Redbank Valley Special Education Parent's Corner
- How does my child become eligible for special education supports and services?
- Special Education Eligibility Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxTpLD5RVKA
- What is an Evaluation Report?
- Special Education Evaluations Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiQT34ncZb0
- What is an Individualized Education Plan (IEP)?
- What is an IEP video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usFuT2DAhw8
- Why is it important for me to attend my child's IEP meeting? When does my child need to attend? In the state of PA, the age is 14.
- Parent and Student Participation at the IEP meeting video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Am9LC-GNGmU
- What is meant by the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)?
- Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFrbfdOTf7o
- What are my rights as a parent of a student with a disability? Procedural Safeguards information is included.
- My Rights as a Parent (Procedural Safeguards) video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppq37WCJeAk
Additional Resources and Training Opportunities
- PA Families Inc.: https://pafamiliesinc.org/resources/view/riverview-iu-intermediate-unit
- The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC): http://www.cec.sped.org/
- The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities, and/or individuals who are gifted.
- The Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania: http://biapa.org/
- The Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania conducts programs to prevent brain injury and to improve the quality of life for people who have experienced brain injury. BrainSTEPS, which is a school reentry program, provides teams of professionals to assist those who provide educational support to students with brain injury.
- The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA): http://www.asha.org/
- The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is a national professional association for speech and language therapists and audiologists.
- Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania (DRN): http://www.drnpa.org/
- Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania (DRN) is a statewide, nonprofit corporation designated as the federally-mandated organization to advance and protect the civil rights of adults and children with disabilities. DRN works with people with disabilities and their families, their organizations, and their advocates to ensure their right to live in their communities with the services they need, to receive a full and inclusive education, to live free of discrimination, abuse and neglect, and to have control and self-determination over their services.
- Head Start: http://paheadstart.org/
- Head Start is a federal program aimed at providing comprehensive preschool education programs for children age’s three to five from low-income families. Planned activities are designed to address individual needs and to help children attain their potential in mental and physical development before starting school. Ten percent of enrollment is reserved for children with disabilities.
- Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units: https://www.paiu.org/
- An Intermediate Unit (IU) is a regional education agency that provides services to local educational agencies including curriculum, special education, technology and information services, human resources, instruction, and professional development.
- Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid): http://www.medicaid.gov/
- The Medical Assistance Program (MA) assures access to quality healthcare for Pennsylvanians eligible for services. Sometimes referred to as Medicaid, it provides payment for health care services on behalf of children with limited income and children with disabilities.
- U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs via OSERS: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/osep/index.html?src=mr
- The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) within the U.S. Department of Education is dedicated to improving results for infants, toddlers, children, and youths with disabilities from birth through age 21 by providing oversight, leadership, and financial support to assist states and local districts. OSEP administers the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
- The Parent Education Network (PEN): http://www.parentednet.org/
- The Parent Education Network (PEN) is one of two Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs) in Pennsylvania funded by the U.S. Department of Education. PEN is a coalition of parents of students representing a range of disabilities and ages. Its parent training projects promote mutual respect between parents and professionals for the knowledge, skills, and abilities each contributes to delivering education and other services to students and adults with disabilities.
- Parent To Parent: http://www.parenttoparent.org/
- Parent to Parent of Pennsylvania is a nonprofit organization that links families of individuals with disabilities or special needs.
- Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH): http://www.portal.health.state.pa.us/
- The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) is the state agency whose mission is to promote health and sound health policy, prevent disease and disability, improve health services systems, and ensure that essential public health functions and safety net services are available.
- Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN): http://www.pattan.net/
- The Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) is an initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Bureau of Special Education, working in partnership with families and local educational agencies to support programs and services to improve student learning and achievement.
- Advocacy and Resources for Citizens of Pennsylvania (ARC): http://www.thearc.org/
- Advocacy and Resources for Citizens of Pennsylvania (ARC) is the state chapter of the largest advocacy organization in the United States for citizens with cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disabilities and their families. The Arc of Pennsylvania works to promote active citizenship and inclusion of all children and adults with cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disabilities in every community.