How to Determine Your Child’s Eligibility for Special Education

Are you the parent of a young child that is concerned that your child
may have a autism, or another type of disability? Have you been told by disability educators that your child does not qualify for special education services? Would you like to know what the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) law states about a child’s
eligibility for special education? This article will discuss the
criteria that school personnel must use, by law to determine a child’s eligibility.

In order for a child to be found eligible for special education
services they must meet two criteria, according to the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act;

1. The child must have a disability, and
2. The child must have educational needs.

In order for special education personnel to determine if a child is
eligible, they must conduct a psychological evaluation called a Case
Study Evaluation on the child. Below is a list of important things
parents must know about the CSE:

a. The parent must give written consent for this to be done.

b. Special education personnel have sixty days from when the parental
consent is signed, to finish evaluation.

c. IDEA requires that more than one assessment tool be used; to gather
all of the academic, developmental, functional, information needed to
determine if the child has a disability.

d. Special education personnel must also assess the child in all areas
of suspected disability. If you are concerned that your child may have autism, ask for a childhood autism rating scale (CARS).

e. They must use assessment tools that provide important information
that assists them in determining the child’s educational needs.

f. If your child has behavioral issues that affect his or her
education, ask for testing in this area. For Example: A behavioral
checklist, an adaptive behavior scale, possible an autism rating
scale, etc.

After the Case Study Evaluation is complete an eligibility meeting is
held between the special education personnel and the parents. The
meeting is to go over the test results, and to determine the child’s
eligibility for special education services. The parent is to be an
equal part of the team that determines if a child has a disability,
and if they have educational needs. Parents may bring information on
their child to help the team make the decision. In case of behavioral
difficulty, specific things must be done to include, developement of a
positive behavioral plan.

If a child has a disability and educational needs, and does not
receive special education services, their lives may be negatively
affected. By knowing what criteria special education personnel are
required to use by law, you can become an effective advocate for your
child.

JoAnn Collins is the parent of two adults with disabilities, has been an educational advocate for over 15 years, an author, as well as a speaker. JoAnn’s recently released book: Disability Deception; Lies Disability Educators Tell and How Parents Can Beat Them at Their Own Game helps parents develop skills to be an assertive and persistent advocate for their child. For a free E newsletter entitled "The Special Education Spotlight"send an E mail to: JoAnn@disabilitydeception.com. Check out her Web site at: www.disabilitydeception.com. Can be reached at Phone Number 815-932-9263

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