Creating a workable Game Plan for Raising a Child with Dyslexia

1. Creating a workable Game Plan for Raising a Child with Dyslexia Marilyn J. Bartlett, J.D., Ph.D. Special Education Advocate and Consultant Demystifying Dyslexia: A Resource Day Millersville University January 26, 2019

2. Agenda • Caveat • Identification • Organization • The Law: IDEA/504/ADA-AA/Pennsylvania Special Education Law • The “Bible” • Advocate or Attorney • Online resources: Accurate v Inaccurate information • Meetings: School Personnel, Evaluators, IEP meetings, • Transitions • Resources

3. Caveat… • Autism, Blindness, Deafness, Emotional Disturbance, Hearing Impairment, Intellectual Disability, Multiple Disabilities, Orthopedic Impairment, Other Health Impaired (ADHD/ADD, CAPD,) Specific Learning Disability (Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Apraxia),  Speech/Language Impairment, Traumatic Brain Injury, Visual Impairment • Disabilities v “Other abilities” v “2E’s” v “3e’s” • All “conditions” that interfere with one’s ability to learn in a general education setting, be they permanent or temporary

4. Identification • If you THINK there is a problem: There IS a problem • Everything in Writing • Evaluation: How to chose which tests. • Interpreting the results • IEP vs 504 • Accommodations, Modifications, Remediation

5. Organization • Rule #1: Stay organized • Rule #2: Stay organized • Rule #3: Stay organized • Rule #4: Buy Wrights Law books • Rule #5: Download: • Rule #6: Get two 3” Binder and dividers • Rule #7: Know the law! …IDEA/504/ADA-AA and Penn Spec Ed Law

6. The Law(s) • IDEA: See Wright’s law book • Sec. 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1974: See Wright’s law book • Americans with Disabilities Act-Amended Acts of 2008 • Pennsylvania Laws and Regulations

7. IMPORTANT: Pennsylvania Timeline • 60 Calendar Days (minus summers) to Evaluate: A school district has 60 calendar days (excluding the summer months) from the date a child’s parent signs a Permission to Evaluate (PTE)-Consent Form to evaluate the child and issue an Evaluation Report (ER). (Note: Oral Request: 10 Days) • Evaluation Report Given to Parents 10 School Days Before IEP Team Meeting • IEP Team Meets Within 30 Calendar Days: The Team includes, minimally, parents, a special education teacher, an administrator, and, a regular education teacher (The Eval Reports dictates: S&L, Psychologist, PT, OT). • School Implements IEP Within 10 School Days

8. Penn timeline continued • IEP Must Be In Effect at Beginning of Each School Year • Extended School Year Determination Made by February 28th for Children with Severe Disabilities: Children with severe disabilities include: autism, serious emotional disturbance, severe mental retardation, and severe multiple disabilities; Children with “less severe” disabilities like SLD are decided individually “in a timely manner” (Think: Regression). • IEP Must Be Reviewed at Least Once a Year • Reevaluation Occurs At Least Every Three Years (or sooner if necessary). (Children with MR must be reevaluated at least every two Years.) Do not waive this right!

9. ChoOse your Bible: So many resources; So little time! • Wright, P. &Wright P. (2017). Special education law (2nd ed.).Hartfield, Va.:Harbor House Law Press. • Wright, P. &Wright P. (2017). From emotions to advocacy (2nd ed.). Hartfield, Va.:Harbor House Law Press. • Wright, P. , Wright P. & O’Connor, S. W.. (2017). All about IEPs. Hartfield, Va.:Harbor House Law Press. (ISBN: 978-1-892320-20-9). • Farrell, M., Wright, P. &Wright P. (2017). All about tests and assessments (2nd ed.). Hartfield, Va.:Harbor House Law Press. (ISBN: 978-1-892320-31-5). • https://www.education.pa.gov/K-12/Special%20Education/Pages/default.aspx

10. Advocate or Attorney • In a word: Advocate

14. On line Resources • Chat groups • Wrightslaw.com

15. Meetings: • Bring Food • Both parents attend (and get dressed appropriately!) • Bring an Advocate • AND Bring a Friend to take notes • Two-party consent state • Bring your “Bible” • Bring your 3-inch Notebooks • Bring Your Agenda

17. Transitions • OMG! I hope you attended my last session. • If not, email me for a copy of my PPT!

18. A few of my favorite…books • Wright, P. &Wright P. (2017). Special education law (2nd ed.).Hartfield, Va.:Harbor House Law Press. • Wright, P. &Wright P. (2017). From emotions to advocacy (2nd ed.). Hartfield, Va.:Harbor House Law Press. • Wright, P. &Wright P. (2017). All about IEPs. Hartfield, Va.:Harbor House Law Press. • Wright, P. &Wright P. (2017). All about tests and assessments. Hartfield, Va.:Harbor House Law Press. • Piper, W. (1954). The little engine that could. New York: Platt & Munk. • Clooney, B. (1982). Miss Rumphius. New York City:Viking Press.

19. State of Pennsylvania Resources • https://www.education.pa.gov/K-12/Special%20Education/Pages/default.aspx • https://www.elc-pa.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/ELC_Right_to_SpecialEducation_revisedlinks_March2014.pdf • http://ed-law.com/sample-annotated-iep-pennsylvania.pdf • https://www.palawhelp.org/issues/education/special-education-general-information

20. Most important Resource • Https://www.wrightslaw.com/ • College of William &Mary, Wythe School of Law, Institute for Special Education Advocacy, Williamsburg, Va.