Special Education Services and Your Child | Neighborhood Voice

Parents are their children?s best advocates because parents know their children better than anyone else. That is why parents are so important when a child needs special education.

The term ?special education? encompasses educational programs that serve children with mental, physical, emotional, and behavioral disabilities. Some common types of disabilities in special education are attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder also called ADHD; mental retardation and emotional disturbance.

NV columnist Timothy D. Goler is a sociology doctoral candidate Case Western Reserve University and co-founder of PolicyBridge.

The federal government?s ?Individuals with Disabilities Education Act,? also called IDEA, guarantees a ?free, appropriate public education? to children with disabilities. But parents must speak up, advocate for their children and make sure their children get the help they need.?

Under IDEA, a parent has the right to request that his/her child be evaluated to determine whether the child has a disability that qualifies him/her for special education services.?And, a parent also has a right to participate on his/her child's Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team, which is the group that decides what services the school will provide the child.?Every child needs different services, so parents should learn as much as they can about their child's disability or disabilities and advocate for full and appropriate services for their child during IEP Team meetings. Parents should also work with their child at home to ensure that services/accommodations the child is receiving at school are continued and consistent at home.

Is there an additional cost for special education?

No.? Schools receive some money from the federal (U.S.) government to pay for special education services, but often schools do not receive enough money to cover all of the services a child needs.?Schools cannot, however, refuse to give your child a service he/she needs because it costs too much. IDEA requires schools to provide the necessary services a child needs to gain a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), which means services are provided at no cost to the parents.

Do I have to have special credentials to request an evaluation or an IEP team meeting?

No.?You have a right, as your child's parent(s), to request an evaluation and an IEP team meeting if you think it is necessary.?Remember: The school is only required to give your child an appropriate education, not the best education. If you are worried that the school is not providing an appropriate education to meet the needs of your child, contact one of the organizations listed below for help.

Learn more about your rights, the rights of your child, federal and state laws and more at: www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEPrimary.aspx?page=2&TopicRelationID=1540

On Wednesday, July 25, be sure to attend a Mental Health Public Hearing at Cleveland City Hall located at 601 Lakeside Ave. Sponsored by Cleveland City Councilman Kevin Conwell and Cuyahoga County Councilwoman Yvonne Conwell, the hearing will focus on children and families affected by mental health issues and educational impacts. Stay tuned to www.neighborhood-voice.com for more information about this hearing.

Tim Goler, who wrote this article, can be reached at Timothy.Goler@case.edu.

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