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