| Are you the parent of a child, receiving special | | | | academic and functional progress. |
| education services,that thinks your child may benefit | | | | Around Christmas time ask that testing be performed |
| from functional skill training? | | | | in the areas ofacademics and functional skills, in |
| Would you like to know what the Individuals with | | | | January, so that these results canbe used at the |
| Disabilities | | | | annual IEP meeting. Also ask for copies of the |
| Education Act (IDEA) requires in relation to functional | | | | testingat least 14 days before the meeting, so that you |
| skills? Wouldyou like parenting tips on using IDEA | | | | will be able to be anequal participant in the meeting. |
| requirements to help your childreceive functional skill | | | | IDEA also requires that the IEP contains a statement |
| training? This article is for you; it willdiscuss IDEA | | | | of measurableannual goals, including academic and |
| requirements, and how you can use them to advocate | | | | functional goals. Since you askedfor testing at |
| forfunctional skills training for your child. | | | | Christmas time, and hopefully have received the |
| The purpose of IDEA is to ensure that all children with | | | | resultsbefore the IEP meeting, you will have some |
| disabilitieshave available to them a free appropriate | | | | knowledge of your child'sacademic and functional |
| public education thatemphasizes special education and | | | | needs. Write a few academic and functionalgoals, and |
| related services designed to meettheir unique needs | | | | make sure they are measurable. In other words, how |
| and prepare them for further education, | | | | will youknow when your child has made the goal? |
| employment,and independent living. Education is more | | | | Bring the list with you toyour child's IEP meeting. Share |
| than reading, writing, andmath; it also includes functional | | | | your input on annual academic andfunctional goals with |
| skills to help children withdisabilities live a full and | | | | the IEP team. |
| rewarding life. | | | | By understanding what the federal law IDEA states |
| IDEA requires each child's IEP to contain a statement | | | | about functionalskills, you can use the information to |
| of presentlevels of academic achievement and | | | | ensure that your child istested in this area, and has |
| functional performance. Schoolpersonnel should give | | | | annual goals developed for their IEP, ifneeded. |
| you objective information (testing) each year,about | | | | Functional skills will help your child become as |
| your child's academic and functional performance. Do | | | | independentas possible as an adult, and live a more |
| not acceptteacher subjective observations and grades | | | | fulfilled life! |
| (also subjective), todetermine if your child is making | | | | |