Education Issues for Students with Learning Disabilities (Special Education)

For related info, also see "Disabilities-Developmental"

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An Interview with Sandee Winkleman: About a Supreme Court Decision (Education News - Nov. 2, 2007)
A lawyer tells about a case heard by the Supreme Court involving his son's educational special needs.

C.N. vs. Willmar Public Schools, et al
Because a third-grader's BIP allowed her teacher to use seclusion and restraint as behavior management techniques, a parent could not show that the teacher's use of those techniques violated the child's constitutional rights. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a decision that the teacher was entitled to qualified immunity on the parents' Section 1983 claims

Supreme Court Splits on Private Tuition (ABA Journal - Oct. 2007)
Upholds a ruling by the New York City 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that allowed reimbursement even though the parents had not received special education services in the public schools.

U.S. Supreme Court Declines Review of Two Special Ed Cases (Special Education Law Blog)
In LM, et al v. Capistrano Unified Sch Dist 538 F.3d 1261, 50 IDELR 181 (9th Cir. 8/19/2008), the Ninth Circuit held that the school district violated state law by limiting the time that a psychologist could observe the student's placement to 20 minute increments, the parents were not thereby deprived of a meaningful opportunity to participate in the IEP review process. Therefore FAPE was provided by the district. The Supremes let the Ninth Circuit decision stand.

100 Useful Tools for Special Needs Students and Educators
With all of the new trends and tools in education technology, there’s no reason for special needs students and their teachers and parents to be left behind. This list of 100 useful tools can help anyone with a learning disability like ADHD, dyslexia or test anxiety, as well as students with visual or hearing impairments, use the Internet and other technology systems to help them with reading, math, organization, social skills, and more.

Acronyms
Like all professions, education and special education have their own "language." Sometimes in the interest of efficiency, we use abbreviations or acronyms, which can be confusing - so we offer this partial list of frequently used acronyms.

A Review of Technology-Based Approaches for Reading Instruction (National Center for Technology Innovation)
Describes the development of the Reading Matrix, a searchable database that presents evidence-based technology products that support instruction for students with reading disabilities.

Expectations for Students with Cognitive Disabilities: Is the Cup Half Empty or Half Full? Can the Cup Flow Over
The publication explains the fallacy in setting expectations based on intelligence testing including:
- IQ test scores only account for 40% to 50% of current expected achievement.
- 50% to 60% of student achievement is related to variables “beyond intelligence.”

IDEA Regulations Released by US Department of Education (12/1/08)
Regarding special education services under IDEA.

Learning Disabilities Advocate's Guide (National Center for Learning Disabilities)
Offers invaluable information and step-by-step guidance for both first-time and experienced advocates.

Letters Regarding Special Education Matters (RespectABILITY)
Sample letters to use for various issues regarding special education

Lost at School (a book by Ross W. Greene, Ph.D)
Why our kids with behavioral challenges are falling through the cracks and how we can help them.

Medicaid School-Based Administrative Claiming Guide (Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services)
The school setting provides a unique opportunity to enroll eligible children in the Medicaid program, and to assist children who are already enrolled in Medicaid to access the benefits available to them.

Managing Life Threatening Food Allergies in Schools (Mass. Dept. of Education)
The number of students with life-threatening food allergies has increased substantially over the last 5 years. As with all children with special needs, it is important that students are able to access all education and education related benefits.

Office of Special Education Programs letter (U.S. Department of Education)
Answers to questions re: rules to determine eligibility for special needs education and related services.

Preparing for Special Education Mediation and Resolution Sessions: A Guide for Families and Advocates
The guide provides a comprehensive article on preparing for special education mediation and resolution sessions, including tips for both families and advocatesl. It includes a flowchart of mediation and resolution session to support the understanding of how these two processes work and intersect. For additional insight, it provides both an interview with a seasoned special education mediator and a summary of a study that sought to identify the factors that contribute to parent-school conflict. It includes communication tips for building strong partnerships and additional resources for locating further information.

Prohibited Disability Harassment (U.S. Dept. of Education)
Reminder of responsibilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Protecting Students with Disabilities (U.S. Dept. of Education)
Frequently asked questions about Section 504.

Safe Schools Initiative (Georgia Advocacy Office)
We invite members of the community to come hear about the State Board of Education rule promulgation process and how they can become involved through public comment. Several related links are provided here.

Special Education Matter - Final Decision (Alaska Dept. of Education)
For a summary of this case, click here.

Special Education Parent Handbook (Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District)
A handbook that was developed by parents of special ed kids in Malibu/Santa Monica for other parents. I think its written in a manner that's more accessible for parents than many other documents, so it might be useful to parents that want to learn more about the special ed process.

Special Education News
In-depth, timely news related to educating students with disabilities.

The Ultimate Guide to Special Needs Teaching: 100+ Resources and Links (Teaching Tips.com)
Whether you have an entire class of students with special needs, or you’ve welcomed a student with a disability into your traditional classroom, this massive list of resources will help you research different disorders and conditions, review special lesson plans, and find the support you need to work with your students and help them succeed.

Alliance to Prevent Restraint, Aversive Interventions and Seclusion
What can you do to protect your child? It is important that you make it clear to your child’s teachers or other program staff that you expect an environment free of aversives, non-emergency restraint, and seclusion. View a sample No Consent Letter linked here.

Center for Effective Collaboration and Practice
To support and promote a reoriented national preparedness to foster the development and the adjustment of children with or at risk of developing serious emotional disturbance.

Center for Special Education Finance
Their mission is to address fiscal policy questions related to the delivery and support of special education throughout the United States and disseminate up-to-date information to stakeholders at all levels.

Chime
Grounded in its promise of a quality education for all children, Chime is a national leader in the development and delivery of quality inclusive education.

Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
The voice and vision of special education.

Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates
A national voice for special education rights and advocacy.

Do-It Programs and Resources (University of Washington)
Many capable individuals with disabilities face challenges as they pursue academics and careers. They are underrepresented in many rewarding career fields, including science, engineering, business, and technology. DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) serves to increase the participation of individuals with disabilities in challenging academic programs and careers.

Family and Advocates Partnership for Education (FAPE)
Helping parents and advocates improve educational results for children with disabilities.

Headsprout
To help children master basic academic skills with fun, interactive learning programs that work. Every hour of every day, in schools and homes across the country and around the world, children are learning to read with Headsprout.

National Center for Learning Disabilities
Our Mission: To ensure that the nation's 15 million children, adolescents, and adults with learning disabilities have every opportunity to succeed in school, work, and life.

PATINS Project (Promoting Achievement through Technology and Instruction for all Students)
Designed in Indiana to develop organization and professional capabilities within school systems in order to effectiver deliver AT services and implement Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles.

Project Evolve: Expanding and Validating Options for Learning Through Variations in Education (Univ. of Vermont)
This grant was awarded to the Center on Disability and Community Inclusion at the University of Vermont by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Program under the funding category, Model Demonstration Projects for Children with Disabilities.

Research Press Publishers
Books and videos in school counseling, special education, psychology, counseling and therapy, parenting, developmental disabilities and grief counseling.

School to Prison Reform Project to help at-risk children get special education services, avoid incarceration.

Student Mental Health and the Law (The JED Foundation)
A comprehensive resource developed in collaboration with leading experts in higher education law, administration and mental health. This guide provides clarification of FERPA, disability law and other legal issues colleges face and includes "good practice" guidelines for addressing campus mental health and working with students in distress.

The Sparkle Effect
A nonprofit corporation that provides guidance, peer mentoring, and online tools to enable high school students across the United States to create cheerleading squads for students with special needs and to fully integrate those squads into the high school sports curriculum.

Using Technology to Raise the Achievement of ALL Students
A major leadership initiative of the Consortium for School Networking. The goal is increased achievement and success for all students through the unlmited and effective use of accessible technologies.