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Requesting an Initial Evaluation for Special Education Services
Are you worried that your child may be struggling with a disability, but are unsure if they should be placed in a special education program? If the school does not contact you, asking if your child can be evaluated, another option is to request an evaluation on behalf of your child. The evaluation is free of charge, and you might also want to include information including doctors evaluations or teacher recommendation Here is a sample of what that letter might look like: Sample Letter Today’s Date (include month, day, and year) Your Name Street Address City, State, Zip Code Daytime telephone number Name of Principal or Special Education Administrator Name of School Street Address City, State, Zip Code Dear (Principal’s or Administrator’s name), I am writing to request that my son/daughter, (child’s name), be evaluated for special education services. I … Read entire article »
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Special Education: from the Beginning
Special education programs did not always used to be mandatory in the United States. Prior to 1975 there were not state-funded programs in relation to children with special needs. In the two … Read more »
Asperger Symptoms
Asperger’s syndrome is characterized by social abilities and social demonstrations. The lack of empathy is characteristic that is often noted. Those with Asperger’s often have difficulty making friends due to their socially … Read more »
Special Eduaction and You
Special Education isn’t really something you’ve ever paid attention to before. Why should you? You weren’t in special education, none of your siblings were in special education, no one you knew was … Read more »
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Toddler Modeling
Have you ever been told your baby is so cute, he or she looks like he belongs in a magazine? Or that he or she is so cute they could beat even Mia Talerico from Disney Channel’s Good Luck Charlie? Then chances are they could have a shot at modeling! But before you set off to try to find the right agency for you, read on to make sure your child can actually cope with it. Can your Child Model? The first thing to consider is if your child likes to be around strangers, have a bunch of lights flashing on them, and having random people putting make-up on them. If your child fusses over being picked … Read entire article »
Early Childhood Special Education
The children in early childhood special education classrooms demonstrate developmental delays, including difficulty with speech, cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, sensory processing difficulties, and other delays that impact their learning. The focus of the programs is to teach children the skills they will need to succeed in school. The classes often have many adults in the classroom. There is always the teacher and should be an assistant. There should also be a speech therapist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, and social worker who service the program. These individuals may work with children in the classroom or may pull one or more children out of the classroom to work on the goals for that child. The teacher and … Read entire article »
Steps in the IEP Process
If your child is involved in the special education system, then you know what an Individualized Education Plan. Here are the steps in the IEP process to prepare for as you try to decide the best educational route for your child: Step 1: Pre-Referral The IEP process starts through a series of pre-referral interventions. The interventions implemented vary depending on the kinds of problems the student is exhibiting. The major purposes of this stage of the IEP process are to -Document and explain students’ specific difficulties and challenges -Test the effectiveness of the classroom setting, and how it can be changed -Monitor students’ progress Step 2: Referral If pre-referral interventions are unsuccessful, an individual is referred for special education … Read entire article »
Asperger’s Syndrome and Your Child
What Is Asperger’s? Asperger syndrome or Asperger’s syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. Children or adults who suffer from it maintain linguistic and cognitive development, which makes it different from other autism spectrum disorders. Although not required for diagnosis, physical clumsiness and atypical use of language are frequently reported. History of Asperger’s There are many questions surrounding Asperger’s Syndrome, and at this point, there are few answers. It was labeled and defined in 1944, but it wasn’t until 50 years later that it became an official diagnosis. There are those who wonder if it is really distinguishable from high-functioning … Read entire article »
The History of Special Education in the United States
Today, children with disabilities routinely attend the same public schools as children without disabilities. But this was not always the case. Prior to legislation requiring public education for children with cognitive or emotional disabilities, deafness, blindness or the need for speech therapy, among others, parents had few options other than to educate their children at home or pay for expensive private education. The story of Special Education begins in the early part of the 20th Century. Parents formed advocacy groups to help bring the educational needs of children with disabilities to the public eye. These groups gained momentum mid-century. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy created the President’s Panel on Mental Retardation. The panel’s recommendations included federal aid … Read entire article »
California Education Service Workers Will Take ‘Midnight Ride’ To Sacramento
Barbara Torres says she was a “troubled child” growing up in the Los Angeles public school system. But, at age 14, an administrator gave her a chance, setting her up with work as a student aide. Torres has remained an employee of the Los Angeles Unified School District for the past 16 years. She works as a special education assistant, helping children with autism adapt to mainstream classrooms. With the financial stresses on education, though, she worries that the next troubled child to come through LAUSD’s public schools may not be quite so lucky. “Kids have issues but we can work through them, they can graduate. You just have to have … Read entire article »
ASL and Special Education
When people asked me why I took ASL in college, I always said it was to satisfy my needed foreign language credit. The truth was that I wanted to help people. The Deaf community dislikes being referred to as disabled in any way, and in general resents that mentality that they need to be helped or assisted through life. But when I was a kid, I had an experience that made me wish I knew sign language. I was in church, and we had a physically and mentally handicapped boy visiting our class. He was very disruptive, and I’m sure my teacher was extremely frustrated as he kept disrupting the class by making loud noises or … Read entire article »
Special Education Appreciation
How many things do we take for granted in our society today. Snow plows, garbage workers, teachers en masse. I think that one of the things that we should appreciate the most yet take for granted nevertheless would have to be special educators. Special education is likely one of the most challenging professions in the entire world. The paperwork they have to do is close to twice the amount a regular teach has to take care of. That alone would almost be enough to dissuade me from entering this line of work. But despite that and countless other challenges these amazing people dive in anyway. How can we possibly not appreciate such selfless people? Special … Read entire article »
Educational Expenses
In California, expenses on mental health in schools that use to be paid for by the counties, have now being taken care of by the school districts. Board of Education Confronts New Mental Health Costs Published: March 23, 2011 By Knowles Adkisson/The Malibu Times Mental health services previously paid by the county have been shifted to the district. The board also explores ways to cut nursing costs. The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District will be on the hook for approximately $1 million in special education expenses previously paid for by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health for a period of approximately five months. The school district’s Board of Education discussed the sobering news about the special education funding … Read entire article »