| If your child has special needs or a disability, special | | | | experience. If so, an IEP will be developed. |
| education may help your child succeed in school and in | | | | When the IEP is in place, your child will have access to |
| life. However, many parents fear that their child will be | | | | the special education services covered by the |
| singled out for special education classes in a room | | | | Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Under |
| separate from their classmates, so they avoid seeking | | | | IDEA, your child is entitled to an education equivalent to |
| out special education arrangements. | | | | that of a child without disabilities in the least restrictive |
| While this was the case at one time, current special | | | | environment possible. |
| education laws require schools to provide an | | | | The Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) mandate is |
| educational environment that is as unrestrictive and | | | | the result of many years of studies. The conclusion of |
| equal for all children as possible. | | | | these studies was that special needs children are |
| Are you unsure whether your child qualifies for special | | | | better served in the classroom with their peers than in |
| education? Do you wonder if special education | | | | a segregated classroom environment. The practices |
| services would help your child succeed in school? The | | | | of pull-out programs, separate "special-ed" rooms, and |
| definitions of eligible disabilities have been greatly | | | | the stigma of being a "special-ed kid" have changed |
| expanded to include learning disabilities and emotional | | | | radically in the past decade. |
| challenges as well as physical disabilities. | | | | Children are now encouraged to flourish first in the |
| Some of these definitions are set by the states, and | | | | regular classroom, with accommodations and |
| the federal government decides some. Regardless of | | | | modifications if necessary. If it becomes clear that this |
| what type of disability your child has, special education | | | | setup is not in the best interest of the child, the school |
| is the best way to ensure that your child is getting the | | | | or the parent may request a re-evaluation of the |
| education that your child deserves. | | | | situation. |
| Without special education services, your child may be | | | | Recent studies have proven beyond a doubt that |
| at a disadvantage. Even with a caring and patient | | | | children with disabilities have more opportunities to |
| teacher, many children find themselves unable to keep | | | | thrive when they are educated in the same |
| up with their peers in the classroom. | | | | environment as non-disabled children. Observing and |
| Setting out a clear and fair special education plan will | | | | interacting with other children helps students with |
| give you, your child and the school the assurance that | | | | disabilities to maintain a sense of normalcy and |
| appropriate measures are being taken on your child's | | | | develop their social skills. An inclusive classroom, one |
| behalf in the classroom. These may include additional | | | | that includes special needs and non-special needs |
| time with a teacher or special education facilitator, | | | | students, can also help the non-special needs students |
| physical accommodations, or any other reasonable | | | | develop valuable social skills. |
| accommodation that the school is able to offer. | | | | By taking down the barriers between disabled |
| When seeking special education arrangements for | | | | students and non-disabled students, IDEA has made |
| your child, your first step will be to obtain an | | | | the special education environment a more nurturing |
| Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for him. An IEP | | | | and beneficial place for your child to receive the |
| should be developed for each child with any disability | | | | education your child is entitled to. There is no longer |
| and is the single most important piece of | | | | any need to be nervous about the negative impact |
| documentation in your quest for equal education for | | | | that special education will have on your child because |
| your child. It outlines goals and objectives for the | | | | the process has been refined to be as positive as |
| student, along with a description of which | | | | possible. |
| accommodations will be necessary to facilitate those | | | | The special education environment found in schools |
| objectives. | | | | today is one that provides an improved learning |
| The IEP process begins when you or your child's | | | | experience for your child. With the help of |
| teacher notice that the child is struggling in school. The | | | | supplemental support staff and special training for |
| concerned party will request a referral for special | | | | classroom teachers, your child's school can provide the |
| education services, which typically will result in an | | | | type of environment that makes it possible for him to |
| evaluation by a committee comprised of school faculty | | | | thrive and to achieve all that your child is capable of |
| and you. The evaluation will determine whether your | | | | achieving. |
| child's disabilities interfere with his educational | | | | |