If your child has special needs or disabilities, special education can help your child succeed in school and in life. But many parents are afraid that their children will be designated for special education courses in a room separate from their classmates, so they avoid seeking special education arrangements.
Although this was the case at once, current special education courses require schools to provide an educational environment that is as unlimited and equal for all children as possible.
Are you unsure if your child qualifies for special education? Do you wonder if special education services would help your child succeed in school? Definitions of eligible disabilities have been greatly expanded to include learning disabilities and emotional challenges as well as physical disabilities.
Some of these definitions are determined by the states, and the federal government determines some. No matter what type of disability your child has, special education is the best way to make sure your child receives the education your child deserves.
Without special education services, your child may be at a disadvantage. Even with a caring and patient teacher, many children find themselves unable to adhere to their peers in the classroom.
By establishing a clear and fair special education plan, you, your child and school will ensure that appropriate measures are taken on behalf of your child in the classroom. This may involve additional time with a teacher or special education instructor, physical housing or other reasonable accommodation that the school can offer.
When you apply for special education for your child, your first step will be to get an Individual Education Plan (IEP) for him. An IEP should be developed for every child with disabilities and is the single most important documentation in your quest for equal education for your child. It outlines goals and goals for the student together with a description of the accommodation needed to facilitate these goals.
The IEP process begins when you or your child's teacher notices that the child is struggling in school. The concerned party will request a referral for specialized training, which will usually result in an evaluation of a committee consisting of the schooling college and you. The evaluation will determine if your child's disabilities disturb his educational experience. If so, an IEP will be developed.
When the IEP is in place, your child will have access to the special education services covered by the IDEA. Under IDEA, your child is entitled to education equivalent to a child without disability in the least restrictive environment.
The Least Restictive Environment (LRE) mandate is the result of many years of study. The conclusion of these studies was that the special needs of children are served better in the classroom with their peers than in a segregated classroom environment. The practices for extraction programs, separate special spaces and the stigmatization of being a special child have changed radically over the past decade.
Children are now invited to blossom first in the usual classroom, with accommodation and modifications if needed. If it becomes clear that this setting is not in the best interests of the child, the school or parent may request a reassessment of the situation.
Recent studies have shown that children with disabilities have more opportunities to enjoy themselves when they are trained in the same environment as non-disabled children. Observing and interacting with other children helps students with disabilities to maintain a sense of normality and develop their social skills. An inclusive classroom, one containing special needs and non-special needs students, can also help the non-special needs students develop valuable social skills.
By removing obstacles between disabled students and non-disabled students, IDEA has made the special education environment a more caring and beneficial place for your child to receive the education that your child is entitled to. There is no longer a need to be nervous about the negative impact that special education will have on your child, as the process has been refined to be as positive as possible.
The special education environment available in schools today is one that provides an improved learning experience for your child. With the help of complementary support staff and special education for classroom teachers, your child's school can provide the kind of environment that will enable him to enjoy and achieve all that your child can achieve.