Changes

The times they are a changin’. . . Or so the song goes!  If you are the parent of a teenager, you know it well.  Everything is changing around you - your child's physical appearance, voice, attitude, personality.  Change is neither good nor bad.  It is what it is.  It is how we respond to change that can make or break us. 

If you are the parent of a child with a disability who may not graduate with his peers because he needs additional time in school to meet his IEP goals, gain employment skills, or access community resources, the changing times are scary.  Does your child have a transition plan?  Schools must begin to address transition issues, such as post-secondary education, employment skills and independent when your child is 14 or over.  But you don't have to wait until then.  Take time to plan for the change in your child's life.   

What does your child want to do after he or she is no longer in high school?  What can you and the schools do to guide him or her?  A transition assessment will help you and your child's school identify appropriate post-secondary goals related to training, education, employment, and if appropriate, independent living skills.  The school must then provide services to help your child reach those goals.  

Don't wait until the spring of your child's senior year to start planning for the change.  Transition planning should take place long before then.  Help your child identify his or her goals.  Engage in thoughtful planning about what the day should look like when your child does not go to school.  And insist that the school provide the services to get your child there.

 You are your child’s voice and best teacher!

The Ramage Law Group has authoritative solutions for special needs children!

Video Surveillance

Coming soon to a classroom near you!  The Commissioner’s Rules on video surveillance of certain special education settings have been released.  What does this mean for you?  According to the Rules, public school districts, including charter schools, must provide video and audio surveillance in self-contained classrooms or other special education settings upon request by a parent, trustee or staff member.  The rules were adopted to promote student safety in response to legislation passed during the last legislative session thanks to the hard work of many parents and parent advocates.  The rule is effective with the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year.  This means schools must provide one or more video cameras to provide surveillance that reaches all areas of the classroom, with the exception of bathroom, toileting or changing areas.  The video cameras must be in operation at all times during the instructional day when students are in the classroom.  The schools must also provide the necessary equipment to place, operate and maintain the video camera and store video footage for at least 6 months.  School districts must establish policies and procedures for parents to request and review the video surveillance if there is a suspected incident of abuse or neglect of their child by a school employee or another student.    This is a step in the right direction to protect the safety and security of our students in special education settings!

 

This legislation and the Commissioner’s Rules are an example of how parents and advocates can effect change. 

You are your child’s voice and best teacher!

The Ramage Law Group has authoritative solutions for special needs children!

 

See a copy of the Commissioner's Rules