Subject: Early Intervention Help, Part 2
PART II: Questions and Answers About Special
Education Programs and Services for Preschoolers with Disabilities (Ages 3 Through 5 Years
Old)
Note: Many of the words below may be new to you, but they are terms that are commonly used
in special education. We have used these terms to help you become familiar with them. You
can look up their definitions in the Parent's Dictionary towards the end of this document.
The phrases "special education," "special education programs," "special education services," and "special education programs and services" are used interchangeably in this section.
Below are answers to questions people often ask about special education programs and services for preschool children (ages 3 through 5 years old) who have disabilities.
A federal law known as Public Law (P.L.) 102-119 guarantees certain rights to young children (ages birth to 5) with special needs. This law is the most recent amendment to Public Law (P.L.) 94-142, The Education For All Handicapped Children's Act, now called the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA).
Q: What should I do if I think my preschool child needs
special education?
A: If you think your preschooler needs special education, you will first want to find out
if he or she is eligible for a special education program. There are people who can help
you with this. Read on, and we will explain how to contact them.
Q: What are special education programs?
A: Special education programs are specially designed programs in public schools offered at
no cost to families of children with disabilities. Today, under P.L.102-119, all schools
must offer special education services to eligible 3-5 year olds with disabilities.
Q: Who do I contact first for help?
A: The best place to start is your local public elementary school. (In most cases, this
would be the school that other children who live near you attend.) Call and ask to speak
to the principal or to someone in charge of special education at the school.
If this doesn't work, look on the NICHCY State Resource Sheet under "State Department
of Education." Call the Early Childhood Specialist for children ages 3-5 years and
ask for the name and phone number of the person in your area in charge of these programs.
Explain that you want to find out about special education services for your child. Ask
what you need to do to arrange for an evaluation.
Write down the names and phone numbers of everyone you talk to. (As a guide, you can use
the Sample Record-Keeping Worksheet at the end of this document.) Having this information
available may be helpful to you later on.
Q: What is an evaluation?
A: Evaluation means the procedures used to determine whether a child has a disability and
the extend of the special education and related services the child needs. In regards to
your child, this information may come from:
-- Doctors' reports;
-- Results from developmental tests given to your child;
-- Your child's medical history;
-- Observations and feedback from all members of the assessment team, including parents;
and
-- Any other important observations, records, and/or reports about your child.
Q: Who conducts my child's evaluation?
A: Your child's evaluation will be conducted by a multidisciplinary team of group of
persons. Who is involved will depend on the rules in your state or school district. Ask
your school contact person what the policy is for getting an evaluation for your child.
Q: Will I have to pay for the evaluation or for any services my child may be eligible for?
A: Special education services are offered for 3-5-year-olds at no cost to parents. The
assessment and evaluation process is considered part of these services and is provided at
no cost to families.
Q: Are there any parent groups in my area that can give me more information about special
education?
A: There are several types of parent programs, including:
-- Support groups (such as Parent-to-Parent) for families of children with disabilities;
-- Parent training and information programs funded by the federal government, such as the
Technical Assistance for Parent Programs (TAPP) Project; and
-- Groups concerned with a specific disability, such as United Cerebral Palsy
Associations, Inc. (UPCA), or the Arc (formerly the Association for Retarded Citizens of
the United States).
We have listed some of these groups on your State Resource Sheet. You can also check with
someone in your local school or call NICHCY.
Parent groups can offer information, support, and/or training to families of children with
disabilities to help them take a more active role in their children's education. Through
such groups, families meet other families with similar needs to discuss local resources,
daily problems, and personal insights.
For more details on these and other parent groups, contact NICHCY and ask for our
"Parent's Guide to Accessing Parent Groups."
Q: I still have a lot of questions. How can I find out more about special education
programs and services?
A: See the section entitled "Information about IDEA" to learn more about one of
the most important special education laws. Also, see the "References" section
towards the end of this document for information on raising and caring for a young child
with special needs.
Once your child has been found eligible for special education, you will most likely have
more questions. For example:
-- How do I check on my child's special education program?
-- What do I do if I am not satisfied with my child's assessment, placement, program, or
progress?
-- What happens to my child when he or she is too old for the program?
-- What about private therapists and private schools?
For answers to these and other questions, talk to your special education coordinator or
school principal or contact a parent support and/or training group in your area.
Also, write to NICHCY and ask for a copy of "Questions Often Asked About Special
Education Services" and/or the longer, more detailed "Questions and Answers
about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act." Both documents contain
information about special education laws and parents' rights in getting school services
for their children with disabilities.
We hope these materials are useful. If you need more help or information from NICHCY, please call us at 1-800-695-0285 (Voice/TT) or write to us at this address: NICHCY, P. O. Box 1492, Washington, D.C. 20013-1492
