| Are you the parent of a child with | | | | the proposed orrefused action;c. A |
| autism that has been trying toadvocate, | | | | statement that the parents of a child |
| for a specific educational service for | | | | with a disability haveprotection under |
| your child? Are youthe parent of a child | | | | the procedural safeguards of this part . |
| with learning disabilities, who feels | | | | . .d. Sources for parents to contact to |
| that theyneed an Orton-Gillingham based | | | | obtain assistance inunderstanding the |
| reading program, but have no been ableto | | | | provisions of this part;e. A description |
| convince special education services? | | | | of other options considered by the IEP |
| Prior Written Notice (PWN) mayhelp you | | | | team and thereason why those options |
| in your fight. This article will discuss | | | | were rejected;f. A description of the |
| what the Individualswith Disabilities | | | | factors, that are relevant to the |
| Education Act (IDEA) requires as far as | | | | agency'sproposal or refusal. |
| PWN, so thatyou can use it to advocate | | | | For example: You believe that your 7 |
| for needed educational services, for | | | | year old with a learningdisability needs |
| yourchild. | | | | an Orton-Gillingham based program. You |
| Prior written notice must be given | | | | bring it up atyour child's IEP, and the |
| according to IDEA, "whenever thelocal | | | | IEP team refuses to discuss it. You |
| educational agency (your local school | | | | shouldask for PWN, which must include |
| district) a. they proposeto initiate a | | | | the above 6 items. |
| change or b. refuses to initiate or | | | | Once you receive PWN, you will |
| change, theidentification, evaluation or | | | | understand why special |
| educational placement of the child, | | | | educationpersonnel are refusing to give |
| orthe provision of a free appropriate | | | | your child, an educational service |
| public education to the child." | | | | thatthey need. You can decide, whether |
| PWN must contain:a. Description of the | | | | you would like to file for a dueprocess |
| action proposed or refused by the | | | | hearing, to prove that your child needs |
| agency;b. An explanation of why the | | | | the Orton-Gillinghamreading program. |
| agency proposes or refuses to take | | | | While PWN can be difficult to |
| theaction and a description of each | | | | understand, your taking the time tolearn |
| evaluation procedure, assessmentrecord, | | | | about it, will be beneficial to your |
| or report the agency used as a basic for | | | | child. |