Build a Strong Team

"Child Find." The state must identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities in the state who need special education and related services. To do so, states conduct "Child Find" activities. A child may be identified by "Child Find," and parents may be asked if the "Child Find" system can evaluate their child. Parents can also call the "Child Find" system and ask that their child be evaluated. Or —
Referral or request for evaluation. A school professional may ask that a child be evaluated to see if he or she has a disability. Parents may also contact the child's teacher or other school professional to ask that their child be evaluated. This request may be verbal or in writing. Parental consent is needed before the child may be evaluated. Evaluation needs to be completed within a reasonable time after the parent gives consent.

The evaluation must assess the child in all areas related to the child's suspected disability. The evaluation results will be used to decide the child's eligibility for special education and related services and to make decisions about an appropriate educational program for the child. If the parents disagree with the evaluation, they have the right to take their child for an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE). They can ask that the school system pay for this IEE.

A group of qualified professionals and the parents look at the child's evaluation results. Together, they decide if the child is a "child with a disability," as defined by IDEA. Parents may ask for a hearing to challenge the eligibility decision if they disagree with the results. Please note: in some states, a child with Usher syndrome does not qualify for services until their vision loss reaches the legal definition of "blind." Check with your state deafblind children's project for more information.

If the child is found to be a "child with a disability," as defined by IDEA, he or she is eligible for special education and related services. Within 30 calendar days after a child is determined eligible, the IEP team must meet to write an IEP for the child.

The school system schedules and conducts the IEP meeting. School staff must:
contact the participants, including the parents;
notify parents early enough to make sure they have an opportunity to attend;
schedule the meeting at a time and place agreeable to parents and the school;
tell the parents the purpose, time, and location of the meeting;
tell the parents who will be attending; and
tell the parents that they may invite people to the meeting who have knowledge or special expertise about the child.

The IEP team gathers to talk about the child's needs and write the student's IEP. Parents and the student (when appropriate) are part of the team. If the child's placement is decided by a different group, the parents must be part of that group as well.
Before the school system may provide special education and related services to the child for the first time, the parents must give consent. The child begins to receive services as soon as possible after the meeting.
If the parents do not agree with the IEP and placement, they may discuss their concerns with other members of the IEP team and try to work out an agreement. If they still disagree, parents can ask for mediation, or the school may offer mediation. Parents may file a complaint with the state education agency and may request a due process hearing, at which time mediation must be available.

The school makes sure that the child's IEP is being carried out as it was written. Parents are given a copy of the IEP. Each of the child's teachers and service providers has access to the IEP and knows his or her specific responsibilities for carrying out the IEP. This includes the accommodations, modifications, and supports that must be provided to the child, in keeping with the IEP.

The child's progress toward the annual goals is measured, as stated in the IEP. His or her parents are regularly informed of their child's progress and whether that progress is enough for the child to achieve the goals by the end of the year. These progress reports must be given to parents at least as often as parents are informed of their nondisabled children's progress.

The child's IEP is reviewed by the IEP team at least once a year, or more often if the parents or school ask for a review. If necessary, the IEP is revised. Parents, as team members, must be invited to attend these meetings. Parents can make suggestions for changes, can agree or disagree with the IEP goals, and agree or disagree with the placement.

If parents do not agree with the IEP and placement, they may discuss their concerns with other members of the IEP team and try to work out an agreement. There are several options, including additional testing, an independent evaluation, or asking for mediation (if available) or a due process hearing. They may also file a complaint with the state education agency.

At least every three years the child must be re-evaluated. This evaluation is often called a "triennial." Its purpose is to find out if the child continues to be a "child with a disability," as defined by IDEA, and what the child's educational needs are. However, the child must be re-evaluated more often if the disability warrants (intellectual disability is every 2 years) or if the child's parent or teacher asks for a new evaluation.

Part 1 - the presenters give an overview of Usher syndrome, knowing what that means for your child, and first steps in creating an educational program. In Part 2 - a deeper discussion about individualized education plans (IEPs), accommodations, and modifications.

This article, written by advocate and USH Ambassador, Pam Aasen, appeared in the December 2019 issue of Exceptional Parent.

All students are impacted by noise levels in their learning environment. But as students who are deaf or hard of hearing settle into their classrooms each fall, an acoustic assessment of these spaces is one of the most important steps in helping them thrive. Here’s a look at why classroom acoustics are so vital and how to ensure your child’s classroom is acoustically appropriate.

Downloadable forms that show examples of documents that Ava uses to advocate for herself in school.

This presentation will address the who, what, where, when, why, and how of meeting the needs of deafblind students.

The road toward self-advocacy is different for everyone. In this article, Lanya McKittrick describes how she learned to advocate by being open to looking at a situation in a different light, to see if there is another way.

This article appeared in the January 2022 edition of Exceptional Parent Magazine. In it, advocate and USH Ambassador (Canada) Pam Aasen describes strategies shared with her by professionals who worked with her sons, Ethan and Gavin, both of whom have Usher syndrome type 1.