What you need to know as a parent….

Early Learning for Children with Disabilities

There are many people that have had disabilities and are able to be educated.

Community Opportunities

Legislation that leads to Special Education Today

•The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1973

•Education for All Handicapped children Act of 1975-P.L. 94-142

•IDEA: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997 and 2004

WHO HAS A DISABILITY-CATEGORIES OF DISABILITIES

Autism

• •a disorder that affects the child’s communication, behavior, and social relationships with other people.

• Symptoms and Signs of Autism in Children• Characteristics of children with autism varies with

each child. – Characteristics of Autism– Children with autism respond best when their learning

activities are learned in both school and in the home and community.

Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

•Characteristics: – have problems with paying attention– being very active – acting before thinking

What is ADHD?

Emotional Disturbance

• Student exhibiting one or more of the following can affect his or her educational performance: – Not wanting to learn– no interaction between peers and teachers– inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under

normal settings– unhappy or depressed majority of the time– tendency to develop fears associated with problems

involving personal or school.

Learning Disabilities

• Characteristics of children with learning disabilities: – Children that do not learn without special

assistance– lacks in language development or specific areas of

academics in which can affect student’s way of:• thinking, memory, language, reading, writing, or math

Signs of Learning Disabilities• May have trouble learning the alphabet, rhyming words, or connecting letters to their sounds.• May make many mistakes when reading aloud, and repeat and pause often.• May not understand what he or she reads.• May have real trouble with spelling.• May have very messy handwriting or hold a pencil awkwardly.• May struggle to express ideas in writing.• May learn language late and have a limited vocabulary.• May have trouble remembering the sounds that letter s make or hearing slight differences between words.• May have trouble understanding jokes and comic strips• May have trouble following directions.• May mispronounce words or use a wrong word that sounds similar. • May have trouble organizing what he or she wants to say or not be able to think of the word he or she

needs for writing or conversation.• May not follow the social rules of conversation, such as taking turns, and may stand too close to the

listener.• May confuse math symbols and misread numbers.• May not be able to retell a story in order (what happened first, second, or third).• May not know where to begin a task or how to go on from there.

Tips for the Parents of a Child with Learning Disabilities

• Learn as much about learning disabilities as you can.• Observe the child playing and working.• Recognize the child’s strengths and interests. Find out how the child learns best. • Give your child with learning disabilities the opportunity to excel or just enjoy

activities outside the classroom, such as dancing, music, sports, or computers. Give your child opportunities to participate in areas of interest or talent. Encourage friendships with children whom they meet in these activities.

• Help your child learn through areas of strengths. Talk with your child’s teacher and observe for yourself how the child learns best. Establish a special place where the child can do homework and prioritize its importance.

• Meet other parents who have children with learning disabilities. Share concerns and successes with others as well as advice and emotional support.

• Help develop an educational plan for your child with the school. Establish a positive working relationship and communicate regularly with your teacher, discuss questions, and exchange information about successes and progress.

Mental and Cognitive Disabilities

• Mental and Cognitive Disability is determined by the ability of the brain to learn, think, solve problems, and make sense of the world.

• It also is a determining factor in whether the person has the skills he or she needs to live independently.

• The average IQ score is 100 and individuals that classify as mentally challenged score 70 to 75 or below. At this level, students need to learn to dress and feed oneself, use of the bathroom, understand what is being said and being able to respond, and social skills with other people especially adults, friends, and family.

Tips for Parents with a child with Mental or Cognitive Disabilities

• Learn about intellectual disabilities in order to give your child the help he or she needs.

• Encourage your child to be independent, learning daily care skills, such as dressing, grooming, eating, and using the bathroom.

• Give your child chores, but make the chores one in which he or she can be successful. Use them as teaching tools. For example, in setting the table, have the child count out the number of napkins. Give the child one task at a time and help when assistance is needed.

• Praise, praise, praise when the child has worked hard and accomplished the task. Give feedback and build your child’s abilities.

• Have your child join in outside activities, such as scouts, sports, and recreational activities.

• Work with the school and your child’s teacher. Apply what he or she is learning at school with activities at home and in the community.

• Volunteer in the classroom or in another classroom. See how the teachers work with the children. Contribute to the success of the class by cooperating with the teacher.

THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROCESS….MY CHILD IN SPED

Your Rights as a Parent• You need to be notified when there is a change in the education

placement of your child. • You have the right to all records of your child.• You need to give permission before your child can be evaluated for the

first time.• Your permission is required for your child’s first special education

placement.• You have the right to challenge or appeal any decision related to the

identification, evaluation, or educational placement of your child. • You need to notify the public agency if you plan to remove your child from

the placement • You need to notify public agency if you intend to request a due-process

hearing which is called when you do not agree with diagnosis of your child, the placement, and/or the IEP.

The Assessment Process

• Firs thing is your permission for your child to be evaluated.• The first initial evaluation, you need to give permission, your

child needs to be assessed in all areas of suspected disabilities, determination of eligibility needs to be made by a team of professionals and yourself.

• The Special Education cycle starts with a referral from the teacher, you the parent, or other professional, evaluation with many tests given to determine eligibility of services for your child, IEP is written according to disability and accommodations needed, placement of either regular classroom or classroom that is right for your child, instruction is given to your child based on abilities, annual review of services and the progress being made.

The IEP Process

• All children with disabilities receiving any type of special education services must have an Individualized Education Program prepared especially for your child.

• IEP meetings serve as a way for you the parents and the school personnel to communicate what works and what doesn’t work for the child, the child’s needs are identified, and what services will be provided to meet those needs.

• The IEP process is an opportunity to resolve differences between you and the school in concerning the special education needs of your child meaning that there is time to talk out the need of the child during the IEP meeting and if necessary a procedural protections where you can express the concern for your child.

Members of the IEP Team

• Parents of the child• One regular education teacher of the child • One special education teacher• Representative of the local educational agency who is

qualified to provide instruction that meets the needs of children with disabilities, knowledge of the curriculum, and knowledgeable of resources available.

• One person to relate the evaluation results to the goals and steps of your child’s IEP (Individual Education Plan)

• Anyone else the parents want to invite to the meeting that knows the needs of the child.

Services That Might Be Provided

• Resource Room

• Paraprofessional/Education Assistant

• Special Education Room