| Are you the parent of a young child that is concerned | | | | behavior scale, possible an autism ratingscale, etc. |
| that your childmay have a disability? Have you been | | | | After the Case Study Evaluation is complete an |
| told by disability educators thatyour child does not | | | | eligibility meeting isheld between the special education |
| qualify for special educationservices? Would you like | | | | personnel and the parents. Themeeting is to go over |
| to know what the Individuals with | | | | the test results, and to determine the child'seligibility for |
| Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) law states about a | | | | special education services. The parent is to be anequal |
| child'seligibility for special education? This article will | | | | part of the team that determines if a child has a |
| discuss thecriteria that school personnel must use, by | | | | disability,and if they have educational needs. Parents |
| law todetermine a child's eligibility. | | | | may bring information ontheir child to help the team |
| In order for a child to be found eligible for special | | | | make the decision. In case of behavioraldifficulty, |
| educationservices they must meet two criteria, | | | | specific things must be done to include, developement |
| according to the Individualswith Disabilities Education | | | | of apositive behavioral plan. |
| Act; | | | | If a child has a disability and educational needs, and |
| 1. The child must have a disability, and | | | | does notreceive special education services, their lives |
| 2. The child must have educational needs. | | | | may be negativelyaffected. By knowing what criteria |
| In order for special education personnel to determine if | | | | special education personnel arerequired to use by law, |
| a child iseligible, they must conduct a psychological | | | | you can become an effective advocate for yourchild. |
| evaluation called a Case | | | | JoAnn Collins is the parent of two adults with |
| Study Evaluation on the child. Below is a list of | | | | disabilities, has beenan educational advocate for over |
| important thingsparents must know about the CSE:a. | | | | 15 years, an author, as well as aspeaker. JoAnn's |
| The parent must give written consent for this to be | | | | recently released book: Disability Deception; Lies |
| done.b. Special education personnel have sixty days | | | | Disability Educators Tell and How Parents Can Beat |
| from when the parentalconsent is signed, to finish | | | | Them at Their Own |
| evaluation.c. IDEA requires that more than one | | | | Game helps parents develop skills to be an assertive |
| assessment tool be used; to gatherall of the academic, | | | | and persistentadvocate for their child. For more free |
| developmental, functional, information needed | | | | articles, press release,upcoming speaking |
| todetermine if the child has a disability.d. Special | | | | engagements, go to Can be reached at Phone |
| education personnel must also assess the child in all | | | | Number |
| areasof suspected disability.e. They must use | | | | 815-932-9263 |
| assessment tools that provide important | | | | You are welcome to publish this article in its |
| informationthat assists them in determining the child's | | | | entirety,electronically or in print, free of charge, as long |
| educational needs.f. If your child has behavioral issues | | | | as you include myfull signature file, and my Web site |
| that affect his or hereducation, ask for testing in this | | | | address in hyperlink for othersites. |
| area. For Example: A behavioralchecklist, an adaptive | | | | |