In order to make well thought out decisions for children with epilepsy, it is necessary to acknowledge all objective data including scores from testing, observations, outside therapists, history, emotional and personality variables, family and school data. One must pay close attention to their child and look for early signs of epilepsy in order to address specific educational needs and prevent hindered development.
Congress finds that "Implementation of this title [IDEA 90 and 95] has been impeded by low expectations, and an insufficient focus on applying replicable research on proven methods of teaching and learning for chidlren with disabilities. [20 usc 1400(c)(4)] "having high expectations for such children and ensuring their access to the general education curriculum in regular classrooms, to the maximum extent possible... to meet the challengin expectations that have been established for all childre; and be prepared to lead productive and independent lives to the maximum extent possible..." [20 usc 1400(c)(5)]
email - great way to communicate - it doesn't provide proof of delivery but people forget that they're documenting anything.. Whos's your chairperson- see the attached or call 311. If your District refuses to perform an evaluation of your child, it must notify you as to why it is refusing to do so, and you can become eligible to receive an independent educational evaluation, at District expense.
Consent doesn't mean you blindly sign a permission slip for your child to be tested. "300.9 Consent means : that the parent has been fully informed of all information relevant to the activity for which consent is being sought, in his or her own language, or through another mode of communication. The parents understands and agrees in writing to the carrying our of the activity for which his or her consent is sought, and the consent describes that activity and lists the records (if any) that will be released and to whom..." The assessment must be administered in the child's native language or other mode of communication and in a form most likely to yield accurate information on what the child knows and can do academically, developmentally, and functionally, unless it is clearly not feasible to so provide or administer. 300.304(c)(ii) The assessment must be used for the purposes for which is it valid and reliable and must be administered by trained and knowledgeable personnel and must be administered in accordance with any instructions provided by the producer of the assessment. The evaluation must include assessment in all areas of suspected disability, including if appropriate, health, vision, hearing, social and emotional status, general intelligence, academic performance, communicative status, and motor abilities.
Determination of eligibility must occur at the CSE meeting, which must include the attendance of the parent(s) of the student; A student must be classified with one of 13 disabilities- mental retardation, hearing impairment, speech or language impairment, visual impairment, emotional disturbance, orthopedic impairment, autism, traumatic brain injury, an other health impairment, a Specific Learning Disability, deaf-blindness, or multiple disabilities Program Recommendation: states must have a continuum of services available to students with disabilities. In NYS thru runs from General Education - Home Instruction, in between you have Special Education Teacher Support Services, CTT, Special Classes in Community Schools; in Specialized Schools; Non-Public Schools The IEP must include present levels of academic and functional performance sufficient to provide all educators who pick up your child's IEP with the ability to understand where they are currently functioning and require assistance. How often do we see IEP's based on evaluations conducted years ago, and based on data that is no longer current.. The IEP must include a statement of annual goals, and for many student, short term objectives, that are specifically tailored for that student based upon his needs and abilities. These goals must be designed to meet the child's needs from the disability to enable the child to be involved in and make progress in the general education curriculum. Related Services includes OT, PT, Sp/Lang, Couns., Vision, AT, audiology, interpreting, some medical services, school health and nurse services, and parent training and counseling.
Section 300.502 describes the process for receiving an IEE; a Parent has the right to an IEE if they disagree with an evaluation obtained by the LEA; upon request by a parent for an IEE, a District must either file a due process complain to show that its evaluation is appropriate or ensure than an IEE is provided at public expense. Mediation - voluntary; must be conducted by a qualified and impartial mediator; must be paid for by the District, who maintains a list of qualified mediators that are assigned on a rotational or random basis; is binding. Impartial hearing - a legal hearing in front of an administrative law judge; Appeals - NYS is a two level state - we have the IHO and then the SRO, before you go into federal or state courts.