Special Education

Special Education Karen Alaniz BLE, ASU M.ED, NAU 14 years teaching kinder 2nd year teaching SPED GESD #40

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What is Special Education? • "Specially designed instruction, at no cost to parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability.” • Special education is in place to provide additional services, support, programs, specialized placements or environments to ensure that all students' educational needs are provided for. • The range of special education support will vary based on need and educational jurisdictions. Each country, state or educational jurisdiction will have different policies, rules, regulations and legislation that governs what special education is.

What is SPED cont.? • In the US, the governing law is:Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Typically, the types of exceptionalities/disabilities will be clearly identified in the jurisdiction's law surrounding special education. Students qualifying for special education support have needs that will often require support that goes beyond what is normally offered or received in the regular school/classroom setting.

What is IDEA? • IDEA, ensures that children with disabilities receive a “free appropriate public education” (FAPE). This means that schools will provide Students who are eligible (have a disability) with specialize supports/instruction that will address their academic needs in the least restrictive environment.

Identification • Pediatrician -will refer to agencies that can evaluate • School district in your area -preschool age children will first be screened and then if needed a formal evaluation will be scheduled by a licensed educational psychologist • Developmental Psychologist -can be referred by your pediatrician • Child Find -done by general education teacher

Evaluation Evaluation is a VERY LONG PROCESS • Child Study Team is created: parents, teachers, therapists, administrators, psychologists, doctors, any others that have input on the child • Data (academic, behavior, social) is collected • Data is monitored and observed, notes and modifications and accommodations are made Evaluation is a VERY LONG PROCESS

Evaluation cont. • After several weeks (10-15 weeks approx.) the Child Study Team (CST) will join again to discuss how the child is doing • The team will decide if further evaluation is needed Evaluation is a very LONG PROCESS • If the CST determines that further evaluation is needed more data is collected for further formal evaluation

Evaluation cont. • Teachers Assisting Teachers (TAT) team • The Evaluation begins: • More data is collected • Intelligence Testing (depending on age) • Standardized Testing (depending on grade) • Achievement Testing • Tests Functional Behavior

Eligibility Determination • After all the data is collected, evaluated and reported an eligibility determination is made. Specific learning disability, speech and language impairment, traumatic brain injury, autism, deaf or blindness, developmental delays, emotional disturbance, hearing impairments, mild intellectual disability (mental retardation), orthopedic impairments, visual impairments and Other Health Impairments

Placement Determination • Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) • Pull Out Support • Students are pulled out of general education and given specialized instruction in a special education classroom • Push In Support • Special Ed Teachers go in to general education and given specialized instruction in a special education classroom • Self-Contained Support • Students are serviced for most of their education day in one classroom by a special education teacher they go to a general ed classroom for short amounts of time during the day

IEP Development • Individual Education Plan is created by the student’s special education teacher or case manager with advisement from the IEP team • Legal document that is updated with new information and goals every year at a formal IEP meeting • Working document that can be altered at any time during the year by requesting an IEP meeting in writing

IEP Development • Every IEP is different • Different components • Different specialists • Very individualized • Specific goals • Related Services • Speech and language services • Occupational services

Services Begin • Special Education Services begin the date the Eligibility Determination document is signed • IEP minutes/classes begin the date the IEP is signed

Tips • Create a notebook for your child’s journey in special education • Write down names, dates, questions, answers • Know the date your child’s IEP expires • Know the date your child is up for reevaluation • Create a file system for all special education documents, paperwork, etc • Keep in contact with all the people at your school that share in the care and education of your child know their names, phone number and emails • Keep in contact with your child’s related services teachers know their names, phone number and emails

Tips cont. • Be collaborative with your IEP team • Teach your child good study habits, socially acceptable behaviors and coping skills to deal with their behaviors • Be realistic about your child’s strengths and challenges • Stay positive and keep searching for ways to help your child learn • Advocate for your child

One last thing…. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoeZAXUZbqQ • The link above is a short video about finding hope with a child who has a learning disability. • http://www.parentcenterhub.org/repository/acronyms/ • The link above is to a website that gives a list of acronyms in special education.

Thank you!! Karen Alaniz heartmom2michael@yahoo.com 623-570-4733

Special Education