Are you the parent of a child with a disability, who would like to
have an independent educational evaluation (IEE) performed on your
child, but don’t know how to find an evaluator? Would you like to
learn about resources that can help you find a qualified independent
evaluator. This article will discuss 3 tips on finding a qualified
evaluator to perform an IEE on your child.
Tip 1: Ask other parents that have children with disabilities, if
they have any names of qualified evaluators. Make sure that the
evaluator is qualified, to test your child, in the areas that they
need to be tested. Parents often discuss various issues about special
education, including educational evaluators they have used. In my
state of Illinois parents often pass around names of evaluators that
are child and parent friendly. Try looking for parents that have
children with similar disabilities to your child. For example: if your
child has autism, ask other parents for evaluators that specialize in
children with autism. Large University hospitals often have clinics
for children with all autism spectrum disorders.
Tip 2: Try calling a Parent Training and Information Center (PTIC), or
a Center for Independent Living (CIL), and ask if they have a list of
qualified evaluators. A list of all PTIC’s in the USA can be found in
Appendix E of the book From Emotions to Advocacy by Pam and Peter
Wright. The book can be found at http://www.wrightslaw.com. A Center for
Independent Living in your area can be found at
http://www.virtualcil.net/cils. Most PTIC’s and CILS have people trained in
special education, to help parents.
Tip 3: Check out your state board of education’s Web site, and see if
they have a list of Independent Educational Evaluators. Be careful
though, because some of the names may be past school employees. If you
would like to use someone on the list, check with other parents to see
if they know them, and if they know whether they are willing to stand
up to school districts, for children with disabilities. In Illinois
where I live, many of the child and parent friendly evaluators are not
on the list. It is an option, though, to at least get a few names.
Since you have decided to get an Independent Educational Evaluation
for your child, the person you pick is critical. If you pick a person
that is not qualified to conduct the evaluation, then the evaluation
will not help your child. Also, if you pick an evaluator that is not
willing to stand up to special education personnel, this will not
benefit your child either. Take your time, and find an evaluator that
will help you determine what your child’s educational and related
service needs are. Your child is worth the time!
By: JoAnn Collins
Posts Tagged ‘Children With Autism’
Parenting Tips – 3 Tips On Finding An Independent Evaluator For Your Child With A Disability
December 29th, 2009Getting Important Methodologies Like ABA in Your Child’s Special Education Program
November 9th, 2009
Are you the parent of a young child with autism that thinks that your child needs an applied behavioral analysis (ABA)program? Are you the parent of a child with dyslexia or other learning disabilities who thinks that your child needs an Orton-Gillingham Based multisensory reading program? Would you like to learn how to advocate for these particular methodologies for your child? This article will discuss what methodology means, and information that you can use to advocate for the appropriate methodology for your child.
Methodology means the specific curriculum or program that special education personnel are going to use, to teach your child. Some of the most popular methodologies for teaching children are ABA (for children with autism) or an Orton-Gillingham based multisensory reading program for children with dyslexia or other reading disabilities.
Many special education personnel continue to tell parents that they have no right to tell them what methodology to use. Below are 4 points that you can make with school personnel to get the methodology that your child needs in order to benefit from their education.
1. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 2004 states under 300.26 that: special education means specially designed instruction means adapting as appropriate to the needs of the eligible child . . .the content, methodology, or delivery of instruction.
This section is one of the most important clarifications in the IDEA law. It
gives parents the right to discuss the content, methodology and delivery of education to their child. The discussion of methodology is important for all children but especially those children with autism or language based learning disabilities.
2. In a recent court case entitled KL vs. Mercer Island School District found that: The particular teaching methodology that will be used. . .will need to be discussed at the IEP meeting and incorporated into the student’s IEP.
3. Another court case the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois discussed methodology in the case of TH vs. Palatine School District. The court held that the school’s argument that it had the right to choose methodology was not valid since the school district had no methodology. The US Supreme Court decision in Rowley could only apply if the school had chosen and implemented a methodology calculated to allow the child to make meaningful progress.
4. There is no legal basis for school districts decision to not discuss or specify the methodology in a child’s IEP! School districts position on this contradicts common sense. IDEA regulations require that the IEP should include related services and supplementary aids and supports to be provided to the child, and a statement of the program, modifications or supports. It is mind blowing that school districts take the position that it should specify the supports and modifications which may be dependent on the methodology, but not specify the methodology.
If you feel that your child needs a particular methodology in order to benefit from their education, bring it up at an IEP meeting. If the IEP team feels that they do not have to put the methodology in your child’s IEP, bring up all of the 4 points above! Put special emphasis on the wording of IDEA which does include the word methodologies. You may have to fight for a particular methodology that your child needs, but it will be well worth it!
By: JoAnn Collins
