Special Needs

Articles

...Education's Office for Civil Rights opened an investigation into...properly trained in disability rights and restraint protocols. What...investigation began in February when parents reported concerns about staff...alleged abuse. At least one parent, April Edwards, filed a complaint...with the Office for Civil Rights alleging that staff failed...

...you need a clear picture of where your child is right now. Life skills organize into six domains: Self-care:...Asking for help, stating preferences, understanding rights, navigating disagreements. Walk through each domain...What. Life skills teaching is developmental. The right time to introduce a skill...

...and developmental disabilities, it's not even the right option. There are legal tools that preserve autonomy...healthcare decisions, and the window to use them is open right now. The catch is timing. Some of these tools require...treatment discussions because you're the legal parent and HIPAA doesn't apply yet. At 18, that stops....

...are happening. Most parents tuck it away without...It's not written for parents; it's written to satisfy...outlining the legal rights the federal government...government grants parents in special education...arrangements. The Rights That Matter Most....notice covers many rights, but a handful will...records. You have the right to review any educational...

...Extended time on assignments. A separate quiet space for quizzes. Read-aloud support for written materials. When state testing season arrives, many parents assume those same accommodations transfer automatically to standardized tests. State testing accommodations operate under a separate request process,...

...form that's thirty pages long, and a decision to make. You want to do the right thing. But "the right thing" isn't obvious when you're being asked to enroll...pages long, and a decision to make. You want to do the right thing. But "the right thing" isn't obvious when you're being asked to enroll your child in research...

...they're the foundation of your child's educational rights under federal law. Understanding them means understanding...possible. This distinction matters because many parents assume FAPE obligates schools to maximize their...imaginable standard. A school can meet FAPE even if parents believe a different program, a more intensive intervention,...

...your child might qualify for an IEP. Or you've heard the term from another parent and wondered if your child should have one. Either way, you're standing...pediatrician, or another specialist who has regular contact with your child. Either parent or the school can initiate the process. If you're the one making the referral,...

...lawyer. Schools count on parents not knowing the difference...need to know to find the right help. Three Types of Help....on what you're facing. Parent advocate: Another parent,...parent advocate: Another parent, often trained in the...to help other families. Parent advocates understand what...help you understand your rights, and share what worked...

...designed to obscure rather than clarify. This is the moment where many parents sign without fully understanding what they've agreed to. The consent process...understanding what participation involves, what risks you're accepting, and what rights you retain throughout. Questions About Safety and Risk. What are the specific...

...people know. Guardianship strips legal rights from the person under guardianship....under guardianship. It hands those rights to someone else. Supported decision-making...autonomy. The difference matters because rights, once removed, are extraordinarily...guardianship removes all decision-making rights. Limited guardianship restricts specific...

...office navigating accommodation requests, the only parent in your neighborhood who knows what a 504 plan...Here's how to find them and evaluate whether they're right for you. Major Online Forums and Facebook Groups....on Reddit: active community covering disability rights, daily living, accessibility, advocacy. Moderated,...