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Community Corner

Moms Talk: Navigating The Waters Of Special Education

Parents of a child with special needs work closely with their child's school to ensure that they receive an appropriate education. Sometimes, this can be a daunting task (particularly at first), yet, it doesn't have to be. Here's some help.

Question: How does a parent of a special-needs child work with schools to assure he or she gets the appropriate education?

At age 5, it was clear that my son had developmental and learning disabilities.

I decided to pursue having him evaluated through the school district. It was obvious that my son was going to need additional and special instruction for him to learn.

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We were on the path to special education and it was terrifying.

I was worried about my child anyway, but I was even more worried about his academic life. I didn't fully understand the benefits and processes of modern-day, special education. Back in my day, services were limited. I didn't want my child to be limited. I wanted him to thrive and do well when he could.

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Under the law, all students with disabilities that are eligible for special education services are guaranteed a free and appropriate education. In order to execute this plan, school personnel create an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) for the special needs student. This plan is a collaborative effort between the parents/guardians, school district, special and general education teachers, specialists, and specific school administration.

Meetings are necessary to accomplish this task. My first IEP meeting was, quite honestly, pretty stressful. I didn't quite understand the process, nor was I clear about who was going to be present. I thought it was like a school conference. Not so. I entered a meeting room and was greeted by a number of people: the evaluator, the special education teacher, a general education teacher, a speech therapist, an occupational therapist, the school psychologist, the school counselor, and the school principal.

I was overwhelmed. Fortunately, everyone was kindly and helpful. Together, we came up with a plan to help my child. It was a bit of work, but it came together. Subsequent meetings did not have all the same people involved and were more streamlined. This comes in time. I also picked up some skills to help me in the years to come. They are:

  1. Be prepared. Know who you are meeting with and the purpose of the meeting. Think about what questions you have beforehand (even jot them down). Bring paper and a pen to take notes. You will be given written information to review before your meeting. Read it thoroughly. If you are new to special education, peruse the the documents that explain the special education laws and rights.

  • Attend all meetings. There are going to be important meetings to attend. Sometimes, it's not possible for both parents to attend due to work schedules and other obligations. If you are uncomfortable attending on your own, bring a trusted relative or friend.

  • You are your child's best advocate. You know your child best. If there is anything that concerns you or you feel won't work for your child, don't be afraid to speak up.

  • The school and the district is there to help. There are many caring individuals that work very hard on behalf of our special kids. That doesn't mean though that there are no miscommunication, sensitivities, or concerns. This can happen. If it does, talk about it. Maintain calm and politeness. Seeking out positive and productive solutions.

  • Besides looking at your local school district's website, here are some other helpful links for further information.

    Partnerships For Action Voices For Empowerment (PAVE)

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