Coweta County Schools Workshop Series

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Coweta County SchoolsWorkshop Series -
1Special EducationSchool and Community
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Coweta County SchoolsWorkshop Series -
1Special EducationSchool and Community

• Judy Floyd
• Parent Mentor, Coweta County School System
• 770-254-2810 x219
• Judy.floyd_at_cowetaschools.net
• Linda Wilson
• Partners in Policymaking Graduate
• Coweta Supporters
• 770-463-1658
• lpwilson_at_numail.org

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Timeline for Planning

• Birth to age 3
• Pre- Kindergarten
• Kindergarten
• First grade
• Upper Elementary
• Middle School (6th- 8th grade)
• High School (9th-12th grades)

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Timeline for PlanningBirth to Age 3

• Babies Cant Wait
• Apply for Katie Beckett Waiver/ Deeming Waiver
  (for children ages 0- 18 yrs.old)
• Join Parent to Parent (parenttoparentofga.org)
  , parent support groups
• Learn about resources for parents
• Begin to learn advocacy skills

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Timeline for PlanningPre-Kindergarten

• Fill out My vision for my child form from
  Parent Mentor
• Build relationship with case manager
• What is an IEP? (available through Parent Mentor)
• Special Education Language Made Easy
• IDEA, ADA and Section 504 laws and how they
  affect your child

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Timeline for PlanningKindergarten/ Early
Elementary

• What support is available to help my child
  succeed in school and how can these supports help
  my child? (from Parent Mentor)
• Build relationship with case manager
• How can I help my child succeed in school and
  life (utilize teachers, para-pros, doctors,
  therapists, friends, support groups)
• Become comfortable with the IEP document and
  process

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Timeline for PlanningUpper Elementary

• Learn more about Medicaid waivers, what supports
  your child might need in the future
• Talk to other parents, teachers, support groups
  and friends about special needs trusts,
  guardianship, estate planning
• MAPS or other Person-Centered Planning process

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Timeline for PlanningMiddle School

• Fill out My vision for my child
• Discuss with teachers and friends diploma types,
  college entrance requirements, day support
  entrance channels and waiting lists
• Be mindful of collaborative vs. resource classes
  and advantages of each
• Self-help and independent skills
• Age 14, Individual Transition Plan (ITP) required

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Timeline for PlanningHigh School

• Evaluate students educational program, community
  participation, and interests continuously
  (planning for post-school)
• Call Columbus Community Services to be placed on
  a planning (waiting) list, if applicable
• What agencies are needed to support my child
  while in school and when out? (DOL, VR, Waiver
  programs, Natural Supports)
• College options, Disability Services
• Work options (WBL, apprenticeships, CBVI,etc.)
• Prepare for transfer of rights at age 18

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Timeline for PlanningLast year of high school

• Employment or education post-high school planned
• Develop ISP, ESP, IPE through DOL
• Explore community living options
• Consider recreational, leisure activities
• Plan for transportation needs
• Transfer of rights or competency questions

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ADAAmericans with Disabilities Act

• History
• What it covers and what it doesnt

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ADA - History

• Bill of Rights 1st disability law
• Voting Rights Act 1964 Civil Rights Law
  cannot discriminate
• Rehabilitation Act 1973 if get federal funds
  cannot discriminate against disabled on federal
  contracts.
• Signed into law by President Bush July 26, 1990
• Protects the rights of 49 million Americans with
  disabilities
• Fair Housing Amendment Government funded
  housing

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ADA Five Titles

• Title I Employment
• Only applies if more than 15 employees
• Title II State and Local Governments
• Includes Schools
• Title III Private Entities
• Public accommodations restaurants, hotels,
  private schools. Does not cover churches
• Title IV Telecommunications
• TTY relay system for hearing impaired
• Title V Miscellaneous

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ADA Misc info

• Churches in GA are covered by state law,
  wheelchair access only
• ADA is a minimum law can always ask for more
• If there is a better law, it takes precedent over
  the ADA

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ADADefinition of Disability

• A physical or mental impairment that
  substantially limits one or more major life
  activities (daily dressing, feeding, washing,
  hearing, seeing), or
• A record of such an impairment, or
• Being regarded as having such an impairment

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ADAThree Obligations

• Non-discrimination
• No charges for adaptations
• Equal access to goods and services
• Modification of policies if necessary
• Effective Communication
• Inter-office memos bust be accessible to
  print-disabled workers, interpreters for
  important staff meetings
• TDD in hotel rooms, read material that is not
  accessible
• Physical Access
• For federal and public accommodations and
  commercial facilities
• New constructions must be fully accessible
• Removal of barriers

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ADAADA notes

• ADA is separate from IDEA
• ADA covers accessibility and accommodations
  does not have to be included in an IEP.
• ADA is broader than IDEA
• ADA does not cover personal services, IDEA covers
  personal services
• ADA makes it easy to file a law suit

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IDEA Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

• History of Special Education law
• Overview of IDEA (1997)
• IDEA 2004 Reauthorization

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IDEAHistory of Special Education Law

• Early special education programs
• Mandatory attendance laws
• Congressional findings
• Public Law 94-142
• IDEA 1997
• Reauthorization IDEA 2004

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IDEAOverview of IDEA 1997

• Part A General Provisions, Definitions
• Part B Assistance for Education of All Children
  with Disabilities
• Part C Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities
• Part D National Activities to Improve Education
  of Children with Disabilities

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IDEAIDEA 1997 Summary

• Requires public schools to locate and identify
  children with disabilities who may be in need of
  specialized education
• These children have FAPE (Free Appropriate Public
  Education) available to them
• Specific eligibility requirements for services,
  components of IEP, procedural requirements re
  disputes, complaints

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IDEAIDEA 2004 Reauthorization

• States implement new law in July 2005
• IDEA Purposes
• - meet unique needs of student
• - prepare student for post-school options
• -statewide comprehensive, coordinated,
  multidisciplinary system of early intervention
• - research-based practices for system
  improvement
• - increase educations effectiveness

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IDEAThemes in IDEA 2004

• Corresponds to No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
• Parent involvement is critical to childs
  education
• A childs education should consider the academic,
  functional and developmental needs of the child
• Paperwork should be reduced.

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IDEAIEP in IDEA 2004

• Goals and objectives
• Measurable annual goals (including transition
  goals)
• No short term objectives REQUIRED for students
  not on GAA (alternative assessment)
• All other children studying GPS (Georgia
  Performance Standards)

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IDEAIEP Meetings in IDEA 2004

• IEP team members may be excused from meeting if
  area not discussed, or if area discussed, they
  provide written info to the IEP team and parent
  ahead of time AND parent agrees in writing to
  excusal
• IEPS may be amended if parent agrees without a
  meeting for some IEP changes
• IEPs may occur via phone, or other alternative
  methods

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IDEADue Process under IDEA 2004

• Requests must be determined sufficient by
  hearing officer
• A resolution session will be offered by the
  system to try to resolve the problem
• Mediation is available without the request for a
  due process hearing and
• If agreement in mediation is reached, it is
  legally binding

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IDEADiscipline under IDEA 2004

• Removal to Alternative Education setting
• 45 days changed to 45 school days
• Must still do Functional Behavior Analysis (FBA)
  and Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP)
• School personnel may consider unique
  circumstances case by case in disciplinary
  procedures

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Section 504

• Civil rights law
• Prohibits discrimination on basis of disability
  in programs receiving federal funds
• Eligibility (Handicapped Person defined)
• Students with IEPs are covered automatically
  under Section 504
• 504 Plan- to give access to general education
  curriculum
• Does not require maximized learning

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Section 504504 Accommodation Plan

• No legal requirements for what should be
  included, but it usually addresses
• Disability and major life activity it limits
• Basis for determining the disability
• Educational impact of disability
• Necessary Accommodations
• Placement in Least Restrictive Environment

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MAPSMaking Action Plans

• Person-Centered Planning method
• Can build personal and community support for
  person with a disability to achieve academic,
  social, life goals
• Team includes student, peers, family, teachers,
  community members
• Basic questions are asked of everyone
• Who is _________?
• What is _______s story?
• What is your dream for ________?
• What is your nightmare?
• What are ________s strengths?
• What are ________s needs?
• ACTION Plan is established by the team.

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Respite

• Everyone needs a break!!!
• Important to be comfortable with caregivers
• Resources
• Hope House
• Richards House
• We Care Volunteer program (Hope House)
• Happy Kids Co-op
• GCSS

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Respite

• Hope House Southwest Christian Care
• Care for medically fragile children who are
  stable and primarily non-ambulatory located in
  Union City
• Contact Yvonne Strickland, 770-969-8354
• E-mail ystrickland_at_swchristiancare.org
• Web site www.swchristiancare.org
• Richards Home
• Respite care for young adults/adults located in
  Carrollton
• Contact Alice, 770-830-1156
• WeCare Home Volunteer Program Southeast
  Christian Care
• In home care for children with developmental or
  neurological disability.
• Contact Lori Sumner, 770-969-8354
• E-mail lsumner_at_swchristiancare.org
• Web site www.swchristiancare.org

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Respite

• Happy Kids Co-op
• Babysitting co-op for children with special needs
  and their siblings
• You provide care one Saturday night, you get 3
  Saturday nights in return
• Contact Sharolyn Smith 678-423-3760
• E-mail Sismith0717_at_aol.com
• GCSS Georgia Community Support Solutions
• Respite care for all ages throughout metropolitan
  Atlanta
• Contact 404-634-4222
• E-mail Respite_at_gacommunity.org
• Web site www.gacommunity.com
• FOCUS Families of Children Under Stress
• Support to families with children with
  disabilities
• Contact 770-234-9111
• Web site www.focus-ga.org

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Resources

• ARC
• Parent to Parent
• Newnan-Coweta ARC (Rutledge)
• Southern Crescent Area Aging
• Governors Council on Developmental Disabilities
  GCDD
• Atlanta Alliance for Developmental Disabiities -
  AADD
• Marcus Center
• Peachcare
• Department of Family and Children Services -
  DFACS
• Childrens Healthcare-Atlanta
• Georgia Advocacy Office - GAO
• Parents Educating Parents - PEPP
• Pathways
• Babies Cant Wait

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Resources

• Schwab Learning
• Lekotek
• The Georgia Learning Resources System (GLRS)
• Georgia PINES
• Tools for Life
• TechKnowledge
• Georgia Department of Education
• Center for the Visually Impaired
• Unlock the Waiting Lists
• Special education laws
• Parent mentors of Georgia
• Coweta County Schools
• Families of Children Under Stress

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Resources

• Parent to Parent
• Roadmap to Services
• www.parenttoparentofga.org
• 770-451-5484
• debi_at_parenttoparentofga.org
• ARC
• www.arcga.org
• 404-634-5512
• info_at_arcga.org
• Newnan-Coweta ARC (Rutledge)
• 770-253-1189
• bwelch_at_newnanutilities.org

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Resources

• Southern Crescent Area Agency on Aging
• Mary Byrd 404-463-3333
• Governors Council on Developmental Disabilities
  GCDD
• www.gcdd.org
• 404-657-2126
• Atlanta Alliance for Developmental Disabilities
  AADD
• www.aadd.org
• 404-881-9777
• info_at_aadd.org

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Resources

• Marcus Institute
• www.marcus.org
• 404-419-4000
• Peachcare
• 1-877-GA-PEACH
• www.dch.state.ga.us
• Department of Family and Children Services
  DFACS
• Dfcs.dhr.georgia.gov
• Coweta County 770-254-7234
• Childrens Healthcare-Atlanta
• 404-250-KIDS
• www.choa.org

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Resources

• Georgia Advocacy Office GAO
• PLSP Parent Leadership Support Project
• www.thegao.org
• 404-885-1234
• info_at_thegao.org
• Parents Educating Parents and Professionals
  PEPP
• www.peppinc.org
• 770-577-7771
• peppinc_at_peppinc.org
• Pathways/Kids Fare
• 770-254-7381

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Resources

• Babies Cant Wait
• Health.state.ga.us/programs/bcw
• 404-657-2726
• gdphinfo_at_dhr.state.ga.us
• Schwab Learning
• www.schwablearning.org
• 650-655-2410
• MHDDAD Region 1 office in Rome
• Mhddad.dhr.georgia.gov
• Regional Coordinator Charles Fetner
• 1-800-646-7721 or 706-802-5272
• Columbus Community Services
• 1-800-646-7721 or 706-494-5929

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Resources

• Lekotek of GA
• Phone [phone]
• E-Mail lekotekga_at_mindspring.com
• Web site www.lekotekga.org
• The Georgia Learning Resources System (GLRS)
  West Central GLRS
• Phone [phone]
• Web site www.glrs.org
• Georgia PINES
• Phone [phone] [phone] (Voice
  TTY)
• E-mail csulliva_at_doe.k12.ga.us
• Web site www.gapines.net

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Resources

• Tools for Life
• 1-800-497-866, TDD 404-486-6333
• www.gatfl.org
• TechKnowledge
• Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental
  Access (CATEA)
• 800-726-9119 or 404-385-1718
• www.catea.org/techknow.html
• Georgia Department of Education
• 404 656-3963
• www.doe.k12.ga.us/curriculum/exceptional

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Resources

• Center for the Visually Impaired
• 404-875-9011
• www.cviatlanta.org
• Unlock the Waiting Lists
• www.unlockthewaitinglists.com
• Special education law
• www/wrightlaw.com
• Parent mentor program in Georgia
• www.parentmentors.org

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Resources

• Coweta County School System
• See detailed handout.
• www.cowetaschools.org
• Families of Children Under Stress FOCUS
• 770-234-9111
• www.focus-ga.org

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Local Groups

• ASPIRES
• Coweta Supporters of Special Students
• ExceptionalOps
• Parent Teacher Action Committee
• Babysitting Co-op
• C.A.R.P.
• Fayette County Aspergers Syndrome Support Group
• CHADD

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Local Groups

• ASPIRES
• Autism and Aspergers Support
• Contact Sandy Smith 770-252-2117,
• E-mail sandys30277_at_yahoo.com
• Coweta Supporters
• Support for all children/young adults with
  disabilities
• Contact Linda Wilson 770-463-1658
• E-mail lpwilson_at_numail.org
• ExceptionalOps
• Support for all children/adults with disabilities
  in Fayette County
• Contact Janet Smola or Terry Whitlock,
  770-487-1562
• E-mail ExceptionalOps_at_yahoo.com
• Web site www.ExceptionalOps.com

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Local Groups

• Parent/Teacher Action Committee
• Coweta County Schools Support Group
• Contact Judy Floyd, Parent Mentor, 770-254-2810
  x219
• E-mail judy.floyd_at_cowetaschools.net
• Web site www.cowetaschools.net
• C.A.R.P. Caregivers for Action, Responsibility
  and Planning
• For caregivers of adults with disabilities
• Contact Sarah Pike 770-251-5896
• E-mail spike_at_numail.org

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Local Groups

• Fayette Autism Aspergers Group
• Support for individuals with Asbergers
• Contact Dixie Brienza 770-632-3891
• E-mail AspergersSupport_at_aol.com
• Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit-Hyperac
  tivity Disorder - CHADD
• Attention deficit disorder support group
• Web site www.chadd.org

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Online SupportListservs

• Georgia Advocacy Alert
• To provide Legislative Advocacy Alerts
• groups.yahoo.com/group/ga-advalert
• Georgia Advocates Network
• State wide network of special needs advocates
  sharing information
• groups.yahoo.com/group/GA-AdvocatesNetwork
• Georgia Childrens Network
• Bridging special needs families with others
• groups.yahoo.com/group/GA-ChildrensNetwork

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Online SupportListservs

• Georgia Parents Network
• For parents/guardians of children with
  disabilities
• groups.yahoo.com/group/GA-ParentNetwork
• Georgia Parents Network
• For parents/guardians of children with
  disabilities
• groups.yahoo.com/group/GA-ParentNetwork
• Georgia Aspires
• Share ideas/supports as go through the Spectrum
  Maze
• Health.groups.yahoo.com/group/georgiaaspires

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Online SupportListservs

• Autism supports
• groups.yahoo.com/group/autism-georgia
• Advocates, parents, professionals
• Groups.yahoo.com/group/advocatesroundtable
• Peppinc
• Parents Educating Parents and Professionals to
  educate parents, advocates and educators
• Groups.yahoo.com/group/peppinc