What is listed in your child’s IEP Accommodation section?
First, did you know there was such a section?
Get out your child’s IEP and look at the list. (I hope there is one!)
Your list may look something like this:
- Preferred seating
- Sensory breaks as needed
- Access to computer
- Raised lined paper
- Spring scissors
One lesson to be learned: When creating an IEP and utilizing the accommodation section almost anything is possible. Here is a latest news from the ARC of IL:
Illinois backs allowing service dog at Columbia, Ill., school
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
10/01/2009
The Illinois attorney general is siding with a family currently fighting in court for their autistic son’s right to bring his service dog to his neighborhood school.
Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed papers with the 5th District Appellate Court in Mount Vernon announcing her office’s intention to file a brief in favor of Chris and Melissa Kalbfleisch. Madigan was granted a temporary extension Monday to file them. The Kalbfleisches, of Columbia , Ill. , are arguing in court that their son, Carter, is entitled to bring the dog to their home school district under an existing IL law allowing service dogs to attend any school function.
The parents sued the Columbia Community School District after officials there barred Carter from bringing his newly acquired service dog to his special education pre-kindergarten class at the start of the school year. Carter had attended the same class last year without the service dog.
In the brief, Madigan’s office argued the outcome of a current appeal filed by the school district on the case, ”has the potential to set precedent that will impact other Illinois students with disabilities who use service animals.”
This summer the parents won a temporary order from the Monroe County Circuit Court to allow Carter, 5, and his service dog, Corbin, to attend the district before the outcome of the case. Instead of immediately accommodating the dog, the district opted to pay for the pair to attend the Illinois Center for Autism in Fairview Heights , pending the outcome of the case.
“We’re very happy that it appears the state of Illinois construes the statute consistently with the Kalbfleisch family,” said Clay St. Clair, the Kalbfleisch’s attorney. “We welcome any of their involvement in the appellate court.”
