To the editor:
There is no road more confusing, long and emotionally draining than the road to special education for your child.
You watch your child suffer day after day, whether it is emotionally, physically or cognitively, and have no idea where to start. It seems you are on one side and the school system is on the other.
Some children appear to have an easier time at school than home, which makes explaining to the school system that much more difficult. Other children have needs that are difficult for the school system to identify. Still others have more significant needs that the school system will claim they do not have the funds to cover.
Others cannot succeed with the resources within a school district at all and need to appeal for outside placement.
Whichever the case, there is always a solution. There is always a way to service a child who needs assistance. You have to know how to get started.
Contacting the correct people and using the correct language is critical to the success of the process. It is also imperative that you stay organized and have clear expectations from the school system.
The laws and regulations are often changing, so the school systems will often either count on you not knowing; or in some cases, do not know themselves. In either case, if the correct procedures and the law are not followed, it will impede your outcome.
Some families are already in the special education system. This is no time to let your guard down. The curriculum is always changing and so are the needs of your child.
There is no time to rest once an IEP or 504 is in place. This is the time to constantly make sure that the services and accommodations promised by the school are being fulfilled. In addition, you need to make sure you stay current with your child's diagnosis and his or her needs.
Evaluations are the centerpiece when it comes to obtaining services and keeping them current with your child's needs. It is critical to know how to request evaluations, how often and by whom. Certain evaluations can be done by the school, while others need to be executed by private agencies. In some circumstances, you can ask the school to pay for outside evaluations. In this case, the request must be done in a certain way to ensure success.
There are also several strategies for IEP and 504 meetings. These can be real opportunities for you to win over the hearts and minds of the school if handled correctly.
You must be prepared and organized. It is also much more successful with additional support at the meetings. Meetings are very emotional, because they are talking about the most important thing in the world to you — your child.
It is very easy to get caught up in the tide of the meeting, not realizing until later that you didn't get to say what you wanted or that you didn't get what you wanted for your child.
It is so important to bring support with you. The best type of support is someone who can be more objective, yet persuasive, with the school system. In many cases, this person is a special education advocate.
You must consider the school to be your "partner." You will not get anywhere if you go into a school wearing your armor ready for a fight. The approach toward the school needs to be cooperative, yet persistent. The school is more likely to invest resources if they know that you are working with them and not against them or relying on them to do everything for your child.
The word "team" in team meeting is critical. The special education road is a long one. Working with the school and building positive relationships for both you and your child will reap bigger benefits in the long run.
Elizabeth Cushinsky
Special Education Advocate
North Shore Advocacy
Marblehead
FAMU Bandmates: Victim Volunteered to Be Hazed
Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released
Raw Video: Tornado Appears During Wedding
HP to Cut 27,000 Jobs, Save Up to $3.5B
Inquiry Hears Wider Secret Service Misbehavior
Md. 911 Dispatcher Caught Sleeping on Job
Raw Video: Toddler Trapped in Washing Machine
Iowa Man With Zebra, Parrot in Truck Gets DUI
Egyptians Pick New President in Free Election
Giant Bull Head Draws Drivers to South Dakota
Astrodome Fades As Houston Decides Fate
Franciscan Files Tell Stories of Priest Abuse
Wildfire Destroys 2 Homes
Flight Diverted After Suspicious Note
Joplin Remembers Deadly Tornado, 1 Year Later
Panel Recommends Against Routine Prostate Test
Fired Lingerie Employee Claims Discrimination
Facebook Shares Continue Negative Slide
Cuba Waiting for Cyber Age to Come
8 Hurt in Oklahoma Shooting After NBA Playoff
