As learning disabilities like ADHD and dyslexia have become easier to recognize and diagnose, a disparity in funding has also become more easily recognizable. There are currently two groups of "special needs" children that are treated very differently  those with learning disabilities, and those with more severe developmental issues like Down Syndrome.

A child with ADHD, for example, is left in a classroom with 30 plus other students and one teacher, who has neither the time nor energy to focus on one student.

As a consequence, the student begins falling farther and farther behind. Or he may be warehoused in a classroom with students with the same disability, which is counterproductive, to say the least. (Source: Coquitlam NOW -- British Columbia, Canada)

While no solution is currently forthcoming, this disparity can be minimized by parents who advocate for their children's education. In the United States, children who are diagnosed with ADHD are guaranteed access to special education and related services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Labels: education, special-needs

Posted By: Aspen/CRC 0 Comments

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that parents of special education students may seek public money to pay for private schools even if their children have never used special education programs in public schools.

The case before the court involved an Oregon student who was enrolled in a residential school that costs $5,200 a month. Lawyers for the public school system in Forest Grove, Oregon, argued that this student had been found ineligible for special education classes, though he was later diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

A 1997 amendment to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) reads that students need to have been enrolled in special education before they can choose private alternatives.

However, in the court's majority opinion, Justice John Paul Stevens wrote, "We conclude that IDEA authorizes reimbursement for the cost of private special education services ... regardless of whether the child previously received special education or related services through a public school."

Labels: special-needs, public school, private school

Posted By: Aspen/CRC 0 Comments

A bill that was recently introduced into the Texas legislature would provide scholarships to parents of children with disabilities. Those scholarships could be used for special education programs in either public or private schools.

Now, students who qualify for special education programs are defined as those with documented physical, mental, or emotional disabilities. They also can be students with autism, learning disabilities, or traumatic brain injuries, among other conditions.

The new bill would give parents more choices for where to place their special-needs students, giving them the freedom go outside their school district to other schools that have better programs.

Source: Beaumont Enterprise (TX)

Labels: education, special-needs, learning_disabilites

Posted By: Aspen/CRC 0 Comments

A British mother of a special needs child lost a legal battle to get her county to finance her daughter's education in a $65,000-per-year private boarding school. The mother argued that her child needs a 24-hour curriculum of learning, supervision, and therapy.

Judge Richard Inglis ruled that the 11-year-old could receive an adequate education in a public day program at half at the price of the private school.

Parents of special-needs children in some parts of the United States have won lawsuits requiring their states to pay for private boarding schools if the public schools are inadequate for their children.

Labels: education, special-needs, boarding_school

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

If your child has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, you should meet with an evaluation team at his school to ensure that his specific educational needs are being met:

"A multidisciplinary team consisting of the parent, a classroom teacher, special ed teachers and others will meet to determine your child's eligibility for special-ed services, and how those services will be provided. If the team decides your child does not need special ed, the process stops. If you disagree, you can appeal your case in a 'due process' hearing."

The Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act guarantee that children with ADHD have access to the programs they need to ensure their educational success. Source: ADDitude Magazine

Labels: schools, laws, special-needs

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

Suzanne Buckner's son, Freddie, has several learning challenges, including autism. His outbursts at school were so severe that he was barred from attending. Buckner was offered several other options, but felt no area program could handle children like her son, so she started a school of her own.

"Ms Gillies - a resourceful businesswoman - has been given the go-ahead to open a unique school for up to 10 children facing similar challenges to Freddie's. Freddies Reading, based in South Street, is the first of a planned nationwide chain of Special Educational Needs schools being set up by Ms. Gillies."

The school will provide education for children ages five to eleven who have needs including ADHD, behavioral disorders, and emotional issues. An estimated 58,000 children in England and Wales have violent tendencies that prevent them from attending regular schools. Source: Reading Evening Post (UK)

Labels: autism, schools, special-needs

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

Every year, thousands of students across the nation receive special education-related services. As the demand increases, schools continue striving to meet increasing challenges.

"School-age services are provided for each eligible student in accordance with an individualized educational plan (IEP) that describes the specific program for each student.... IEPs are reviewed with parents and new plans developed for the upcoming school year."

The Americans with Disabilities Act guarantees an IED for all students with learning disabilities, including those who have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The act also regulates the number of students per classroom, to help ensure that students get the extra attention they need. Source: Crescent News (Defiance, OH)

Labels: special-needs, learning_disabilites

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

Michelle Davis and Rich Weinfeld are co-founders of the ACB Weinfeld-Davis Advocacy Training Institute, which offers training and guidance to parents and professionals who work with special needs children. The institute has published a "Special Needs Advocacy Resource Guide" aimed at giving parents and professionals the educational information they need to ensure positive outcomes for their children.

"This book has a broad scope and addresses all sorts of special needs. It is an important educational tool not only for the parents and advocates of gifted children, but for those who seek to help any special needs child. The author's intention is to educate the people who act as advocates, whether they are paid consultants or concerned friends or parents."

The guide includes charts and lists, and will acquaint readers with potentially unfamiliar topics such as the Individuals with Disabilities Act. Source: BellaOnline.com.

Ready for summer? Find traditional and specialty camps, like special needs summer camps, at SummerCampsInfo.com.

Labels: special-needs, support, resources

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

Parents whose children are diagnosed as "special needs" often experience initial feelings of shock and confusion. These feelings are normal and understandable, but parents should be careful not to "live" there.

"After the initial shock of discovering your child is unique and special, change your focus from one of despair to gently starting to see it as an opportunity to learn how to help you and your child to explore and discover more about themselves... Some parents will always focus on the difficulties and grieve their child's lost potential compared to others, but I challenge you to see beyond the diagnosis...".

If your child has recently been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, give yourself some time to adjust to this new reality. Take time to develop an understanding of the diagnosis and avoid making any quick or rash decisions. Read more at Ecademy.com.

Talisman offers summer camps for children with special needs across the country. Find a program for your special needs child at www.TalismanCamps.com.

Labels: parents, diagnosis, special-needs

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

Special-education teachers in the Frankfort Independent Schools are ready for big changes. At an organizational meeting Tuesday, those teachers led a discussion with district officials and parents about improving education for students with special needs at Frankfort High School and Second Street School. Read more online.

Learn about Camp Huntington special needs summer camps.

Labels: education, schools, special-needs

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

One in five siblings of children with autism have some language delays or speech problems, according to a new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

"Researchers presume one child is affected and the other is not, but our findings suggest that although one child may have autism, while the other does not, it is very possible that both children are affected to some degree by genes that contribute to autism, "said John Constantino, lead author of the study.

Constantino found that 20% of siblings received a diagnosis of speech problems, and 50% had autistic qualities in their speech.

The study appears in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
 

Labels: autism, special-needs

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 1 Comment