Children with PDDs have the right to a free and appropriate public education.
Federal law protects this right. The law is simply known as IDEA. It was passed in
1997 and updated in 2004.
Under these laws each child is entitled to free services and devices. This begins at
age three through high school, or until age 21, whichever comes first. These laws also
promise that children must be taught in the "least restrictive environment appropriate".
This does not mean children have to be in a regular classroom. It means what is right
depends on the needs of each individual child. It also means that a child's access to
regular learning experiences can't be restricted.
To get special education services, your child must be evaluated. Ask your school
for an evaluation. The school must do a complete evaluation. If it doesn't, then
the school must pay for another evaluation. The school must determine your child's
strengths and weaknesses. The school must also create an IEP
(Individualized Education Program) especially for your child. Parents also participate.
A team of people, including parents, teachers, school psychologists, and other child
development specialists, work together. An IEP includes many special services to help
your child learn. It may include these services:
Academic tutoring
Communication assistance
Speech and language therapy
Occupational therapy
Social skills training, or
Individual or Group therapy
The IEP team should re-evaluate your child on a regular basis to see how your child
is doing. Then changes can be made if your child needs more help or less help.
For more information see:
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (2005). Autism Overview:
What We Know. NIH Pub. No. 05-5592, May 2005. Accessed on April 4, 2006 at
http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubskey.cfm?from=autism.
