. If you have been fighting for years with little to
or says something that appears untrue!show for your fight I hope that you will consider filing
3. Have high educational expectations for your child.for a due process hearing! A due process hearing is a
Schools often have low expectations, and as away for parents to settle disputes with special
parent you must fight this for the good of your child.education personnel. It is much more formal than an
4. Make sure that your child is being taught withIndividual Educational Plan (IEP) meeting, but with
research based curriculums which No Child Left Behindproper documentation, and testimony from a good
requires (NCLB). Some schools continue to useIndependent Evaluator, you could possibly win.
outdated curriculum that are not backed by researchAfter a parent files they must attend a resolution
showing that the curriculum works to teach childrenmeeting to see if the dispute can be settled. The
with disabilities.school district cannot bring an attorney to the
5. Always make sure that your child is included in allresolution meeting unless the parent brings one; so
district and state assessments (unless they have adefinitely consider bringing an advocate. Also bring
cognitive disability), so that special educationwith you a short list of things that you would be
personnel are held accountable for your child'swilling to settle for. Due process does not require an
learning.attorney in my opinion, unless the case is extremely
6. Make sure that your child is being held to the samecomplicated. What have you to lose, but much can
educational standards as children without disabilities,be gained!
for accountability purposes. Each state has their ownBy using these tips you will well be on your way to
standards though national standards are beingfinally helping your child succeed in special
developed.education-and be ready for adult life!