WORKING WITH THE LAW: CLASSROOM PLACEMENT LAURA KERN

Description of Project Training Manual for parents on classroom placement for children with special needs Training Manual for parents on classroom placement for children with special needs LAW: IDEA and the Least Restrictive Environment PHILOSOPHY: Inclusion CLASSROOM STRATEGIES

Method Research, research, research… Research, research, research… Compile research into a paper Compile research into a paper Adapt paper into training material Adapt paper into training material Make training material into manual Make training material into manual Distribute manual to 3 to 4 parents for feedback Distribute manual to 3 to 4 parents for feedback Incorporate feedback into final Manual Incorporate feedback into final Manual

Law Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) Least Restrictive Environment Least Restrictive Environment Statute: “Maximum Extent Appropriate” Statute: “Maximum Extent Appropriate” Regulations: Continuum of Placement and Supplementary Services Regulations: Continuum of Placement and Supplementary Services History behind the statute History behind the statute

Law LRE Continued LRE Continued Cases Cases How to look at cases How to look at cases Brief overview of cases and limitations to LRE Brief overview of cases and limitations to LRE Checklist for parents Checklist for parents A series of questions based on the cases, research and internet sites for parents to review when thinking about LRE and placement

PJ PJ SETTLEMENT PJ SETTLEMENT What it is Who it effects Larger implications Components of the Agreement Scenario of Discussion Scenario of Discussion

Philosophy INCLUSION INCLUSION What does in mean? Is there one uniform definition? Statutes Research such as journal articles, then more popular sources, such as internet Position of Agencies Differences between inclusion, integration, and mainstream

Concerns of Parents What does the research say about concerns of parents about inclusion? What does the research say about concerns of parents about inclusion?

Characteristics of Inclusion What does the research say? What does the research say? What can be found in popular media? What can be found in popular media? What are the drawbacks? What are the drawbacks? What are the benefits? What are the benefits? Syracuse Univ. Center on Human Policy Syracuse Univ. Center on Human Policy Discussion topics for parents Discussion topics for parents

Clash or Compliment? LRE V. INCLUSION LRE V. INCLUSION Inclusion is not an explicit part of the law Inclusion is not an explicit part of the law How does inclusion relate to the LRE How does inclusion relate to the LRE “Maximum Extent Appropriate” but don’t forget the limitations…

Strategies for Inclusion Research and popular media combined Research and popular media combined A comprehensive list and explanation of strategies A comprehensive list and explanation of strategies Such as Modifications, Universal Design, Principal participation, training, person- centered planning Such as Modifications, Universal Design, Principal participation, training, person- centered planning So far, I have a list of 9 subtopics broken down further into 42 individual ideas So far, I have a list of 9 subtopics broken down further into 42 individual ideas

Appendix Cases in greater detail Cases in greater detail Checklists and Matrixes for both LRE and Inclusion Checklists and Matrixes for both LRE and Inclusion Summary of other relevant statutes Summary of other relevant statutes Case Studies for discussion Case Studies for discussion List of Resources, both research based and internet based List of Resources, both research based and internet based

Conclusion Placement alone is insufficient Placement alone is insufficient Parents need to know what their legal rights are on placement issues. Parents need to know what their legal rights are on placement issues. Parents need to consider the idea of inclusion from multiple angles. Parents need to consider the idea of inclusion from multiple angles. Parents need to advocate for strategies that will promote real participation in the regular classroom. Parents need to advocate for strategies that will promote real participation in the regular classroom.

And a final thought…