| Are you the parent of a child with learning disabilities or | | | | If you tell them that they need to give you PWN, then |
| autism? | | | | they will beunable to ignore you, which happens, |
| Have you been fighting for an educational service that | | | | sometimes. If school personneldrag their feet on PWN, |
| your childneeds, such as Applied Behavioral Analysis | | | | type one up, and send it to the schoolyourself. This is |
| (ABA), or a Orton- | | | | creating more documentation of your request, andtheir |
| Gillingham based reading program? This article will | | | | refusal to provide the needed service, or even discuss |
| discuss how to useprior written notice (PWN), to help | | | | it.b. 2. States that PWN must contain why special |
| your child get needed educationalservices. | | | | education personnel arerefusing a service. This is |
| The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires | | | | important, because school personnel willhave to come |
| that PWNcontain 6 things: 1. Description of the action | | | | up with a believable excuse, and put it in writing. |
| proposed or refused bythe agency. 2. An explanation | | | | Thismay also lock them into why, they are refusing the |
| of why the agency proposes or refuses totake action. | | | | service, and can beused as evidence, at a due |
| Also a description of what tests or reports the | | | | process hearing. |
| agencyis using as a basis for the proposed or refused | | | | 2. Also states, that disability educators must list what |
| action. 3. Copies ofprocedural safeguards given to | | | | evaluations,assessments or reports, that they are |
| parents. 4. Sources where parents canget help | | | | basing there decision on. Thisrequirement will prevent |
| understanding PWN. 5. A description of other | | | | special education personnel, from makingunilateral |
| optionsdiscussed and rejected and reasons for the | | | | decisions, without a basis for the decision. Even if |
| rejection. 6. A descriptionof the factors, that are | | | | theydo make the unilateral decision, they may have to |
| important to the agency's proposal orrefusal. | | | | defend this decisionat a due process hearing, if you |
| Below are ways that you can use PWN to get an | | | | decide to pursue it.c. 5. States that school personnel |
| educational service thatyour child needs:a. There are a | | | | must list what options theyconsidered and why they |
| couple of ways to use 1. to your benefit. Since | | | | were rejected. Special education personneloften make |
| thenotice must be in writing, you will have | | | | unilateral decisions based on nothing, and give no |
| documentation, that youbelieve your child needs a | | | | options. |
| certain service. Documentation is critical,for you to win | | | | You can use this, to make sure that they put in writing, |
| a dispute with special education personnel. | | | | what optionsthey discussed, and why they were |
| For example: You are at an Individual Education Plan | | | | rejected. |
| (IEP) meetingasking for ABA for your 3 ½ year | | | | By understanding PWN and how to use it to help your |
| old son with autism. Schoolpersonnel refuse to even | | | | child, you will beable to be an effective advocate, for |
| discuss it. Ask for PWN, to be sent to youwithin 7-10 | | | | your child. |
| days, and this will document your request. | | | | |