Last week, I had the pleasure of speaking to a group of parents about diabetes care in school. The event, which was sponsored by the American Diabetes Association, was held at the Avondale Library here in Birmingham. The program was targeted to parents of children with diabetes, but the principles are the same for most children with disabilities who attend school. Since the school year is approaching, over the next few posts we will take a look at some of the laws that apply to children with disabilities in School. If you or a loved one is experiencing difficulty with a school system concerning your child’s health related needs, please do not hesitate to contact my office for a consultation.
Today’s topic IDEA:
IDEA is the Individual with Disabilities Education Act. The purpose of IDEA is to ensure that children with disabilities receive a “free and appropriate education.” The typical child who is covered by IDEA has a physical or mental disability that substantially effects their ability to learn. Many people may presume that the only children who will be covered by IDEA are those with developmental delays. It is important to note however, that children who have physical disabilities may also be covered under IDEA.
As a parent, it is important to look at how your child’s disability affects the classroom performance. In the diabetes context, one example might be a pattern of erratic blood sugar swings could result in reduced comprehension as well as significant time outside of the classroom for nurse visits. Therefore, it is important to raise issues of academic performance with school officials so that they can be factored into your child’s yearly planning.
Children who are covered by IDEA are eligible for an Individualized Education Plan. These plans will generally contain provisions for testing to determine the child’s functional performance, set goals for improving the performance and outline the increased services that will be provided by the school system in an effort to help your child meet the goals.
The IEP process should be collaborative. Parents, administrators, caregivers and sometimes the student can be involved in charting the best course of action for the childs educational enrichment. If you believe that your child has needs that should be addressed with an IEP you should contact your school for further information on scheduling a meeting.
