Special Information for Special Education Jillian Dale Agenda

Special Information for Special Education Jillian Dale

Agenda • • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Individualized Education Program (IEP) Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) Inclusion Classroom Accommodations Additional Support Closing Remarks and Questions

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) • Federal regulations for public schools • Ensures students with disabilities given opportunity to succeed by: ▫ Utilizing resources ▫ Focusing on individual needs of students ▫ (National Center for Learning Disabilities [NCLD], 2014)

IDEA: How does it assist you? • • • Requires Individualized Education Program (IEP) Ensures schooling and related services be free of charge to parents Ensures child will be places in least restrictive environment Ensure confidentiality Requires professional development • (NCLD, 2014)

IDEA: How does it assist you? • Secures Parental Rights: ▫ Examine all of child’s records ▫ Participate in meetings concerning child ▫ Agree or disagree with placement decisions ▫ Request independent evaluations (free) ▫ Request a hearing to present concerns ▫ Provided written notice of decisions made by school district ▫ (NCLD, 2014)

Individualized Education Program (IEP) • Legal document describing educational services • Designed for one student • Collaboratively written ▫ ▫ ▫ Parents Regular classroom teacher Special Education teacher Representative from school district Subject related professional • Assessed annually (at minimum) to adjust goals

IEP: Contents • Background information ▫ ▫ Child’s strengths Parents ideas for enhancing education Medical records School records • Results from recent evaluations and testing • Performance objectives • Daily Plans • (NCLD, 2014)

Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) • Plan to provide services for children with disabilities and their families • Includes: ▫ ▫ ▫ Child’s current level of development Family information Major outcomes expected Specifications of early intervention services Steps to transition into another program (NCLD, 2014)

Inclusion • General education classrooms • Goals and accomplishments ▫ Feeling of unity ▫ Diversity in classroom ▫ Improved emotional and social development ▫ Positive learning environment ▫ Increased engagement ▫ (“Educational Resources”, 2014)

Classroom Accommodations • Expected adjustments ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ Presentation Structure Pace Intensity Reinforcement Curriculum Assessment (NCLD, 2014)

Additional Services Noble of Indiana (“Noble of Indiana”, 2014) ▫ Nobleofindiana. org ▫ Services Intervention plans Therapy Support groups Nutrition consultation About Special Kids (“ASK”, 2014) • Aboutspecialkids. org • Services ▫ Support groups ▫ Training ▫ Webinars ▫ Spanish version of services

Additional Services Insource: Special Education Parent Support (“Parents Helping Parents”, 2014) • Insource. org • Services ▫ Support and training for: Bullying Federal laws IEP meetings/construction Intervention Special Education in Indiana Transition into adulthood Bradford Woods (“Bradford Woods”, 2014) • Camps and retreats ▫ Designed specific to disability ▫ Fun, safe activities ▫ Local: Martinsville, Indiana

Closing Remarks and Questions • • IDEA IEP IFSP Inclusion Classroom accommodations Additional services Questions

Reflection The foundation of addressing the needs of exceptional students in public education comes from the federal law, or IDEA. The IDEA first addresses IEP specific to the student. Along with created the IEP, an IFSP should be created to address the home life of students with exceptional needs. Inclusion is a rising trend in schools across the country. It is necessary for exceptional students to be included general education classrooms in order for the students to reach their full potential. Teachers are expected to make accommodations to meet the needs of all learners. Additional support is always available to students and families. All of these components are essential for parents to be aware of regarding the education of their child with disabilities. It is important for parents to know their rights according to the IDEA. One of the most important components of IDEA is the establishment of the IEP. The IEP will guide the teacher, parents, and student into the direction of success. The IEP is created to address the needs of the child in order to give the child the best possible education. It is a collaborative document to include many views and options best fit for the child. IFSP’s are also an important component in addressing the needs of exceptional learners. These plans will help families be more effective in raising a child with disabilities. Inclusion in classrooms is a growing methodology. It has shown the many positive outcomes of including children with disabilities in general education classrooms. Inclusion is one of the most important aspects in promoting learning in least restrictive environments. Classroom accommodations should be outlined for parents so parents are fully aware of potential changes. Parents should be aware of changes in the classroom in order to accommodate home life. Change can be very troublesome for children and accommodations need to be introduced with care at school and at home. There are infinite places where parents and children can receive additional support. Outlining a few places is a great starting point for parents to gather information.

References ASK. (2014). Retrieved from http: //www. aboutspecialkids. org/ Bradford Woods. (2014). Retrieved from http: //www. bradwoods. org/ Educational Resources. (2014). Retrieved from http: //inclusiveschools. org/about/ Hallahan, D. P. , Kauffman, J. M. , & Pullen, P. C. (2015). Exceptional learners: An introduction to special education (Thirteenth edition. ed. ). Boston: Pearson. National Center for Learning Disabilities. (2014). Retrieved from National Center for Learning Disabilities website: http: //www. ncld. org/ Noble. (2014). Retrieved from http: //www. nobleofindiana. org/ Parents Helping Parents. (2014). Retrieved from http: //insource. org/