| Are you the parent of a young child with autism that | | | | 2. In a recent court case entitled KL vs. Mercer Island |
| thinks that your child needs an applied behavioral | | | | School District found that: The particular teaching |
| analysis (ABA)program? Are you the parent of a child | | | | methodology that will be used. . .will need to be |
| with dyslexia or other learning disabilities who thinks | | | | discussed at the IEP meeting and incorporated into the |
| that your child needs an Orton-Gillingham Based | | | | student's IEP. |
| multisensory reading program? Would you like to learn | | | | 3. Another court case the US District Court for the |
| how to advocate for these particular methodologies | | | | Northern District of Illinois discussed methodology in the |
| for your child? This article will discuss what | | | | case of TH vs. Palatine School District. The court held |
| methodology means, and information that you can use | | | | that the school's argument that it had the right to |
| to advocate for the appropriate methodology for your | | | | choose methodology was not valid since the school |
| child. | | | | district had no methodology. The US Supreme Court |
| Methodology means the specific curriculum or program | | | | decision in Rowley could only apply if the school had |
| that special education personnel are going to use, to | | | | chosen and implemented a methodology calculated to |
| teach your child. Some of the most popular | | | | allow the child to make meaningful progress. |
| methodologies for teaching children are ABA (for | | | | 4. There is no legal basis for school districts decision to |
| children with autism) or an Orton-Gillingham based | | | | not discuss or specify the methodology in a child's IEP! |
| multisensory reading program for children with dyslexia | | | | School districts position on this contradicts common |
| or other reading disabilities. | | | | sense. IDEA regulations require that the IEP should |
| Many special education personnel continue to tell | | | | include related services and supplementary aids and |
| parents that they have no right to tell them what | | | | supports to be provided to the child, and a statement |
| methodology to use. Below are 4 points that you can | | | | of the program, modifications or supports. It is mind |
| make with school personnel to get the methodology | | | | blowing that school districts take the position that it |
| that your child needs in order to benefit from their | | | | should specify the supports and modifications which |
| education. | | | | may be dependent on the methodology, but not |
| 1. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) | | | | specify the methodology. |
| 2004 states under 300.26 that: special education | | | | If you feel that your child needs a particular |
| means specially designed instruction means adapting | | | | methodology in order to benefit from their education, |
| as appropriate to the needs of the eligible child . . .the | | | | bring it up at an IEP meeting. If the IEP team feels that |
| content, methodology, or delivery of instruction. | | | | they do not have to put the methodology in your child's |
| This section is one of the most important clarifications | | | | IEP, bring up all of the 4 points above! Put special |
| in the IDEA law. Itgives parents the right to discuss the | | | | emphasis on the wording of IDEA which does include |
| content, methodology and delivery of education to their | | | | the word methodologies. You may have to fight for a |
| child. The discussion of methodology is important for all | | | | particular methodology that your child needs, but it will |
| children but especially those children with autism or | | | | be well worth it! |
| language based learning disabilities. | | | | |