W
hen John* was in kindergarten his teachers complained to his mother about
in situations, but if it doesn’t come to bear on education, the student may not be
eligible for school services.”
his behavior. He was rowdy in the classroom, regularly answering questions out
of turn and having trouble concentrating, they said.
It’s important to note that even if a physician has diagnosed a student with a
disability such as ADD, dyslexia or anxiety,
“I knew something was going on with [my son],” says Portland parent Laney
Masterson*, who asked that her and her son’s name be changed to protect their
unless the disability interferes with the
identities.
child’s performance in school, academically,
behaviorally or socially, she may not be
“The school thought he had Attention Deficit Disorder [ADD], but I was
eligible for an IEP. But having a firm medical
suspicious of that diagnosis,” says Masterson, who works as a full-time nurse. “I
hemmed and hawed for a bit, and then the school tested him and found that he
diagnosis can help parents and school of-
scored on the Autism spectrum.”
ficials understand where a student struggles
John’s teachers advocated for him to be placed on an Individualized Education
Plan (IEP), but Masterson admits the thought of putting him in any kind of special
and how best to meet her needs.
“I would tell parents that IEPs are great,
Parents should
ask questions
when they don’t
understand
something about
the process.
but don’t accept the first diagnosis,” says
education track made her nervous.
“When I went into this I knew nothing about it. I didn’t even know what an IEP
stood for,” she says. “I didn’t realize that an IEP was a good thing — the services are
Masterson. “The IEP [may] not go away, but it might change, and the student
might qualify for different services.”
so helpful.”
Keep Up Communication
IEPs for school-aged kids fall under the umbrella of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act [IDEA], which was passed at the Federal level in the 1970s
Margaret Zuercher, a learning specialist with the Lake Oswego School District,
and makes available services to more than 6.5 million special needs youth around
urges parents to view the IEP evaluation process as a collaborative effort between
the nation ages zero to 21.
the school, your child and you.
Students who struggle academically, socially and/or emotionally may qualify
“The best way to help is to stay informed [about the IEP process] and in contact
for a wide range of services through an IEP, including preferred seating; speech,
with the teachers and learning specialists. Everybody is on the road together, and
physical or occupational therapy; extra time to take
we’re all working together for the sake of the child. There needs to be trust and
tests; tests tailored to a child’s specific learning style;
open communication,” she says.
and educational assistants who can provided one-
Parents are an integral part of the IEP evaluation and planning process. According to attorney Hungerford, it’s mandatory for a parent to be included in
IEP is developed with the idea that a student should
the meetings, along with educators who work with your child, and a district
be educated alongside peers in general education
representative (usually the school’s principal). Other school employees who work
COURTESY OF NANCY HUNGERFORD.
on-one classroom help, among other services. An
classes as much as possible, making allowances for
special needs.
Some services such as speech therapy may take
place before or after school hours, according to
Nancy Hungerford, the founder of the Portlandbased Hungerford Law Firm, which specializes in
Portland attorney
Nancy Hungerford.
with your child, such as counselors or therapists, may also attend. Once a student
receives an IEP, an annual meeting is scheduled to assess a student’s progress and
set new goals. A student on an IEP is evaluated every three years to determine
if they still qualify for the IEP under evaluation measures that differ district by
district.
“Parents should ask questions when they don’t understand something about
student rights and disability education law. Homeschooled students may also
the process,” says Jennifer Peterson, a learning specialist with the Clackamas
qualify for specialized educational services, but each student is considered on a
School District. “What kinds of tests will my child take? If my child is removed
case-by-case basis.
from her classroom, how long will she be gone? Will my child need to attend a different school? Parents shouldn’t be afraid to ask any of these questions.”
First Step: Evaluation
To initiate an IEP, either a parent or teacher may request an evaluation, and by
law the school must consider the application.
“The evaluation is structured to each child, and could address [among other
things] behavioral or cognitive problems,” says Hungerford.
“The evaluation team, which includes a parent, must determine if a child’s
issues affect her schooling,” she says. “For instance, the child could be anxious
Additionally, Peterson advises, parents should make sure they are offered a
copy of their rights at each yearly IEP meeting, a document that clearly outlines
parents’ rights and responsibilities in relation to their child’s specialized learning
plan.
“Disability is just a different way of accessing information, but it can be a
difficult thing for parents to hear,” says Peterson. “It is [the school’s] obligation to
make sure kids meet specific criteria, and having that label is our district’s way of
supporting the child — it is an avenue to access those services.”
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