Showing posts with label
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund.
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Showing posts with label
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund.
Show all posts
From Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF)
December 2013
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE: Check our website to see and register for upcoming trainings. The next in–house training here at DREDF is Monday, January 13th, 2014 from 6 – 8:30.
Dear Friends and Family Caregivers,
Happy Holidays from the Education Advocates at DREDF! Like you, we care for and/or about children with disabilities, and understand how hard it is to stay on top of all the rights, laws, and rules for navigating the special education maze. This month, we've put together a handy guide to past issues to help you find the topics that are specific to your child's individual situation.
Preparing for a new year full of learning and growing for our children is our shared goal. Whether you are a caregiver living the day-to-day reality of getting help for a child with a disability, or a professional working on behalf of many such children, information really is power when it comes to effective advocacy.
We encourage you to explore our new website for many resources related to education access for children with disabilities, including links to all Special EDition newsletters we have produced. DREDF is working on multiple fronts nationally and internationally to improve the lives of people with disabilities, and it's important to remember that our children grow up to be adults who will need more than just education access to participate fully in our society. It's a work in progress, so check often for new and updated resources.
From Disability Rights Education & Defense (DREDF)
School has started and those back-to-school calls are pouring in to DREDF's Parent Training & Information Center. This month we're reprising an oldie but goodie Back-to-School issue of our Special EDition. Enjoy!
The start of the school year brings anticipation and excitement for many students—and sometimes a little relief for parents and caregivers! For students with disabilities and their families, excitement about new friends and a new classroom is often tempered with apprehension:
- Will my child receive the accommodations she needs?
- Will her new teacher understand my child's special needs?
- Will my child continue to build on the success she achieved last year?
In this newsletter, we offer tips for approaching the new school year to ensure a productive school year.
New School Year, New Start
- Gather Your Child's School Records
It's helpful to keep copies of all school records: cumulative records, grades, progress reports, tardies/absences, special education records, health records, discipline records, and any others that may be kept by the district. You'll also want copies of any assessments your child has taken and your child's IEP/504 plan.
If you don't have a good set of records, write a letter to request "any and all" records, so that your files are up to date. In California, the school district must provide records to you within five business days. For those of you who don't live in California, check with your localParent Training & Information Center.
Once you've received copies of your child's records, organize them by date. This will help you to see trends and identify which accommodations and strategies have worked for your child in the past.
When shopping for school supplies pick up a binder and anything that will help you to keep the records organized.
From Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF)
Disagreements are a fact of life, but for children with disabilities, time and appropriate help are so important that Congress included a set of "Procedural Safeguards" (formal steps to take when you have concerns about what the school district is offering or refusing to do) in IDEA to make sure that a child's right to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) is protected. Filing for due Process is a key part of those safeguards.This month's Special EDition discusses due process hearings under IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act).
What is Due Process?
Whenever possible, it is best to try to work out disagreements related to special education directly with the school district and IEP team. However, when this does not work, you are NOT powerless. The next step to consider is filing for "Due process" (this includes whether or not your child is eligible for services at all). Due Process is a legal term that describes a government's commitment to a system of fair procedures to uphold a citizen's legal rights. In the context of IDEA and special education, due process ensures that your child with a disability (or suspected disability) receives an appropriate education based on his/her individual needs by outlining a process of steps to take when disputes arise ending in a formal hearing where a judge makes the final determination. A due process hearing is a way for you to resolve disagreements with your school district when you can't find a solution through the IEP process.
Read more HERE.