| Are you the parent of a child with autism that has | | | | consultative services, rather than direct services; |
| been denied needed educational services, for your | | | | without the parent being aware of it. |
| child? Have you been told by school district personnel, | | | | Same Example: |
| that your child cannot receive a certain service, | | | | **School Administrator: "Mrs. Jones we would love to |
| because the price is too high? This article will discuss | | | | give Mary 90 minutes of speech therapy a week, but |
| ways that you can overcome these tactics used by | | | | our district is small, and we cannot afford it." |
| some school personnel, for the benefit of your child. | | | | **Good Example from the parent: "Mr. Parker, my |
| The purpose of special education taken out of The | | | | daughter Mary needs 90 minutes of direct speech |
| Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is "to | | | | language therapy per week, to make progress in her |
| ensure that all children with disabilities have available to | | | | education. As you will see from the Independent |
| them a free appropriate public education that | | | | Educational Evaluation that I have here, the registered |
| emphasizes special education and related services | | | | Speech/Language Pathologist recommends 90 |
| designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them | | | | minutes of direct service per week. I am not |
| for further education, employment, and independent | | | | concerned with the school districts budget, but what I |
| living." | | | | am concerned about is Mary's right to receive a free |
| IDEA does not allow, school districts to use the | | | | appropriate public education." |
| "money" card, to get out of providing needed | | | | **School Administrator: "Why would you go and get an |
| educational services to children with disabilities. The | | | | independent evaluation, don't you trust our speech |
| reality is, that many school districts try this tactic many | | | | language pathologist to recommend the best for |
| times a day. And the sad thing is, that many parents | | | | Mary." |
| believe them. Do not fall for this tactic! Stand up for | | | | **Parent: "The Speech/Language Pathologist that |
| your child, as you are the only advocate that they will | | | | works for this district, is only recommending 30 minutes |
| ever have. | | | | direct service per week, despite Mary's low test |
| For Example: | | | | scores in areas of receptive and expressive language. |
| **School administrator: "Mrs. Jones we would love to | | | | Mary needs 90 minutes of Speech Language therapy |
| give Mary 90 minutes of speech therapy a week, but | | | | per week, if you refuse to give it to her, I will consider |
| our district is small, and we cannot afford it." | | | | filing for a due process hearing. |
| **Bad reply from the parent: "Oh I totally understand, I | | | | **School Administrator: "Oh, you don't have to get |
| didn't mean to ask for so much." | | | | nasty." |
| **School administrator: "Oh I am sure that you didn't. | | | | **Parent: "I was not getting nasty. Due process is my |
| But you have to understand that we have a lot of | | | | right, if I disagree with your decision, which I do." |
| children in our district, and we want to help them all. | | | | School administrator: "We will consult with out speech |
| How about 30 minutes a week?" | | | | language pathologist, and consider giving Mary the 90 |
| **Parent: "30 minutes will be fine." | | | | per week of direct speech therapy." |
| The problem with this conversation is, that the parent | | | | **Parent: "Thank You." |
| should have discussed evidence she had of her child's | | | | By standing up to tactics used by some special |
| need. The parent also did not clarify, that the amount | | | | education personnel, you can ensure that your child |
| of time offered was for direct service. Many times | | | | receives a free appropriate public education. |
| special education personnel will write down | | | | |