| If your child is struggling with | | | | If your child is deemed to necessitate |
| learning or behavior, and these issues | | | | an evaluation, then a three-pronged |
| are impeding their ability to function | | | | evaluation will begin. Your child's IQ |
| optimally in school, you may have to | | | | will be assessed, as will be their |
| consider the possibility of a learning | | | | learning profile. A background interview |
| disability. The good news is that there | | | | will be conducted during which you'll |
| are a ton of services available to your | | | | provide all pertinent information on |
| child, and they're free to access. These | | | | your child. You'll receive copies of |
| are called special education and related | | | | these reports within a 90-day period. |
| services. | | | | You'll reconvene to discuss the results |
| First of all, you needn't be upset. As a | | | | of the assessments within three months. |
| school psychologist, I see approximately | | | | At that meeting it will be decided |
| 20% of the student population for one | | | | whether or not your child qualifies for |
| reason or another. Services range from | | | | services, and placement will be |
| In-Class Support to Out-of-District | | | | discussed when the Individualized |
| Placement, and the range in between is | | | | Education Program is devised. You'll |
| significant. There are Resource Center | | | | have plenty of opportunities to |
| placements that place your child in a | | | | interject and offer your opinion - after |
| smaller class environment for an extra | | | | all, it's your child! If you disagree |
| period each day; there are replacement | | | | with the findings, there are procedures |
| classes that offer a full class period | | | | you can take. You can refuse services |
| of instruction in the Resource Center | | | | altogether. Remember, though, that if |
| instead of the mainstream environment; | | | | your child is found to be learning |
| there are self-contained classes for | | | | disabled your Team may initiate a Due |
| students with more significant learning | | | | Process hearing to implement services if |
| difficulties. | | | | you refuse. There are legal protections |
| If you suspect your child has a learning | | | | for you, and for your Team. |
| disability, your first course of action | | | | Whatever the outcome, at the very least |
| is to request an evaluation. You'll | | | | you'll have a detailed learning profile |
| write a letter to your district's IEP | | | | of your child. You'll be able to get |
| Team and they'll have a short time | | | | them the help they need. And they'll be |
| period (usually 20 days) to get hold an | | | | better off after the process is |
| Identification meeting with you. At that | | | | complete. |
| meeting, you'll discuss your child's | | | | Nadine O'Reilly is a school psychologist |
| difficulties with the Team, which | | | | and Coordinator of Special Services. She |
| consists of (at a minimum) a School | | | | creates 100's of special education |
| Psychologist, Social Worker, Regular | | | | programs for students with special needs |
| Education teacher, Special Education | | | | each year. She is the author of the IEP |
| teacher, and district representative, | | | | Resource Guide, and the Section 504 |
| which may or may not be one of the | | | | Resource Guide, as well as numerous |
| aforementioned members. At this meeting | | | | children's books for toddlers with |
| it will be decided whether or not to | | | | life-threatening allergies. |
| evaluate your child. | | | | |