Importance of Securing an Appropriate Education Education Act (also known as the IDEA) celebrated a decade as a federal law codifying the services and rights guaranteed to children with disabilities in the United States. ensuring legal protections for special needs children and their families. The concept of this law was born out of the many Civil Rights laws of the 1960s and in the spirit of the decision in Brown v. Board of Education and its progeny. All children with disabilities (regardless of wealth or status) have the same opportunity to receive a free and appropriate public education (FAPE), and states must endow educators with the tools necessary to provide students with effective educational programs that recognize their unique needs. This article focuses on school-aged children (ages 4-21) in the United States. Children facing problems with cognitive, physical, adaptive, language, and other delays must not be ignored or overlooked in our education system and must be afforded an education tailored to help them reach their educational goals, and prepare them for further education, employment and independent living. critically important for special needs children. Studies have shown that the earlier these services are provided, the more beneficial the services will be to the growth, improvement and overall development of the child. Early intervention services such as speech therapy, reading and writing interventions, occupational therapy and behavioral therapy, to name a few, should be offered as soon as possible and are important in child development. Both parents and school districts can expect that starting services later in childhood will end up being more costly than if services began at an early age. As recognized by the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard wise investments in the earliest years, we will all pay the considerable costs of greater numbers of school-aged children who need special education and more adults who are under-employable, unemployable, or incarcerated." a child has special needs and could qualify for services under the IDEA. It is important that parents and school districts play active roles in identifying a student's disability. Within the IDEA, the Child Find mandate places responsibility on schools to identify, locate and evaluate children with disabilities within their jurisdiction (even children in private or parochial schools, non-domiciled children, children in foster care or in hospital settings). needs of the special needs student, it is still the responsibility of the educators to recognize the student's difficulties and Aviles, LLP, where she co-founded the education practice group in the spring of 2010. A former full time public school teacher, she represents children of all ages with special needs and their families throughout the administrative, state and federal due process proceedings. She counsels parents and negotiates with school districts throughout the New York metro area. firm. She handles general liability cases and assists the education practice group in preparing briefs and appeals. 61 Broadway, Suite 2000 New York, New York 10006 212.233.7196 Fax jcruggieri@lewisjohs.com lewisjohs.com |