Copy
View this email in your browser

Special Education Law Tips

October 2015
2 Things that will help your child with school

Since we know that parents of special needs kids don't have a ton of spare time, our newsletter is designed to be short but sweet.  Enjoy these 2 Things and if you know someone who will also benefit from these tips, please feel free to pass it along.  Thank you from all of us at SchoolKidsLawyer.com!
Parents on the IEP Team
The law is clear that the parents of a child with a disability are necessary members of the IEP Team.  Recent court cases have said that parents must have "meaningful participation" in an IEP meeting for the IEP to be valid. In other words, you can't hold an IEP meeting without the parents unless you have given them notice of the meeting and every opportunity to attend.  Parents' input must be considered, but like any 'team', that input may be outvoted. Simply because the other members of the team don't agree with the parents' ideas doesn't necessarily mean that the IEP is invalid or wrong.  The important question is always whether the design of the IEP or its implementation provides the child with a disability a free appropriate public education ("FAPE").
What is a 504 Plan?
Many parents of special needs kids have heard school personnel refer to a "504 Plan", but are not sure what it is.  504 is a shorthand reference to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  It is an anti-discrimination law that is now applied to schools (separate and in addition to special education laws).  Essentially, it means that a school cannot deny services or access to school activities because of a child's disability.  For example, if a child has asthma and needs to be able to use his/her inhaler (medication) during the day, the school must accommodate that need. A 504 Plan is simply a written document that describes accommodations being provided by the school to help a child with a disability.  Failure to do so is a violation of federal law.
Our upcoming events:
October 22, 2015 - Special education consultations at the Family Services Organization of Burlington County
November 9, 2015 - Education Law seminar for the Burlington County Bar Association

If you have a group or organization that is interested in hosting a special education seminar, please contact me at info@schoolkidslawyer.com.

School Kids Lawyer

2,449 followers
1,650 tweets
following 1,881 people
follow
 https://us11.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=66ccf772419a922c2f962df1a&id=84d247d69e&e=[UNIQID]

Copyright © 2015 Thurston Law Offices LLC, All rights reserved.


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp