Training Tips for Successful Special Education Advocacy

1. Training Tips for Successful Special Education Advocacy Joanne Bucellato, Co-Director, Parent Training Information Center, Advocates for Children Godfrey Rivera, Co-Director, Metropolitan Parent Center of Sinergia

2. In this presentation, you will learn about the following: • You will obtain an overview of important principles and processes pertaining to special education • You will obtain information regarding what the roles and responsibilities of an effective advocate are • You will obtain information and suggestions that we hope will encourage you to become an effective advocate for your child

3. Overview of Special Education Special Education is a collection of services that should be based on the individual needs of an eligible student. It guarantees a Free and Appropriate Public Education (“FAPE”) that will enable students to make adequate progress. It should be provided to the greatest extent possible with students who don’t have disabilities (“least restrictive environment”).

4. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) All children with a disability are entitled to a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment

5. Overview of Special Education To be eligible, a student needs a classification: • Preschool Student with a Disability, or • school-age students one of 13 classifications: • Intellectual disability • (formerly mental • retardation) • Orthopedic impairment • Other health-impairment • Speech or language • impairment • Traumatic brain injury • Visual impairment (incl. • blindness) • Autism • Deafness • Deaf-blindness • Emotional disturbance • Hearing impairment • Learning disability • Multiple Disabilities

6. Students with disabilities can receive special education services in a variety of school settings General education with related services Special Education Teacher Support Services Integrated Co-Teaching Specialized Classes Home or Hospital-based Instruction Private Day School Private Residential School Interim Alternative Residential Placements Community schools are required to serve the majority of their zoned students.

7. The Special Education Process • Child Find • Pre-Referral Interventions/RTI • Referral for Evaluation • Evaluation • Eligibility Determination • IEP Meeting andProgram Recommendation • Placement (School Location Letter)  • Annual Review / Re-evaluations /Triennial

8. Referrals or Requests for an Evaluation Parents can make requests for evaluation at any time. • Request should be in writing, dated, and made to the school. Also, don’t forget to get a receipt when submitting your requests. • Identify any specific evaluations you want for your child • Keep a copy of the request *Parent must agree (consent in writing) formally to the evaluation.

9. Timeline… • Evaluation • IEP/CSE Meeting • IEP developed • Services arranged

10. What is an IEP? The Individualized Education Program, or IEP, is a legal document which is: • Created by a team that includes the parent • Describes what special education services a student needs and the reasons why s/he needs those services • It is valid for one school year • Must be reviewed annually, or as needed

11. The IEP is created by a team The members of the IEP Team include: • The parent • The student, if appropriate • A school district representative (acts as chairperson) • The student’s general education teacher • The student’s special education teacher or service provider • The school psychologist (often serves as the district representative) • Others who may provide information, such as a physician • An interpreter if needed. Every team member has important roles & responsibilities! The Team meets to review all evaluations and relevant information, and creates the IEP.

12. Tips • Get copies of all evaluations and reports before the meeting so you can review them • Try to get a copy of the draft of the IEP being considered at the meeting so you can review it and comment on it. • Ask for a copy of the final IEP at the meeting (if the DOE does not give a final IEP at the meeting, ask for a date to receive it).

13. How to escalate concerns To the DOE: • Start with the student’s current school (teacher, Parent Coordinator, principal, School Psychologist, etc…) • Escalate to the Superintendent’s office – specifically the Family Support Coordinator • Consider reaching out to the Central DOE Office of Special Education by writing to • specialeducationreform@schools.nyc.govor calling 718-935-2007 or 311.

14. WhatisanAdvocate? To advocate for your child is to speak on his or her behalf regarding his or her specific needs.  To become an effective advocate for your child, it is important that you: • Develop a clear understanding of how your child’s disability affects his/her learning, behavior and function in the classroom; • Learn the best ways to manage the relationships with the other adults on your child’s educational team, who often have different (or conflicting) perspectives. Effective communication is key! • Become familiar with the vocabulary of education specialists. Learn those acronyms!

15. As an effective advocate, you should: • Know the facts: To gain and maintain credibility, it is critical that you have all of the facts; • Use the facts: Any position you take should be grounded in the facts. Speaking from an emotional state (anger, frustration) will not help to achieve your objectives; • Have a clear and concise message: You need to make your statements clearly and to the point; Make sure you have a clear understanding of your message and the points you want to make. • Nurture relationships and work collaboratively: Advocacy is a joint venture- you need to find your allies and work with them.

16. What does an effective education advocate do? An effective advocate prepares. It is not enough to know what youwant… You need to know why you want what you want for your child and be able to explain that to others who have a different point of view. • You need to know your rights—and their limitations, as well as your responsibilities. Knowing your rights and how to apply them projects capability and competence. Knowing their limits gives you credibility.

17. What else does an effective education advocate do? • It is critically important that you understand how your child’s disability affects the way he/she learns and functions in the classroom! • This will allow you to participate meaningfully at IEP meetings, because you will be able to: • Understand the conversations regarding your child’s needs, services and supports • Ask questions to the team members about your child’s needs, services and supports • Agree or disagree with the teams recommendations • Propose your own IEP goals

18. To advocate effectively… • It is very important to document, document, document! • Take notes during telephone and face-to-face meetings, and ask for people's full names and contact information when communicating by phone or by email. • You should maintain an organized file of educational records including examples of children's academic progress, such as homework papers, artwork, and writings, which may be useful in establishing patterns and documenting both abilities and challenges.

19. As an effective advocate… • you get informed, you get the facts and develop an understanding of the issues. • You set clear goals and expectations • You build positive partnerships with school personnel and with other parents • You hold yourself and the school accountable for doing what is necessary in order to provide your child with the necessary and appropriate services, opportunities and experiences.

20. Parents who are effective advocates for their children: • monitor their children’s academic, communicative, social/emotional and intellectual progress; • communicate and collaboratewithschoolpersonnel • attend IEP meetings; • ensure their children are in appropriate placements and • ensure their children are getting appropriate related services

21. Effective advocates abide by their own “IEPs:” You are: Informed Engaged Persistent You know your child better than anyone else so consider your self an expert! You have much to contribute to the conversation about what your child needs in order to obtain meaningful educational experiences and opportunities. As your child’s effective advocate, you are in a unique position to identify and implement positive changes!

22. Any Questions?

23. Something about our organizations: • Advocates for Children of New York is a non-profit organization that works to protect the right of every child in New York City to a quality education. • Representation of parents • Policy and Impact Litigation Sinergia is a non-profit community-based, multi-service organization that serves families in low-income communities that are traditionally underserved; services are delivered in culturally and linguistically appropriate manner across the individual’s life span.

24. Thank You for Coming! Sinergia, Inc. 2082 Lexington Avenue, 4th floor New York, NY 10035 212 643-2840 Email: information@sinergiany.org Website: www.sinergainy.org ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN OF NEW YORK, Inc. 151 West 30th Street 5th floor New York, NY 10001 (212) 947-9779   Helpline: 866-427-6033 (toll free) (Monday-Thursday 10am-4pm) info@advocatesforchildren.org http://www.advocatesforchildren.org