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 How
Do I Find Help?...
Each state has different programs to assit families
with disabilities. The first step will be to identify
what kind of help you need. IF you do not know what
the problem is you will nee to consult a professional.
There a number of ways you can do this.
1. Request a FREE evaluation
from your child's public school.
- Each local school district has the duty to identify,
locate and evaluate all students with disabilities
living in the district who need special education
or related services under IDEA, or accommodations
under 504. These students must be located regardless
of the seriousness of their disability. This requirement
is called child find.
- If you feel your child has a disability or you
see them consistently struggling in school you should
contact the school directly and request a meeting
with the school staff to state their request and discuss
possible interventions which may include a comprehensive
psycho-educational assessment.
- The school district CANNOT diagnosis a disability.
They can only determine whether or not your child
meets eligibility for special education based on the
educational code of that state. Many times, these
may go hand in hand with a diagnosis but the report
will not give a conclusive diagnosis of any kind.
- The school educational evaluation process should
follow this process:
DUTY TO PROVIDE FULL EVALUATION
ON REQUEST
The school district must provide a full and individualized
evaluation of the child upon a parent's request, within
45 days of the parent's consent.
EXPLANATION OF RESULTS
The school district staff must explain the evaluation
results to you. The district has a responsibility to
you as a parent to make sure that your child receives
an appropriate evaluation, but also that you understand
the evaluation, the special education process, the Individualized
Education Program (IEP) process, and all of your due
process rights.
DECISION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR SERVICES
Based on the evaluation results, the IEP or 504 team
will determine whether your child is eligible for special
education or 504 accommodations. If so, either an IEP
for special education, or a 504 plan for 504 accommodations,
will be developed. You should be a part of the IEP or
504 team and be invited to all meetings.
INDEPENDENT EDUCATIONAL EVALUATION (IEE)
If you do not agree with the evaluation results, you
have the right to request an IEE at public expense.
This means that the district must pay for an outside
evaluator to test your child. If they do not wish to
pay for such an evaluation, they must request a due
process hearing in which they must prove that their
evaluation was sufficient.
RE-EVALUATION
Students in special education should be evaluated at
least every three years. The IEP team determines what
methods will be used (i.e., formal or informal evaluation)
to make sure that enough information is available to
the team in designing the student's IEP. However, if
there is no question that the student will continue
to qualify for special education, a formal evaluation
need not be performed.
You, the parent or guardian, can request a re-evaluation
at any time that you have reason to believe one is necessary,
such as a change in your child's behavior, performance,
or medical status.
2. Consult with a private practitioner.
- If you would rather consult with a private practitioner
you should be warned that it can be expensive. An
average assessment ranges in price from $1000 - $4000.
- Private professionals that specialize in this area
include: medical doctor (MD), psychologist (Phd or
PsyD) or Educational Psychologist (LEP).
Once you have identified what the problem is, your
next step is to find interventions which may include
tutors, support groups, or specialized classes. For
more information about these please refer to the specific
disability.
WEBSITES THAT MAY HELP
When your Child Doesn't Qualify
http://childparenting.about.com/cs/learningproblems/a/specialed.htm
Wrightslaw - Special Education Law …That's Understandable
http://www.wrightslaw.com
Updated Special Ed Legal briefs
http://www.ed.sc.edu/spedlaw/lawpage.htm
ED LAW
http://www.edlaw.net
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is Dyscalculia?
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is ADHD - Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
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Information
on Rare Disorders
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Info for parents to download 
