April is Autism Awareness Month

The Advocacy Center encourages you to learn more about autism. The Autism Society of America Autism Society of America has some good information on autism. You can also use your search engine to find other Web sites.

The Advocacy Center is guided by a set of priorities. Our number one priority is: “Children with disabilities should be educated in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs.” The concept of placing children with disabilities in the “most integrated setting appropriate to their needs” comes from P.L. 94-142 or the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that says that children with disabilities should be provided a free appropriate public education. Here are some highlights of the IDEA:

1. All children and youth (ages 0-21) with disabilities, regardless of the severity of the disability, have the right to receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE) – at public expense.
2. Education of children and youth with disabilities must be based on a complete individual evaluation and assessment of the specific, unique needs of each child.
3. An Individualized Education Program (IEP), or an Individualized Family services Plan (IFSP), must be drawn up for every child or youth found edible for special education or early intervention services and must state precisely what kinds of special education and related services, or the type of early intervention services each infant, toddler, preschooler, child or youth will receive.
4. To the maximum extent appropriate, all children and youth with disabilities must be educated in the regular education environment.
5. Children and youth receiving special education have the right to receive the related services necessary to benefit from their instruction.
6. Parents have the right to participate in every decision related to the identification, evaluation, discipline and placement of their child with a disability
7. Parents must give consent for any evaluation, assessment, or placement; be notified of any change in placement that may occur; be included, along with teachers, in conferences and meetings held to prepare individualized programs; and must approve these plans before they go into effect for the first time.
8. Parents have the right to challenge and appeal any decision related to the identification, evaluation, discipline, and placement of their child, or any issue concerning the provision of FAPE. They have the right to make these challenges through clearly spelled-out due process procedures.
9. Parents have the right to confidentiality of information. No one may see a child’s records unless the parents give their written permission. (The exception to this being school personnel with legitimate educational interests.)

If your child has autism or any other disability that qualifies him or her for special education services, and you feel like any of the education rights listed above have been violated, please call the Advocacy Center.

Advocacy Center
1-800-960-7705
AdvocacyCenter@AdvocacyLA.org