1. An insider's guide to special education: What you need to know Wednesday, October 21, 2009 Sponsored by SNAG The Special Needs Advocacy Group in the Cheltenham School District www.cheltenhamsnag.org

2. Presented by Michael Basch Esq., Fine, Kaplan and Black Tanya Regli MSS/MLSP HUNE (Hispanos Unidos Para Ninos Excepcionales)

3. Topics for tonight  First Steps: From before identification to evaluation  The difference between a 504 Plan and an Individualized Education Plan (IEP)  The IEP process from proposal to Recommended Placement (NOREP)  How to prepare for an IEP meeting and who should attend it  What should be in the IEP  What parents can do if they disagree with recommendations

4. First Steps: From before identification to evaluation Child Find Request can be school or parent initiated Requesting an evaluation or Multi Disciplinary Evaluation (MDE) Resource for sample request for evaluation letter www.elc-pa.org www.elc-pa.org Permission To Evaluate (T700) Form must be readily available to parent. Time-line: 10 days to sign the PTE, 60 calendar days to complete evaluation (does not include summer months)

5. Sample Request for Evaluation or Re-Evaluation 1.Go to www.elc-pa.orgwww.elc-pa.org 2.Click “Publications & Materials” 3.Click “Students with Disabilities” 4.Click “Sample Letter Requesting Evaluation” Or “Sample letter Requesting Re- Evaluation”

6. Multi Disciplinary Evaluation Process Who is on the MDE team? Psychological- accesses IQ, behavior, achievement, determines diagnosis, responsible for reporting results at meeting regarding the evaluation Occupational Therapy (OT)- accesses fine motor skills, sensory processing Physical Therapy (PT)- accesses gross motor Speech Therapy - accesses enunciation, language processing, and other speech based issues Parent or Guardian- gives written and verbal input

7. Multi Disciplinary Evaluation Process Who is on the MDE team? Note: MDE is not a medical evaluation. School psychologist must take into account the results of other evaluations. It is a good idea to have resources from places like a children’s hospital, private therapeutic services (i.e. CHOP, Theraplay, Shriners, Center for Autism, etc.)

8. MDE Process cont. Agree with results Begin IEP process Disagree with results, Request an independent evaluation 10 days to request or school initiates due process Meet regarding results of MDE 10 days to review

9. The when and how of an independent evaluation process When? Three reasons parents may want an independent evaluation: Inaccurate Good recommendations are not provided Not comprehensive (for example behavior is not added such as other health impairment like ADHD) How? Parent writes a letter, sample at www.elc-pa.orgwww.elc-pa.org Parent can ask for a list from the school or choose another qualified school psychologist

10. Sample Request for Independent Evaluation 1.Go to www.elc-pa.orgwww.elc-pa.org 2.Click “Publications & Materials” 3.Click “Students with Disabilities” 4.Click “Sample Letter Requesting an Independent Evaluation”

11. The difference between a 504 Plan and an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) Section 504/Chapter 15: Children with Disabilities Who Do Not Need Special Education IEP: Children with Disabilities that Need Special Education

12. The IEP process from proposal to Recommended Placement (NOREP) 5 days to go over IEP Go over all parts of IEP with members of IEP team Notice of Recommended Educational Placement (NOREP) Must have at least once a year

13. How to prepare for an IEP meeting and who should attend it Bring someone partner, advocate, friend Put a face to the IEP Start with positives and strengths Make sure LEA is present IEP team (parent, teachers, therapists, administrators, and anyone needed to inform IEP development) Keep copies and get copies

14. What should be in the IEP? IEP up front, think period by period 4 sections of IEP: Debbie DeLauro article Annotated IEP on PaTTAN website http://www.pattan.nethttp://www.pattan.net under “resources”

15. A Few Resources Education Law Center www.elc-pa.orgwww.elc-pa.org PaTTAN www.pattan.netwww.pattan.net SNAG www.cheltenhamsnag.orgwww.cheltenhamsnag.org MARC www.marcpa.org/www.marcpa.org/ Disabilities Right Network of PA www.drnpa.org www.drnpa.org For copies of this power point presentation email me at tanyaregli@aol.comtanyaregli@aol.com