How to Talk So Health Professionals Will Listen

1. Be clear about what your concern is when you book your appointment. If you have more than one issue that you would like addressed, be sure to specify this, to ensure that the appropriate time is scheduled.
2. Be prepared. Arrive at the appointment with all of the information that you think will be required. Bring a list of current medications, as well as vitamins and natural remedies, that your child is taking. If you are seeing a specialist, make sure you have all of the related details with you
3. Prioritize your concerns. Because time is usually limited, it is best to decide ahead of schedule what your most important concerns are. State what these are, at the beginning of your appointment, so that you and your health practitioner can organize your time.
4. Be brief, very specific, and factual in your description of the problem. Busy health professionals must quickly arrive at conclusions, and you want these conclusions to be based on the facts that are most important.
5. Do some advance research. This will help you to ask relevant questions, and to participate in the discussion.
6. Be sure to ask questions during appointments. If you aren’t sure you’ll remember details later, write them down.
7. Follow exactly the advice and instructions that you are given.
8. If you feel that your concerns have not been adequately addressed, be sure to state this clearly. A review of details may be helpful in clarifying your concerns. Should you continue to be dissatisfied, it is reasonable to seek another opinion. Most health professionals will welcome this, and can be instrumental in facilitating a referral.

Remember, you can be an effective advocate for your child. This does not require you to be aggressive or confrontational. When you have your facts, offer clear details, participate in the treatment decisions and follow instructions, you are on the road to establishing a mutually respectful relationship with your child’s various health and wellness professionals. The end result is definitely worth the effort.

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Karen Melnick is the author of Your Child's Health & Wellness Record. You can read more about this useful organizing tool in the special needs shops and services section.

Acceptance

When my son Daniel was only eleven months old, I went for my annual check-up with my obstetrician. While I waited for my name to be called my mind drifted. I had spent a lot of time there the previous year, preparing for Daniel's birth. The smell of the office was familiar and made my body almost feel expectant again.

I imagined that if I went through the waiting room door and into one of the cubicles beyond it I might travel back in time. Maybe my pregnant belly would reappear and I would discover that my baby was due next month and that the last year was a hallucination. It happens in soap operas. I remember when they brought Bobby Ewing back to life on the night-time soap opera 'Dallas' by explaining that the entire previous year's episodes had been a dream of one of the characters. What an escape hatch!

Perhaps I could go back to the moment in time that Daniel's brain growth slowed and change some circumstance or other that would restore it to normal development. What if passing through that door meant awakening to a different reality?

There were two women nearby, one with a baby Daniel's age. They were discussing the sounds their babies were making. The baby boy was repeating "ma-ma" and the other mom mentioned that her daughter was still stuck on "da-da".I watched them and felt a twinge. It brought home again how real his delays were. It seemed to me that he'd been left in their dust and that trying to catch up would be like my being able to lose fifteen pounds before Thanksgiving, only ten days away.

I was used to these passing feelings by then. Mostly I had accepted that my son has special challenges, but sometimes the desire for normalcy rose up within me without warning. Seeing other children his age was one strong impetus for those feelings. Even now, fear of the future ebbs and flows, and optimism follows a similar course.

When I sat down to have my blood pressure taken at the doctor's office that morning, I let the sadness wash over me. Being there reminded me of the high hopes I'd had for my baby while he was still growing inside of me. I felt the reality of microcephaly again and let it go. My life so far hasn't provided any magical doors to change, just portals leading to deeper opportunities for learning how to really love.

Time goes on. Overall I've reached a pretty good balance between trying to optimize his development as much as posssible and just plain enjoy him like any toddler (even though he doesn't "toddle" yet). It isn't hard to fall in love with the adorable little guy, either. All he has to do is smile at me and I'm his. In a fast food, microwave society it's possible to go through life never really appreciating the savory taste of food grown in the backyard, cooked slowly over a flaming burner in your own kitchen. We tend to want things not now, but yesterday.

Daniel's birth began a unique training in patience for me. Having a child with delays in development can sometimes make you feel that you're trying to force a plant to grow. Goals are painstakingly met. It's hard to spend day after day working on a simple skill like holding a bottle when the weeks so often turn into months. So much for the quick-zap, drive-through parenting method!

The upside of the story is that when a milesone is reached, the elation that everyone feels is a high like no other. When my son was finally able to sit without toppling over or folding into the taco position, it was cause for a celebration in our house. When he learned to clap I made homemade chocolate pudding for dessert that night, and we all applauded him in kind.

When we brought Daniel home from the hospital I thought that his having significant challenges would make my life forever sad. It has not. I am happy in ways that I've never imagined before. My son is a major reason for that joy. He grows my heart bigger and helps me to see how capable I really am. He teaches me.

Since his birth he has been examined by over a dozen specialists. He's undergone magnetic resonance imaging and CT scans of his brain, several electroencephalograms, to observe his brain's electrical activity, and countless venipunctures so that his blood can be analyzed for one thing or another. He has physical, occupational, speech, vision, and developmental therapy. Throughout all of this he's become an affectionate, playful little boy.

He's two years old now. I no longer have fantasies of waking up to a different circumstance. Our life together is not what I expected, it's true; and I would never pass up an opportunity to make things easier for him. But in the meantime--that space of time that becomes our lives--I'm loving a little boy who amazes us everyday by his courage, love, and wrought iron will. In these things, he's way ahead of the game.

Carolyn Murray is the single mother of two young children, one with multiple disabilities. She formed the Daniel T. Murray Foundation for Children with Disabilities to help fund her online work at Daniel's Gift, a publication serving families of children with special needs. http://www.danielsgift.com

Rose Colored Glasses

Parents of children with special needs don't look through rose colored glasses, but it must seem like we do.

I spent some time with a school official the other day. We carpooled on a trip to Columbus. This person is a principal at the MR/DD school both my children attended and I have a tremendous amount of respect for her. She has been there for me as I've advocated for my children to be in the public school system and her understanding of laws has been invaluable. But as we rode to Columbus, she made an interesting comment, which caused me to really sit back and analyze both our reactions to the meeting we attended on the rules revision.

She said, "The longer I'm in this field, the more I realize that these kids are more like typical kids."

"Big deal, " I thought, "I've known that for a long time." The comment stayed there at the back of my mind though, like many things I hear. I felt there was some big insight here that I should understand and I think I have begun to understand, to a degree.

Most parents see our children as children first, instinctively. It's a basic fact for us. They have personalities, likes and dislikes, fears and loves, as do all children. Their disabilities become secondary, once we accept and go on with our lives and begin to build new dreams. When we advocate for them, we expect the professionals to feel as we do about what is possible for them to accomplish. It may seem to them as if we're looking through rose colored glasses because most of them, even the ones who are so helpful, see them through other eyes.

First of all, they see numbers and labels. The system forces them too. Unit funding, minimum and maximum class size, teacher qualification and aides are just a few of the things they have to consider. Unless a professional has a child of their own who has a disability, they can never really relate to what we see. They haven't invested the time, nor the energy that we have. Their futures aren't intertwined in the lives of these children. They cannot afford to be as emotionally involved as we are. They are not able to live the drama that we have.

Parents don't look through rose colored glasses, but it must seem like we do. All professionals aren't against us, but neither are they completely with us. Is there any way we can even out the picture? It might help if we told a few stories and asked some open ended questions when we're dealing with professionals. Ask what they see for our children and remember that they have been taught to think as they do. Don't be upset when their views are different. Work on trying to make them see the same picture we see and don't expect them to understand instantly. Attitudes are difficult, and sometimes impossible to change, but good results speak for themselves.

Copyright 2001 Pat Linkhorn

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Pat Linkhorn is the Editor of Special Education at About.com and a professional advocate for families with children who have special needs. She is also an experienced parent and has two girls with special needs - autism and blindness due to prematurity.http://thelinkto.com/linkhom

Battle Cries

Children with special needs and disabilities are marginalized in our society. How can parents and special needs advocates encourage full inclusion of children with disabilities?

An Interview with Miriam Edelson, author of the excellent advocacy book: Battle Cries: Justice for Kids with Special Needs

How are families with disabled children marginalized in our society?

Families raising children with disabilities can become marginalized from mainstream society in a number of ways. They have no choice but to advocate for a wide range of supports -- assistance with health care, finding solutions to mobility challenges, procuring learning-enabling computer software -- to name only a few. While all parents experience significant challenges from time to time, raising children with special needs often means developing considerable savvy to get the therapies or equipment your child needs. Often, that advocacy is a job in itself -- and it doesn't necessarily end when a child turns eighteen.

For some, the result is that the ordinary activities of life -- grocery shopping, participating in the labour force or rooting at your non-disabled child's soccer game -- take a high degree of organization and juggling family members' needs. The time and energy required may not leave much room for joining a reading group or enjoying other social activities.

How does this affect our disabled children?

All kids benefit when their parents are able to provide safe and loving environments. The vast majority of us raising children with special needs strive to do just that. But truth be told, the extra work involved in learning to decipher medical lingo and navigate social service agencies can be onerous -- and our kids risk not getting the assistance they need to flourish.

Certainly, if you have the financial resources and if English is your first language, your children are more likely to benefit from the best available therapies or equipment. But not everyone is in that position.

How does this affect parents of disabled children?

Along with the joys that all of our children bring to us, families raising children with disabilities often experience a higher stress levels. Unlike most of our neighbours, we may be in constant contact with social workers and home care agencies. Some parents told me that while they need the assistance, it can feel quite intrusive to have their personal lives under scrutiny. Parents can get just "plain worn out", especially if they are unable to access the practical supports and the fellowship community offers.

What approach would be beneficial for special needs advocates?

There are at least two things we can do. As individuals, we need to reach out in our communities. Chances are, there may be activity and support groups for children similar to your own -- and that may include sibling programs. We must never think that we are alone!

Several mothers told me that just by getting on the internet, they were able to glean more knowledge about their child's challenges and explore ways to complement the medical and other health advice they received. Often other families are a great resource.

Second, we need to come together to make our collective voices heard. Chances are that if your child is at-risk because a particular school program or therapy is no longer available, you're not alone. Try and speak with other parents and see if you can sit down together. Get the most accurate information and make an appointment to see your locally-elected officials. Don't take no for an answer. You, your disabled child and your entire family deserve the best care this society can offer.

Interview with Miriam Edelson, the author of the excellent advocacy book: Battle Cries: Justice for Kids with Special Needs

For families of children with special needs

As a parent of a child with a disability or with special needs you will be only too aware of all the challenges you encounter when you try to get the best help you can for your child. Sadly the list of problems faced by so many children, and their families, never seems to end. Each disability brings with it its own special concerns, but there are many issues which parents share in common.

There is understandably the shock and disbelief on learning that your child is in anyway disadvantaged. It is very hard to accept that this is so. And quite usual at the beginning for parents to block from their thoughts the fact that their child is going to need extra help and will have to be cared for in a special way, perhaps for life. It is as if denial of the problem will make it go away. If only that were so.

The gradual acceptance of the situation is very painful. You may still be agonizing over the question of whether you or your partner are somehow to blame for your child’s condition. All parents go through this kind of anguish. There is a desperate desire to blame somebody.

You may already have felt the deep anger experienced by almost every mother or father in this situation that it should be your child who will have to struggle with a physical, an emotional, or a cognitive disability. You will be know the sickening fear of wondering if you can cope with what you are hearing.

Practically all families wish to do the best for their child, often against tremendous odds. And top of the list for most parents must be to find the best healthcare available. But parents so often run up against a brick wall when trying to get a diagnosis about what is happening to their child. Some physical disabilities are recognized from birth, some children develop an illness which produces them, while some disabilities are more insidious and gradually become apparent as the child gets older and reaches different developmental milestones. It can often be difficult at the beginning to put your finger on just what is worrying you about your child. It can be even harder to know where to turn for guidance or information, with the result that you feel totally lost, and quite alone with your distress.

We all like to think that in our ‘caring society’ today all the help which is needed is on offer. Unhappily that is not usually the experience of mothers and fathers who desperately seek the advice and support they need to help their child in the circumstances I am discussing.

What is the best way to proceed? The first thing is to get as much information as you can about the specific condition which has aroused your concern. Today with the Internet there is more detailed information available to us than previously. Once you can arm yourself with some knowledge about your child’s needs you are in a stronger position to stand firm against the red tape and possible indifference you may meet on the road ahead.

The more facts you have at your disposal, the more confidence you will have to speak up for your child. This is important from day one, and will become even more so when there are battles to be fought about education and other help required such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy or psychotherapy. Lack of funds is often given as an excuse why some services are not available. Don’t take this lying down. Ask questions, and go on asking them.

You may need help in getting the right equipment, finding ways of entertaining your baby or child, and even in gaining some respite for yourself. Don’t fall into the way of thinking that only you, and you alone, can care for your child. A worn-out parent will be little help, and especially if you have other children to care for it must be kept in mind that they need time with their mum or dad too. So get assistance before you crack under the pressure.

Remember, too, that having a child with special needs can put an additional strain on any marriage, so try your hardest to get out from the home together for a little while, even if only for the occasional meal. Make sure you talk to each other about your fears and worries. Talk to other people too. Talk to the neighbours, talk to the local school and any local groups. Set up a rota of family or friends who will give you a short break. Look for local charities and organizations who will be only too glad to find people to help you and your child. This will have the added advantage that it will gain local awareness for a particular disability. Ask at the local schools or colleges if some of the older pupils will come in and play with your child for a while.

Try to link up with an organization which has specialist information about your child’s disability. You will find the tips they can give you will be invaluable. Make sure you know your child’s rights about education, etc. Chat online to other parents who share your concerns, and learn from other parents who have already fought some of the battles which you foresee ahead. One parent said to me this week ‘My advice for new parents? Tell them never take "no" for an answer’. So find your voice and make yourself heard - whether it is to a medical, or educational professional. Your child deserves nothing less.

On the Internet you will log onto information about all kinds of disabilities, as well as getting backup for yourself as a parent, so click onto any support group you can.

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Jill Curtis is a senior psychotherapist working in the UK. She is the author of fourbooks: Where's Daddy? Separation and Your Child, Find Your Way Through Divorce, Does Your Child Have a Hidden Disability? and Making and Breaking Families. Jill Curtis' website Family Onwards provides a vairety of articles on family life.

Finding Help

When we have a baby our entire lives change. We're told that before they're born, but we don't grasp the reality of those words until we live it. The night feedings, leaky breasts, colic, runny poop down the leg of the baby when we're shopping for groceries, and cries that can wake the dead. Writer Anne Lamott says that a friend told her that a baby is somewhat like an alarm clock that goes off at random and is always tuned to heavy metal music.

Another surprise, though, and the reason that our species lives on, is the incredible feelings of love and attachment that these tiny beings evoke in us. It's what enables us to rise six times a night and live in a state of sleep deprivation. We learn what it's like to care more for the needs of another than we do for our own.

Plus, just when we begin to wonder how much longer our bodies can take the demands, our bundle of joy starts to sleep better at night, eat solid food, crawl and take steps, and woo us by saying "ma-ma!" The stroll down the normal developmental path is a pleasant one.

Nothing can prepare us for having a baby whose disabilities force us to veer onto a road with no signs and no maps. It can and often does feel terrifying. Eventually, though, even those of us whose kids have the severest of problems, begin to feel okay. We accept that life isn't what we imagined it would be, and we find the silver linings.

In fact, we get so good at managing that we begin to take ourselves for granted. We don't want to be viewed as saints, because we're not, and we certainly don't want our children to be pitied. So, we march on like good soldiers and do what needs to be done.

In my case it includes diapering a boy who is going to be five years old in a few months, giving him seizure medication twice daily, bottle feeding him when he won't drink from a cup, trying like hell to get him to take some solid food again, carrying him where he needs to go, and transporting his wheelchair to and from appointments and outings.

He can't get from place to place on his own, so I move him from the floor to the high chair so that he can play with his trucks. After awhile I carry him outside to swing. When I think he has tired of that (I have to read his body language and expressions, because he can't speak) I bring him in and sit him on the couch with a favorite musical toy for awhile. If I decide he and his sister might like to go for a swim, I wheel him to the neighborhood pool and then hang onto him in his floatie. I'm doing these things alone now, because I'm a single mom.

I've adapted and adjusted. All of the "special needs" have become routine and normal for us. For the most part, I go along feeling that all is well, and life is good.

The joy that his smile and his laughter bring me, the feeling of his talcum powder soft cheek next to mine, his little hands holding my neck...I'd gladly carry him anywhere and everywhere for the rest of my life.

There are times, though, that my need to "do it myself" puts some serious chinks in my armor. Usually, they are crisis times. When Daniel is sick and can't tell me what's wrong, what hurts or what he needs, I can become worn out from holding him, carrying him and guessing at what to try next. It's times like those that are most like reliving the newborn period. A four-year-old newborn can be a real challenge.

Then, if I get sick, the breakdown of family routine reaches a whole new level. If I need to lie down, my seven-year-old daughter is fine entertaining herself with her dolls and her books. Daniel isn't able to play quietly in his room for a couple of hours while mom recuperates. He needs me like a baby does, only even more.

Those times scare me. My extended family is far away, so calling grandma or grandpa is not an option. I am somewhat of an introvert, so I'm hesitant to ask already busy friends to come to my aid.

What to do?
Barbara Gill, in her book "Changed by a Child," has this advice:

Our first priority must be rest. If we have enough rest, then everything else will follow. To ensure this vital rest, we probably will have to get help, another pair of hands in the house. Contrary to popular belief, help is not a luxury, a self-indulgence, or a sign of weakness. It is a necessity. We deserve to have it. So start with the people most likely to say yes, and ask for the help you need.

Like it or not, I'm going to have to start building a "team" to help me. Gill likens our trying to go it alone to a net that only tightens around us as we struggle. I owe it to Daniel, Melody and myself to make sure I stay out of the net.

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Carolyn Murray is the single mother of two young children, one with multiple disabilities. She formed the Daniel T. Murray Foundation for Children with Disabilities to help fund her online work at Daniel's Gift, a publication serving families of children with special needs. http://www.danielsgift.com

Someone I love

Someone I love relies on me in ways you will never understand. Someone I love endures pain and challenges that break my heart and renew my spirit at the same time. Someone I love is unable to advocate for themselves for things that most of us take for granted. Someone I love will never have the opportunities that every child should have. Someone I love will need unconditional love and support after I am gone - this frightens me to the core. Someone I love encounters pity, stereotyping responses, and prejudice at every turn, because they look, act, and/or learn differently than others. Someone I love has needs that require me to allow "outsiders" to have power and input in areas that should be mine alone to meet. Someone I love will continue to look to me for everything in life long after other children are able to assume a place as part of the world. Someone I love has needs that require more time and energy than I have to give. Someone I love has needs that mean I am not able to meet basic needs of my own. Someone I love has needs that have become the driving force behind major decisions my family makes. Someone I love has changed me in ways I will never be able to describe. Someone I love has taught me about love and about the really important things in life...

And still others don't understand what it is to be me.. they aren't living in my skin.

© Copyright 2000 Lori Hickman. Originally published as the dedication to Living in My Skin, The Insider's View of Life With a Special Needs Child by Lori Hickman. Reprinted with permission of the author, all rights reserved.

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Lori Hickman is a speech pathologist in Washington state. She is the author of Living in My Skin, The Insider's View of Life With a Special Needs Child, and four other books on speech and apraxia.

2009 Disability Pride parade Chicago 7/25

DIVERSITY ROCKS!

2009 Disability Pride Parade

Saturday, July 25

Downtown Chicago

Step off: 11 a.m.

Dearborn and Van Buren north to Daley Plaza

Plaza Program Noon-2:30 p.m.

www.disabilityprideparade.org

1-866-260-5812

Featuring

Jesse White Tumblers

Comedian Brett Eastburn

Miss International 2008 Jayna Altman

Blues Musician Willie Williams

Violinist Nura Aly

Smooth Entertainer Peter Love

Core Components of RTI in Indiana: Part 2

A new CEEP Special Report was issued; The Core Components of RTI: A Closer Look at Evidence-based Core Curriculum, Assessment and Progress Monitoring, and Data-based Decision Making.

This is the second report of a three-part series on Response to Intervention (RTI) in Indiana. The current report examines in greater depth the first three core components of the RTI framework to support schools in their implementation and understanding of:

• evidence-based core curriculum, instruction, intervention and extension;
• assessment and progress monitoring; and
• data-based decision making.

Click HERE to view the report in PDF format on the CEEP web site.

Article 7 (special ed law) trainings

Summer is often a good time to attend trainings to learn more about special education law and IEP's. ASK is offering trainings around the state in the next few weeks. To locate the one closest to you, check their training calendar.

There is a fee for the training, but you can apply for the Family Involvement Fund to cover the costs.

Article 7 (Special Education Workshop) & Preparing Your Child’s IEP
(Individual Education Plan) Training

Overview: This workshop, combining the Article 7 and IEP training, is all day training that offers basic information about special education laws and regulations for Indiana children ages 3-21. It also introduces recent changes in federal law that will impact Indiana’s state regulations. In addition, this training will provide information on how to prepare for a case conference and write an IEP. This training is a great opportunity for family members and professionals who advocate for children with a disability or serious chronic illness.

Autism Family Resource Center

The Easter Seals Crossroads' Autism Family Resouce Center is a place where families of children of all ages on the Autism Spectrum can connect through parent-to-parent support, become better educated, use library and video resource materials, have free access to the Internet, utiize software to create effective, personalized visual schedules....and much, much more! Visit our resource library to see what materials are available. The Autism Family Resource Center is open to the public. View the Autism Services calendar of events.

Independence Day

Fun with family and friends, cook-outs, and fireworks are wonderful ways to celebrate our Independence Day. Our forefathers' powerful declaration—"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all [people] are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness"—lay the foundation for Americans to live self-determined lives of our choice. But what about Americans who happen to have disabilities? Are they also enjoying "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness," and living self-determined lives of their choice? Click here to read the Independence Day article at www.disabilityisnatural.com

Modifications for ADL (daily living)

This info comes from the UK, but it may give you some ideas to speak with your child's OT about:

This page lists a number of possible concerns for children with disabilities such as difficulty eating or being able to safely have a bath. For each concern you can click on links to case studies detailing the experiences of children and their families who shared these concerns. These case studies are based on the clinical experiences of our occupational therapists and not on particular individuals.

Beds and cots

Is your child at risk of injuring themselves on, or climbing out of a standard bed or cot?
Read how soft spaces and specialised cots have helped reduce this risk for both Alexander and Ben.

Does your child experience epilepsy?
Read how an epilepsy sensory has helped Ben's parents sleep soundly in the knowledge that they will be woken in the event of Ben having a seizure.

Chairs

Is your young child unable to sit unsupported?
Read how Mohammed is now sitting independently with the support of a corner chair.

Does your child need supportive seating at school?
Read how the provision of an activity chair helped Chloe to concentrate on her school work.

Eating and drinking

Is your child unable to use standard cutlery?
Read how specialised cutlery and crockery enabled Sophia to eat independently.
Read how Thomas' parents adapted his cutlery using foam handles.

Does your child have difficulty drinking out of standard cups, or anything other than a bottle?
Read how Ruby was helped with a specialised cup and a one-way straw.

Does your child's food go cold before they have finished eating?
Read how an insulated bowl helped Sophia.

Personal care

Is your child unable to clean themselves after toileting?
Read how Olivia gained some independence through using a toilet with wash and dry facilities in combination with a multi-functional shower chair.

Does your child require support in the bath and/or on the toilet?
Read how Jack is supported with a bath seat and a supportive toilet seat.

Is your child ready to start toilet training but your toilet seat is too large?
Read how a trainer toilet seat helped Hannah overcome her fear of using the toilet.

Are you considering adapting your bathroom to meet the needs of your child?
You may wish to read our advice on adapting bathrooms for children.

Does your child have access to a shower?
Read how mobile shower chairs have assisted Olivia and Christopher.

more info at:

http://www.livingmadeeasy.org.uk/index.php

Wrightslaw Conf Indpls 9/18

Autism Society of Indiana

2009 Annual Conference

Junior Achievement of Central Indiana

7435 N Keystone Avenue

Indianapolis, IN 46240

Friday, September 18, 2009

8:30 - 4:30 pm

http://disabilitygoto.com/WrightslawIndianapolis.html

Wayne Steedman

Attorney at Law

Mr. Steedman's practice is devoted primarily to the

representation of children with disabilities. He has

represented his clients in administrative due process

hearings and state and federal courts.

In addition to a law degree from the University of

Maryland, Mr. Steedman has a Masters Degree in Social

Work. For several years, he served as a Due Process

Hearing Officer in special education cases. He is an active

member of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates

(COPAA).

One-day program, 6.5 hours, focuses on changes in IDEA

2004, the interrelationships between IDEA 2004 and No Child

Left Behind, and how to use these laws to get

better special education services for children

with disabilities.

You will learn about:

• new requirements for evaluations,

reevaluations, parental consent

• new requirements for IEPs, IEP teams, IEP

meetings

• new eligibility requirements for students

with specific learning disabilities

• requirements for accommodations on high

stakes tests, accommodations guidelines,

alternate assessments

• new rules about discipline and manifestation reviews

• new procedural requirements and timelines, including the

“Due Process Complaint Notice” and “Resolution (IEP)

Session”

• requirements for reading programs, essential components

of reading instruction, research based instruction

• requirements for highly qualified teachers and

paraprofessionals

• high stakes tests, accommodations, alternate assessments

• new options and choices for children who attend struggling

schools

• how NCLB applies to children with disabilities

Special Education: IDEA & No Child Left Behind

Agenda

7:45 - 8:30 Registration

8:30 – 10:00

Introductions; IDEA 2004: History and

Overview; Section 1400: Findings &

Purposes; Section 1401: Key Definitions in

IDEA: Special Education, LD, etc.

10:00 – 10:15 Break

10:15 - Noon

Section 1412: Child Find, Least Restrictive

Environment, Private Placements, Statewide

Assessments, Accommodations; Section

1414: Evaluations, Reevaluations, Parental

Consent, Individualized Educational

Programs (IEPs), IEP Teams, IEP Meetings

Noon – 1:00 Lunch (provided as a part of registration)

1:00 – 2:45

Section 1415: Procedural Safeguards: Prior

Written Notice; Resolution Session;

Mediation; Requirements & Timelines for

Due Process Hearings; Discipline. Proposed

IDEA 2004 Regulations.

2:45 – 3:00 Break

3:00 – 4:00

No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB): IEPs;

Research Based Instruction; Reading; Highly

Qualified Special Education Teachers

4:00 – 4:30 Questions and Answers