Know Your Rights and the Law So You Can Be the Best Advocate for Your Special Needs Child

1. Know Your Rights and the Law So You Can Be the Best Advocate for Your Special Needs Child Presented By: Sheryl Frishman, Esq.

2. Why is the relationship between the Parent & the School District so adversarial? 2

3. “The Special Education Battlefield”“The War to Get Services for Children: the Parents and the School Districts are the Soldiers” “Us Against Them” 3

4. What are the Barriers to a Cooperative Relationship? • Parents AND district not understanding their legal obligations • Limited resources • “Turf Wars” • Coming to the table with preconceived or a predetermined program or services 4

5. HOW DO YOU BUILD A MORE COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP? • Understand that there is a mutual goal: the appropriate education of the child • Shared responsibility in the education of the child • Good Communication! • BOTH parents and the school district need to understand their legal rights and obligations under the law 5

6. You may have a relationship with your school district for up to 21 years…. You do not want to start in an adversarial fashion or it will be a more difficult road. 6

7. SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW 101 7

8. IDEA • IDEA - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act • Federal special education law (cited as 20 U.S.C §§1400-1487 and 34 C.F.R Part 300) • The purpose of IDEA is “to ensure that all children with disabilities have available to them a free appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living.” 8

9. PART 200 • Ed. L. & NYCRR - Article 89 of the NY State Education Law & Part 200 of the commissioner of education’s regulations • New York’s special education laws. These laws fully take into account the Federal Law and also offer more State specific rules and regulations. 9

10. CHILD WITH A DISABILITY Two tier test: (a) a child with an intellectual disability, hearing impairments, speech or language impairments, visual impairments, serious emotional disturbance, orthopedic impairments, autism, traumatic brain injury, other health impairments (includes ADD), or specific learning disabilities (includes dyslexia) (b) who, by reason of the disability, needs special education and related services (emphasis added) 10

11. SECTION 504 • 504 - Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 • A civil rights law that: (a) protects individuals from discrimination; and (b) entitles children with disabilities that limit a major life activity, such as learning, to a free appropriate public education designed to meet their individual educational needs as adequately as the needs of children without disabilities are met. • 504 provides fewer protections than IDEA . • There is no requirement that a §504 Plan be written. 11

12. NCLB • No Child Left Behind – reauthorized a number of federal programs aiming to improve the performance of U.S. primary & secondary schools • Schools must implement NCLB standards in order to receive certain federal funding • Main Components: • Teacher Quality • Student Testing • Scientifically Based Research • Public School Choice 12

13. DASA and Bullying • Research shows that students with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to harassment and bullying. Bullying can cause educational decline, anxiety, physical ailments and missed classes. • A new tool and mandate exists to prevent and address student bullying and harassment. The Dignity for All Students Act prohibits harassment and bullying based on disability and other characteristics. • To implement the law, each school must appoint a Dignity Act Coordinator. If your child is the victim of bullying, do not delay in reporting this. 13

14. FAPE • Free Appropriate Public Education • Special education and related services that are • (a) provided in an Individualized Education Program (IEP) • (b) designed to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability • (c) meet state standards • (d) are provided at public expense 14

15. LRE • Least Restrictive Environment • To the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities should be educated with children who are not disabled • Placement in special classes or removal from the regular education setting occurs only when the disability is so severe that satisfactory education cannot be achieved in regular classes with the use of supplementary supports • Special education setting must be as close as possible to the students local school. 15

16. EI EI Early Intervention: • Children age 0-3 • Run through Department of Health • Focus on development and family • To be eligible child must have a 33% delay in one area or 25% delay in two or more areas of development (cognitive, adaptive, communication, physical, social emotional) • Individual Family Service Plan • For Early Intervention Only • Based on child development needs and family needs, not school needs IFSP 16

17. CPSE • Committee on Preschool Special Education • The CPSE determines whether a child is eligible for services from ages 3-5 • Focus changes from whole child/family centered to child’s ability to succeed in school. • Classified as a “preschooler with a disability” • Services based on school calendar not necessarily eligible for summer services • Parents are dealing directly with the school district 17

18. CSE Committee on Special Education • Ages 5-21 Who is on the CSE/CPSE committee? • Comprised of the parents of the child, a regular education teacher of the child, a special education teacher of the child, a representative of the school district (CSE Chair), the child (when appropriate), the school psychologist (New York law) and a parent member. • All members of the CSE must participate in meetings. However, the parents of the child can decline participation of the parent member. 18

19. EVALUATIONS! • What? • When? • Who? • Do You Understand? • Ask Questions! • Right to Independent Evaluations 19

20. IEP • Individualized Education Program • A written statement for a child with a disability that describes special education programming and related services designed to meet the unique needs of the child. • The IEP must include: • a statement of the child’s present levels of academic achievement and functional progress • measurable annual goals that are designed to enable the child to make progress in the general education curriculum • a description of how the child’s progress will be measured • measurable post-secondary school goals 20

21. Purpose of An IEP • Foundation or blue print for the student’s program • Too to measure success of the program and services • Tool for monitoring accountability • Clarifies resources to be committed • Provides consistency • Communication tool for teachers & parents to understand the unique needs of the child • Allows for mutual decision-making by parents and team members 21

22. Guidelines for Writing an IEP • Make it specific • Needs to be understood by anyone who reads it • Make it a useful tool • Needs to be objective • Make it comprehensive, yet concise • Needs to reflect the student’s strengths as well as areas of disability 22

23. PLOP • Present Level of Performance • Statement of student’s present levels of performance in four areas: Academic, Social, Physical Development, and Management • How disability affects involvement in the general curriculum or, for preschool, how it affects participation in age appropriate activities 23

24. GOALS • There should be at least one annual goal for each need identified • For students who qualify for the alternate assessment, short-term objectives or benchmarks to comprise each annual goal must also be developed • Goals must be meaningful and should be different yearly 24

25. SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM • Can include: • Special classes • Resource rooms • Direct or indirect consultant teacher services • Travel training • Home instruction • Special teachers including itinerant teachers 25

26. Related Services • Developmental, corrective and other supportive services required to assist a student with a disability. This is in addition to the special education program. Can be done individually or in a group. • Examples of related services: speech & language pathology, audiology services, psychological services, physical therapy, counseling services, parent counseling and training, school health services, etc. 26

27. Program Modifications • Supplementary aids and services and/or program modifications or supports are aids, services and other supports that are provided in general education classes or other education-related settings to enable students with disabilities to be educated with non-disabled peers in the LRE. 27

28. Assistive Technology • Any item, piece of equipment or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified or customized, that is used to increase, maintain or improve the functional capabilities of a student with a disability • Should include training • Can student take it home? 28

29. Transition What are transition services? • Transition services refers to a coordinated set of activities for a child with a disability that focuses on “improving the academic and functional achievement of the child with a disability to facilitate the child’s movement from post-school activities. • Post-secondary school activities include: post-secondary education, vocational education, integrated employment (including supported employment), continuing/adult education, adult services, independent living, or community participation. • IEP must include transition goals that are based on the student's needs, taking into account the student’s strengths, interests and preferences and should be person-centered.

30. Transition (cont) • Transition services include: • “instruction, related services, community experiences, development of employment and other post-school adult living objectives and, when appropriate, acquisition of daily living skills and functional vocational evaluation” • Transition process begins with the IEP year that the student turns fifteen but parents should be familiar with the transition process prior to that • Student should be included, where appropriate • Consider including local agencies in transition planning; local agencies can also provide services and training • Consider opportunities in the community

31. SUMMER SERVICES? Regression? Maintenance Only! 31

32. NOW WHERE SHALL THESE SERVICES BE PROVIDED? 32

33. Preparing for the CSE Meeting DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE MEETING TO DEVELOP THE IEP & GOALS! Review all evaluations and progress reports with team members Develop goals collaboratively 33

34. WHAT TO DO BEFORE THE MEETING • Create a vision statement (long-range) for your child • Keep in mind educational outcomes necessary for the vision to become a reality • Create a list of your child’s strengths, interests and needs – use evaluations and progress reports for this • Come up with your own suggestions for the IEP – maybe a parent report • If possible, get draft goals to review prior to the meeting • Fill out the sample IEP form found on the VESID website • Prepare yourself mentally, organize your thoughts, and create an agenda. 34

35. What Are Your Roles During the Meeting ? ▪The Parent ▪The Listener ▪The Questioner ▪The Active Team Member ▪The Creative Thinker ▪The Advocate If you do not feel comfortable with any of the above roles, then you may want to bring someone to the meeting with you! The Parent 35

36. After the Meeting • Thank everyone for their time and effort • Ask to see a draft of the IEP before it is finalized • Write a letter confirming what occurred during the meeting 36

37. Do You Understand Your Child’s IEP? • A Checklist • Are there clear statements about what my child can do right now in various areas? • Do these statements of what my child can do agree with my own observations? • Is what my child is supposed to accomplish by the end of the year clearly stated? • Do I think these skills are important for my child to work on? Are the expectations reasonable? 37

38. Checklist Continued… • Do I understand how learning is going to be measured and how well my child must perform each task? • Have my ideas about what is important been considered in the development of the program? • Do I know the specific educational services that will be provided? • Do I know how much time my child will participate in the regular education program? 38

39. Do I know when the program will begin and how long it will last? Are there things that I can do as a parent to help my child succeed in the program? How often will progress be reported to me? Are there opportunities throughout the year for the team (including the parent) to meet? Checklist Continued… 39

40. NO YES WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON’T AGREE? 40

41. THE IMPARTIAL HEARING Appeal to Court State Review The Hearing 41

42. STAY PUT • Pendency / “Stay Put” • During a due process hearing and appeals, the child must remain (“stay put”) in the current educational placement as per the last agreed upon IEP • There are some exceptions to this 42

43. Is There Any Other Way Rather Than the Hearing? • Mediation • New York State Education Department Complaint 43

44. Outside of the School District, Is There Anywhere Else I Can Get Services for My Child? • Private Insurance • OPWDD • Medicaid Waiver 44

45. OSE • http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed • Office of Special Education of the New York State Dept of Education • The best resource out there! 45

46. QUESTIONS? 46

47. Sheryl R. Frishman, Esq. (914) 898 - 2106 sfrishman@littmankrooks.com Special Education Advocacy from Birth through Age 22 Advocacy for School Accommodations & Modifications Transition Planning & Advocacy School Discipline Matters Estate Planning, Supplemental Needs Trusts and Guardianships 399 Knollwood Rd ▪White Plains, NY 10603 ▪P 914.684.2100 ▪F 914.684.98 47

48. Disclaimer This Handout/Presentation may not be reproduced without the express prior permission of Sheryl R. Frishman, Esq. Nothing in this handout should be construed as legal advice. Please consult with your own attorney before relying on the information contained herein 48