5 Reasons, Why your Child in Special Education May Not beGetting FAPE
5 Reasons, Why your Child in Special Education May Not beGetting FAPE
Does your child receive special education services and you wonder if they are receiving an appropriate education? This article, will discuss 5 reasons why your child may not be receiving a free appropriate public education. And also, what can you do about it? There is a lot that you can do to ensure a free appropriate public education for your child.
Reason 1: Many special education personnel have extremely low expectations, for children with disabilities. You must have high expectations for your child, just because they are not learning, does not mean that they can’t. They may need to be taught a different way.
Reason 2: Some special education personnel limit or refuse to provide, educational and related services that children with disabilities need. Some special education personnel will even deny that a child has autism, so that they do not have to provide more intense special education services. It is your job as a parent to fight for the services that your child requires. Try to meet other parents, of children with disabilities, in your school district. Help each other advocate, and attend each other’s IEP meetings. Together you will be a strong group.
Reason 3: The curriculum’s, that some school districts use to teach children with disabilities, do not work. Special education personnel are often reluctant to change methodology, even if the child is not learning. Investigate different curriculum, for your child’s disability. Join disability organizations and meet other parents. This will allow you to share information with each other, what works.
Reason 4: Parents, are often forced to pay for independent educational evaluations (IEE’s), to prove that their child needs certain special education services. If a parent must pay for an IEE, to ensure that their child receives a free and appropriate public education, then the education is no longer free. If your school district evaluates your child, and you disagree with the evaluation (or the way it is interpreted), then the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), gives you the right to have an Independent Evaluation at Public Expense. My book Disability Deception has an entire chapter on IEE’s that will give you more information on this subject.
Reason 5: Many school districts suspend children with disabilities, for behaviour that is part of their disability. Educate yourself on what IDEA requires as far as behaviour/discipline. Special education personnel can suspend a child up to 10 days.
Within 10 days of a decision to change a child’s placement they must convene a manifestation determination meeting. This meeting is being held to determine if the behaviour is part of your child’s disability. If it is, they must do certain things to include developing a positive behaviour plan. If they determine that the behaviour is not part of your child’s disability, then they can discipline them as they would a non disabled child. You can file for a due process hearing, if you disagree with the school districts manifestation determination decision.
By knowing why most children do not receive FAPE, you can advocate hard for your child. They are depending on you, because they may not be able to stand up for themselves.
About the author:
JoAnn Collins is the mother of two adults with disabilities, and has been an advocate for over 15 years, helping other families. She is the author of the recently published book Disability Deception; Lies Disability Educators Tell and How Parents Can Beat Them at Their Own Game.