Special Education Services
From the experience of a parent with a child on the spectrum
If your child is three or older, your local school district will provide special education services. If you suspect that your child has an ASD, contact your district right away to begin the special education process. If your child is not yet three, it’s a good idea to call a few months before your child’s third birthday so you can get the process started.
If your child has been receiving early intervention services, this will end when your child turns three, and you will start working with your school district’s special education department instead. Your child’s last IFSP will include a transition plan for carrying out your child’s services. Children three to five receive a special preschool evaluation, and may have the option of continuing a home program or attending a special/mainstream preschool setting.
Just like with early intervention, special education services are tailored to your child’s individual strengths, weaknesses and needs. But, the focus is no longer on helping the whole family. Special education focuses solely on the child, with the goal of maximizing his or her educational success.
The Special Education Process
The process for getting special education services is similar to that of Early Intervention:
- Referral & Consent. Your child can be referred to your district’s Committee for Special Education (CSE) by a specialist, teacher, school, or directly by you. Regardless of who does the referring, you, the parent, must call the CSE to request an evaluation. You should also follow your call with a formal request in writing. Stay on top of the Committee, and call again if you don’t hear back from them in a timely manner.
You must give written consent for your child to be evaluated, and the evaluation must take place within 30 school/working days of the referral.
- Special Education Evaluation. To obtain special education services, IDEA mandates that your child undergo a comprehensive evaluation by a multidisciplinary group of professionals that includes at least one teacher or other specialist who has experience with autism spectrum disorders. The purpose of this evaluation is to determine and provide for your child’s educational needs.
Your child must be evaluated in all areas of suspected disability, as extensively as possible. In addition to the typical psychological evaluation, additional evaluations can include speech/language and neurological evaluations as well as an assessment of the need for occupational therapy. You have the right to request additional evaluations.
If you aren’t satisfied with the evaluation done by Special Education, you also have the right to request a private evaluation.
- IEP Creation. The results of your child’s evaluations will be used to help create your child’s Individualized Education Program. The IEP is the blueprint that details the education and services your child will receive.
As a parent, you will play an important role in not only creating the IEP, but in deciding what exactly is appropriate to the needs of your child. For example, your child may be placed in a special, smaller classroom where she can get extra attention, or depending on her abilities, may spend time in a general classroom with a shadow or aide. Your child’s needs can, and will change, and you have the right to review your child’s IEP when necessary.
For more detailed information and tips, read What is IEP?