When you’ve been in the special education field long enough you start to see things come full circle. First, our children were educated in basements or separate schools (after being left at home for way too long). Education expectations were then moved from segregation to some included activities with typical peers. About 12 years ago a strong push came for full inclusion for all students. We are now seeing the cycle start over again with multiple requests from parents being received to achieve outside placement for their children, away from typical peers.
One of the first questions parents ask me is if I support inclusion (or therapeutic day schools)?
My answer:
I don’t fully support any single one of these options.
I suggest you don’t support them either.
I suggest you evaluate each and every year how your child is going to prepare for further education, employment and independent living.
In other words, take advantage of the IDEA law. You are entitled each year to assist in determining your child’s education needs and placement should be determined based on those needs. Don’t assume you know what you want for your child until you have honestly looked at the full continuum of placements that may or may not serve your child.
I encourage you to look at all placements at your child’s grade level to assure the classes you have ruled out are truly unacceptable and your chosen placement is the most appropriate fit. Many times when you view placements with an open mind, your choice changes. What you thought was appropriate often becomes different from what your child may need to prepare for the future.
As for the those parents who called and requested outside placement? About 50% of the parents decided against outside placement once they viewed all in-district options for education with assistance from our team. The other 50% achieved their outside placement with our help.
Knowing each one of these students will be receiving an appropriate education for the upcoming school year is amazing. Here are some steps you can take to assure your child is in the correct placement:
- Research all placements available in-district for your child’s age. Ask neighbors, other student’s families, call the main office of other buildings to ask if they house special education programs and ask the top special education administrator in your district (politely) to be informed of all district programs to assure your child is in the appropriate program.
- Research all placements available outside of the your district that service children similar to your child. You may never want a therapeutic day school setting, but you should know what is around before you are solid in your decision.
- Talk to your school education team, including therapists to see if they are confident in your child’s placement. Many times therapists hired by districts service many buildings and may have some critical insight.
- Talk to outside therapists in your community and find out where other students are finding success in special education.
As you gather you information, you may also want to consider working with out team to help you sort through the information you are gathering, the data you need to collect along the way regarding your current child’s placement and guidance through next steps in moving placements if needed.
Strategy: Before you assume what your child’s education should look like, you need to KNOW and SEE what options are available for an APPROPRIATE education in preparing your child for further education, employment and independent living as deemed by IDEA.
