SPECIAL NEEDS GUIDE
Supporting Students with Disabilities This Fall
How to set your child on a course for success in their classroom. BY JEAN MIZUTANI
A
ll students have experienced some missed learning during COVID. Fortunately, schools have been given federal money to develop school Academic Recovery initiatives that will provide a comprehensive plan of additional support. This will include interventions for students with and without disabilities and is scheduled to start this fall in most school districts. This could be a valuable way to help students catch up. However, if you suspect that your child may have a disability or if your child needs accommodations to participate in school, here are some steps you can take.
REQUESTING AN EVALUATION An Individualized
Education Program is a plan for students who have a disability that makes sure they receive specialized instruction or services. There are 13 classifications of educational disability set by federal law, such as autism or learning disability. Eligible children ages 3-5 would be considered a preschooler with a disability. The IEP is authorized under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to ensure eligible students receive appropriate special education services (instruction, programs, and related services like speech or physical therapy) in a setting that max-
4 October 2021 • siparent.com
imizes access to non-disabled peers. This means that services can be provided in any setting, including general education. If your child (ages 3-21) enters school without an IEP, but you suspect that they may have a disability, you can request an evaluation from the school’s IEP team. Within 10 school days, you’ll receive a consent form. The evaluation, IEP meeting, and offer of services, if eligible, should not take more than 60 school days from the date the consent form is signed. If attending a private or charter school, you can make requests to the Committee for Preschool Special Education or Committee for Special Education in that school’s district. Evaluations must be done in a language your child understands and results must be translated into a language you understand.
PREPARING FOR AN IEP MEETING Parents know
their children best and are key participants in their child’s IEP meeting. Parents should receive the IEP Meeting Notice at least 5 days before the scheduled date. The notice will include all meeting details, as well as the names and titles of everyone invited. If there is someone that you would like to invite, like an outside therapist or family member, you can. To prepare for the meeting, review recent documents, like the
