Your Exceptional Child! By: David Cantwell

What You Need to Know! Important Legislation Your Child’s Education NOTE: To change images on this slide, select a picture and delete it. Then click the Insert Picture icon in the placeholder to insert your own image. What You Need to Know! Important Legislation Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Your Child’s Education Pre-referral Team Response to Intervention (RTI) Individualized Education Plan The Importance of Family Family Centered Model Family System Theory Services/Support Groups

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) HISTORY 1975 - Education for All Handicapped Children Act 1990/1997 – Amended and became known as IDEA 2004 – Reauthorized as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) or IDEA 2004 2006 – Part B (Part B for school-aged children) 2011 – Part C (Toddlers to 3 year olds The Goals of IDEA: 1. Ensure that all children with disabilities have available to them free appropriate public education (FAPE) that is designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for post-secondary outcomes. 2. Ensure that the rights of children with disabilities and their parents are protected. 3. Assist states in the implementation of a statewide, comprehensive, coordinated, multidisciplinary, interagency system of early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. 4. Ensure educators and parents have the necessary tools to improve educational results. 5. Assess and ensure the effectiveness of efforts to educate children with disabilities. (Glide-k12, 2012)

Your Childs Educational Plan Pre-referral team Teachers, counselors, administrators, psychologists Test New Strategies before referral Still in use but effectiveness unknown Response to Intervention (RTI Evaluating change – or lack thereof “Quality” instruction must be given Implications for both Academic and Social Behavior evaluations Uses a 3 tiered model for evaluation

3 Tier Model

Your Childs Education Individualized Education Program (IEP) Legal document Describing educational services for your child Kick start the plan by setting high attainable goals Federal and state regulations demand presence of Representative of the local school district, Teacher, Parents/Guardian Student(whenever appropriate) Information Included (State/Federal law does not regulate a degree of detail) Age, grade, date Special Educational needs Present scores and measurements Aids and services required ,assistive technology, modifications, personnel support Measureable goals Short term  long term

IEP (EXAMPLE)

The Importance of Family to Your Childs Success!

The Importance of Family FAMILY-CENTERED MODEL Family decisions Based upon professional advice and encouragement Professionals work for the family Wraparound service model Works In conjunction with Family-centered model Families use ALL available community services for their family Mental Health Social Welfare Juvenile justice

The Importance of Family FAMILY SYSTEMS THEORY- Understanding behavior using four interconnected components Family Characteristics Severity of disability, family size, cultural Background, socioeconomic status, & coping styles Understanding your own family, helps to relay necessary information to professionals Family Interactions Cohesion and adaptability - How Healthy is your family? How do you handle adversity? How well do you adapt? Family Functions Daily Routines and Functions Social, educational, professional, medical What level of involvement do you want/can you have in your child’s development? Family Life Cycle Four Stages Early Childhood, Childhood, adolescence, and adulthood What changes? What stays the same? How can you transition?

Additional Services and Support Groups Additional information on IDEA can be found at The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities http://nichcy.org/laws/idea#indicators Local Support groups in Indiana IN SOUCE – Indiana Resource Center for Families with Special Needs http://www.insource.org/contact.htm GiGi’s Playhouse- Down Syndrome Achievement Centers http://gigisplayhouse.org/

"I thank God for my handicaps, for, through them, I have found myself, my work, and my God." -- Helen Keller

Reflection I decided to tailor my presentation to the three initial and, in my opinion, most important areas of information for families who just had or are about to have a child with a disability to know. LEGISLATION - I choose to talk about the legislation IDEA because it is important for every family with a child who has a disability to understand their rights and the laws that effect them. While the tabs are not there, I would also use this time to talk to the parents about the long history of this legislation, and the fight that so many have gone through for so long to gain these rights. Like any other minority group or subculture in this country, it is important that parents know the history behind it so they are able to help improve the future EARLY EDUCATION - The first steps can often be the hardest for families of children with disabilities. So I wanted to explain to the them, the step by step process of evaluating their children and setting up an educational plan for them. Much like legislation, Parents need to be aware of what the guidelines and expected steps are so that they can stay as involved as possible IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY - I chose to talk about the different family models, because I personally believe that family is the most important part of this whole process. A child born in to a loving, caring, and involved family stands a better chance to succeed in life, regardless of their developmental disabilities. Bringing up the professional information on this topic, helps me to speak to the parents about important their continued involvement is to their child’s future success.

References Hallahan, Daniel P., Kauffman, James M., Pullen, Paige C. "Exceptional learners." Hallahan, Daniel P., Kauffman, James M., Pullen, Paige C. Exceptional learners. Boston, MA, 2009. (November, 2012) “IDEA-Individuals with Disability Education Act.” National Dissemination Center for Children with disabilities. Retrieved from http://nichcy.org/laws/idea#indicators (2013). “Response to Intervention.” School of Social Work: University of Michigan. Retrieved from http://sitemaker.umich.edu/school.social.works/response_to_intervention (2013). “Individual Education Plan.” Special Education Needs: Linsnagarvey High School. Retrieved from http://www.lisnagarvey.org.uk/individualeducationplan.asp