Lesson Three: Special Needs Law and Services

Going into the field of Special Education, it is important to know what goes into it. This includes knowing all about the law and the different services that all come together to make up the field of Special Needs. The last couple of weeks in class we have discussed many times about IDEA and what that entails.

This week I want to talk about how the different principles of IDEA and how important it is for me to know them. As a teacher of young children, I will be a big part of helping those with disabilities get the help they need as they need it. In my heterogeneous group we have talked about the treatment of special needs people before IDEA and other laws were put into place. We discussed that even with all of the changes that have happened, there is still room for improvement where special needs are concerned in education. We may have come a long way from where we were but everyday we can begin and continue to do things that will make a greater difference in the education of those who have disabilities.

There are 6 principles of IDEA. One of those is the LRE or Least Restrictive Environment. This is important because more than just being a place, it also includes the services that are given in an educational environment. There are two prongs (Criteria) that go along with the LRE: 1) did the school do all they could to help keep student in the same setting, and 2) did the school do all they could to keep the student with their peers? As a teacher in special education, it is important to remember that each student needs to be put in the LRE that best fits for them. In order to do this, a teacher must work with the parents and the parents must give their consent to allow for any change or testing to occur.

Another principle and big part of IDEA is Free Appropriate Public Education or FAPE for short. This principle includes giving free and equal education for all students regardless of their physical state; meaning that if a student has to go to a special school or needs anything specific to learn, the school will provide it.

One of the most important things I got from this chapter and lesson is that there are many services and people that go into making sure each student is given an equal education that will best fit their needs. As teachers, it is important to remember that the parents must be notified of any change or any type of test is given to the student; so building a relationship with parents of your students is key to having things run smoother and to give the child the best learning environment and education. I have worked in a special needs preschool and on a special needs bus as an aide, and I can see how much work goes into making sure these laws and acts are being met in schools. As we have gone through this lesson, it is clear to me that knowing and keeping up on special education law and changes to them are key to being the best teacher possible.