Special Education
What is Special Education?
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)
- At no cost to parents; the school district pays for the child’s schooling
- Includes all students, no matter their disability
- Available for students no matter where they live
- Available through the local public school
- Not usually available if the student goes to a private school
- Available regardless of whether the child is failing or is advancing from grade to grade
- Students can receive help in classes like reading, writing, and math - any subjects available to nondisabled students.
- Includes help with social skills or behavior intervention plans that the child needs to be able to learn in school.
- Provides services like speech, physical therapy, or counseling. (These are called "related services.”)
Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
Resources
Information & Support
For Parents and Patients
Center for Parent Information and Resources (DOE)
A large resource library related to children with disabilities. Parent Centers in every state provide training to parents
of children with disabilities and provide information about local conferences, support groups, and finding schools and other
local services; Department of Education, Office of Special Education.
IDEA Parent Guide (National Center for Learning Disabilities) ( 1.1 MB)
A comprehensive guide for parents on rights and responsibilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA
2004). Helps parents determine if their child might be eligible for services, what kind of services to expect, how to request
an evaluation, how to develop a plan for services, and what their legal rights are.
Transition Handbook: From 'No' Where to 'Know' Where ( 1.1 MB)
This handbook, from the Utah Parent Center, is designed for parents of children with disabilities to help them be active participants
in developing transition goals and activities as their children transition to adulthood and includes information about steps
to transition, graduation, laws, roles of players, transition planning, employment, training, independent living, timelines,
advocacy, SSI, health care, guardianship, estate planning, and a directory of related Utah organizations.
National Center on Secondary Education and Transition
Provides information about transition during high school and to opportunities after high school including jobs, vocational
education, and college. Provides links to contacts in each state for 1) State Transition Contact, 2) Regional Resource Center
Contact, 3) State Director of Special Education, 4) Part B Contact, and 5) State Director or Vocational Rehabilitation.
NIMAS, IDEA regulation for access to instructional materials
The National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) is a technical standard that curriculum publishers began
using in 2006, designed to make it easier and faster to obtain accessible instructional materials in accordance with the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Services
Early Childhood Education/Preschool
See all Early Childhood Education/Preschool services providers (331) in our database.
Schools for Children with Autism
We currently have no Schools for Children with Autism service providers listed; search our Services database for related services.
Schools for the Deaf & Blind
See all Schools for the Deaf & Blind services providers (55) in our database.
Special Needs Schools, Other
See all Special Needs Schools, Other services providers (226) in our database.
For other services related to this condition, browse our Services categories or search our database.
Authors
Author: | Gina Pola-Money - 9/2013 |
Reviewing Authors: | Shena McAuliffe, MFA - 9/2013 Tina Persels - 9/2013 |
Content Last Updated: | 9/2013 |