THE PROGRAMS:
There are many different options of when and where your child will receive special services. Your child's age and level of needs will generally determine the best placement option.
Early Childhood Program - Children with special needs begin their public education on their third birthday. The early childhood program is run for 2 ˝ hours per day, four days per week. The class consists of 7 children with special needs and 8 typically developing peers.
Some preschool age children who have a developmental delay in only one area (speech, fine motor, or gross motor skills) will not qualify for the early childhood program but will be seen by the appropriate specialist for the necessary therapy time.
Kindergarten through Twelfth Grade - Children in kindergarten, elementary, and secondary grades can receive the educational supports they need in a variety of ways, based on the child's I.E.P. Some choices include:
- all learning and additional supports are provided in the classroom;
- learning is in the classroom but some support services are provided in the Resource Room or other location appropriate for services such as speech or occupational therapies;
- placement in a small classroom with a group of special needs students with similar developmental delays or behavioral issues where all necessary services are delivered; or,
- placement is at a residential facility, hospital, school or other specialized center out of the N. Attleboro school district.
Post Secondary Education - The students that range from age 18 through age 22 participate in a program that focuses on school-to-work transitions with an emphasis on independent living skills.
Summer Schooling - Some students will require an educational program during the summer months because the lack of continuity will cause the student to significantly regress during that time. The child's I.E.P. would specify the need for summer schooling.
UNDERSTANDING THE I.E.P. PROCESS
Chapter 603 regulations guarantees that every Massachusetts student with special needs has a right to a free and appropriate education designed to meet the student's educational needs in the least restrictive environment. To accomplish this, an Individualized Educational Plan (I.E.P.) must be written. There are many publications available with a detailed program description of the process, your rights and helpful hints to make the development of the plan as successful as possible (see the Dept. of Education or the Federation for Children with Special Needs in the Resource List). This booklet will provide only a summary of the steps to complete the I.E.P.
- Understand what assessment or evaluations will be done, when, where and by whom. You can prepare your child. You also have the right to refuse a specific assessment, unless it is mandated by law, and you can request other assessments be done.
- Evaluations and Assessments are done to determine your child's strengths and areas of need. These tests are done by physicians, psychologists, teachers, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, social workers, or adjustment councilors. Assessments will be done within 30 school days after the parent returns the consent form. A written summary of the evaluations is available upon request to the parent at least two days prior to the team meeting.
- The evaluation team, the teacher, the school principal (or representative) and the parents meet for a team meeting. The purpose of the team meeting is to determine if your child requires special educational services. This meeting should be within 45 school days of signing the parent consent form. The results of each assessment will be given and discussed. The parent can bring any other person (or the child if over 14 years of age) they feel would be appropriate. If special education services are recommended, an I.E.P. will be developed.
- An I.E.P. is developed that describes the services needed to meet your child's educational needs. The I.E.P. should include your child's strengths and weaknesses, how he/she learns best, educational goals and objectives, level of participation in a regular classroom, the frequency of assistance by a special education teacher or therapist, assistive technology needs, and, transportation needs.
- Each I.E.P is reviewed periodically. Any member of the team can request a team meeting if amendments to the Plan are needed. Periodic progress reports are also done to determine if the goals and objectives are being met and still appropriate. A full evaluation is repeated after three years to determine the student's level of needs.
WHO DO I CONTACT?
Either the early childhood coordinator (at the preschool level), the principal (at the elementary schools) or the team chairperson (at the secondary schools) at your child's school is the person responsible for implementing the I.E.P as it was written by the evaluation team. When you have a question or problem regarding your child's services, you can contact the appropriate personnel within the school system.
You should contact the school's Administrative Liaison or the principal if you:
- want a copy of the testing and evaluation results before the team meeting;
- disagree with the assessment/testing results;
- disagree with the proposed educational plan; or,
- do not think your child's educational plan is being implemented appropriately.
Contact the Administrative Liaison or the Special Education Director if you believe additional evaluation is necessary.
Contact the Administrative Liaison if your child's annual review or evaluation is approaching.
Contact the Special Needs Office staff if you:
- have a transportation question;
- want to be put in contact with a parent who has volunteered to speak to and help direct parents just entering the special education program; or,
- want to learn more about the Special Needs Advisory Council (SNAC).
Contact the Director of Special Education if you are unable to resolve any issue at the school level. The Massachusetts Department of Education also can assist with conflicts that have not been resolved (see the Resource List).
RESOURCES AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION
There are many resources available to help you make your way from the evaluation stage to the development and implementation of an educational plan. Your understanding of your child's needs matched with your knowledge of the educational system and your rights will certainly contribute to your child's success.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Board of Education, Division of Special Education (617-388-3300): This office provides several free publications regarding special education regulations. They will send you a copy of the Ch. 6 regulations and their Parent's Guide to Special Education. These publications are very important and a must for every parent to have and read. The Guide clearly outlines all of the procedures the school must follow during the evaluation and I.E.P process. It also specifically describes the complaint process. The Department of Education also has a representative for each school district that can answer questions and advise you in areas where you may have a conflict with the local school system.
Department of Public Health, Division for Children with Special Health Care Needs, Boston: (617) 624-5070: The Department offers many programs for families of children with special health care needs such as training parents and school personnel on issues related to medical needs of students while in school; family and community support to ensure access to necessary services; hearing evaluation and hearing aid programs; and, training on SSI and other health benefits.
Federation for Children with Special Needs, Boston (800 331-0688): The Federation can answer many questions about services for children as well as provide you with a free newsletter on up to date educational and legislative issues that relate to special needs students.
Family TIES of Massachusetts: (800) 905 - TIES: This group of special needs parents helps others find information, support groups and resources. They will put you on their mailing list for a list of area conferences and workshops. Family TIES is sponsored by the Department of Public Health.
New England INDEX: (800) 643-0249: A local organization that provides referrals and information to families with children with special needs.
FIRST at UMASS Medical Center: (508) 856-6286: The staff here will locate information on any topic related to your child's medical, therapeutic, or health care needs from their huge database of medical journals. FREE.
MA Assistive Technology Partnership: (800) 848 - 8867: MATP helps families with all types of issues related to computer assisted learning, wheelchairs, vision and hearing impaired issues and other technological devices.
National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities: (800) 695-0285: NYCHCY will answer questions, make referrals to local agencies and parent groups, and send out literature on many subjects. Call for a list of publications or more information.
Massachusetts Assistive Technology Partnership Center (MATP): Boston (800) 848-8867: MATP provides information, referrals and training for students that need equipment, technology or other devises to help them succeed in the classroom.
Easter Seals : (508) 995-7900 (New Bedford Office) Easter Seals responds to unmet needs through rehabilitation services, recreational activities, equipment loans, technology assistance, and public education. Free swim classes are sponsored by Easter Seals and are held at the Hockomock YMCA. Call for more information.
National Birth Defects Center (Waltham): (781) 466-9555 Evaluation and treatment for children with birth defects, genetic diseases and mental retardation. Some clinics are at Norwood Hospital.
National Organization for Rare Diseases (800) 999-6673: Information and support network.
The ARC of Northern Bristol County: 226-1445 (Attleboro) The ARC serves to support individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Parent groups, sibling supports, advocacy assistance, and social opportunities are just a few of the ARC's services.
Sensory Integration International (310) 320-9986: This organization educates and supports people with sensory integration difficulties. They have several publications and education programs available.
Learning Disabilities Association of Massachusetts (Waltham): (781) 891-5009: This organization is helpful to parents trying to understand learning disabilities. They also organize an annual conference.
The Learning Disabilities Network (Hingham): (781) 340-5605 Join the network for their newsletter, tutoring information, advocacy and workshops.
Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder (CHADD): A national organization that can direct parents to local groups and resources. To obtain written information call (800) 233-4050 or to talk to a representative call (954)587-3700.
Family Autism Center (Westwood): (781) 461-4001: The Center offers numerous resources to families including support groups (there is even a group for grandparents of children with autism), literature, workshops and lectures, and referrals to specialists.
Richard's Memorial Library, N. Attleboro: The library has an extensive section of books and videos that were donated by the Special Needs Advisory Council (S.N.A.C). The shelving area next to the elevator door on the library's main floor is set aside for these donated resources. Many other titles are also available through the ABLE library system. A directory of the SNAC special needs books is available from the Special Needs Office or at the Library's circulation desk.
S.N.A.C maintains a resources library of over 120 different brochures, directories, listings and articles on a wide variety of topics and organizations related to special needs services. This is a collection of information about local support groups, recreational programs, area therapists and medical practices which specialize in evaluating and treating special needs children, appropriate web sites and other technology (hardware and software) resources, just to name a few. All information is in two three ring binders, located on the shelves with other S.N.A.C literature. Please feel free to add any information to the library that may interest other parents.
Special Needs Advisory Council (S.N.A.C): This group of parents and
administrators meets monthly to address the needs of families with children in the special needs program in the N. Attleboro schools. Many different areas of need within the system are addressed and discussed. (A student's individual issues are not discussed at SNAC meetings.) Contact the Special Needs Office for the date, time, and location of the next meeting.
Parent Liaisons: Each school in N. Attleboro has a parent of a special needs child that has volunteered to talk to other parents and answer questions or concerns about special needs services. This liaison also relays issues or ideas from the individual schools to the S.N.A.C meetings. Call the Special Needs Office for the name of your liaison. (See chart below.)
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BOOKS AND VIDEOS
Most of these resources are available at the N. Attleboro library or through the ABLE library system.
Driven to Distraction by Edward M. Hallowell, MD and John Ratty, MD is a parents' guide to identifying, understanding, and helping your child with attention problems and hyperactivity.
Answers To Distraction by Edward M. Hallowell, MD is a follow up to Dr. Hallowell's very informative book, Driven to Distraction.
1 - 2- 3 Magic! By Thomas W. Phelan, Ph.D. is available on a 2 part video or a book. This video helps parents of preschoolers through preteen years address discipline issues and suggests appropriate methods of setting limits.
How Difficult Can This Be? The F.A.T. City Workshop by Richard D. Lavoie, M.Ed. is a powerful 70 minute video demonstrating the Frustration, Anxiety, and Tension people with learning disabilities experience every day.
Last One Picked…First One Picked On by Richard D. Lavoie, M.Ed. is a video that looks at why children have difficulties relating to their peers and how a parent can help develop their child's social skills.
Help Me To Help My Child by Jill Bloom is a sourcebook for parents of a child with learning disabilities.
All About Attention Deficit Disorder by Thomas Phelan is a two part video that gives an in depth look at ADD.
Nobody's Perfect by Nancy B. Miller, PH.D., M.S.W. explains the stages every parent goes through when they have a child with special needs. The author writes how parenting any child today is a big job and that nobody's perfect. Special needs are simply a matter of degree. This book won Child Magazine Best Parent Books Award for 1994. (Publisher: (800) 638-3775)
Unlocking Your Child's Learning Potential by Cheri Fuller describes the three styles of learning (auditory, visual and kinesthetic or hands on) and makes many suggestions of how to make your child's learning style an asset rather than a hindrance in school. This book is appropriate for all students.
Learning Disabilities and Self-Esteem: Look What You Have Done! by Robert Brooks, MD is a video that helps parents understand self-esteem and how to reinforce it in child that is struggling.
Managing the Defiant Child by Russell A. Barkley is a video that promotes positive behavior management that can improve the parent-child relationship.
The Out of Sync Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz
The Explosive Child by Dr. Robert Green
*The Director of Special Education maintains a small resources library in the Woodcock Administration Building which parents are welcome to use.
