We Need Support & Services for Our Children With Disabilities Now! Not Months or Years from Now!
- by: De Hereira
- recipient: Local Education Agencies, Beaumont ISD Board of Directors, Texas Education Commissioner
Where do you stand on today's special education issues? Let's stand together.
It's time to stand together on the special education issues we face today. Some children have been waiting months and even years for the support and services they need.Those issues are big and they are complex, but we can ensure that every child receives an appropriate education if we unite around our shared vision and focus our energy on impact.
We all agree that every child deserves a Free Public Appropriate Education FAPE). Every community deserves funding for the programs and resources it needs to give our special kids a good start and every possible opportunity to succeed. But every day, the special education issues we face are holding our children back. Students are falling behind. Students with individual needs are getting lost in the shuffle of red tape. We are increasingly unable to provide a strong start for today's special needs children.
These special education issues seem insurmountable. But we cannot just throw up our hands and continue to ignore these problems. No single person can do it alone. But we know that our community is strong and, together, we can create change.
Let's stand together and advocate for special educational reform. Let's come together to take a stand on the educational issues that matter. When we unite for good, we can contribute to the solution and improve the quality and availability of education in our own communities.
We want to create a kinder, gentler, more inclusive world. When we come together and start down the path of solving any one of these education issues, we can change the direction our local special education is headed and make a turn for the better.
When we stand together, our actions have an impact. Let's stand together and take action on our local special education issues we face today.
Thank you,
De Hereira
Parent/ Advocate
Special Education Advocacy
An open letter to all those who support children with disabilities,
Far too many local parents of children with disabilities say that they are still in a situation that is so difficult that no progress can be made for their children. It appears some school administrators are instead tailoring educational programs and support for our special needs children to meet the fiscal or administrative convenience of the school district instead of providing these children with the support they need now not months or years from now to make adequate progress.
“Disability is a natural part of the human experience and in no way diminishes the right of individuals to participate in or contribute to society. Improving educational results for children with disabilities is an essential element of our national policy of ensuring equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities.”
Our Local Education Agency, Beaumont Independent School District, Special Education Department have been out of compliance with our State and Federal Law Rules and Regulations for years. Many of our children with special needs children in our district are not receiving the appropriate supports and services which directly hinders their ability to participate in or contribute to society.
Our state wide education agency the Texas Education Agency (TEA) found our Special Education Department services to be so poor and out of compliance that they took it over last year and they assigned a conservator to get the department in compliance.
Congress passed the Federal Law, The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), to ensure all students with disabilities receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE). This Law states that all State Education Agencies and local school districts must follow these rules and regulations: Find and identify students who have a disability, Involve parents in decision making, and Evaluate (test) students, create Individual Education Program (IEP) goals and objectives for each eligible student that includes measurable annual goals, including academic and functional goals designed to enable the child to be involved and make progress in the general education curriculum. It also includes special instruction, related services, and supplementary aids and services based on peer-reviewed research to the extent practicable, Provide services in the least restrictive environment, Maintain education records/files, and Provide processes for resolving parent complaints and grievances.
A few in our community have low expectations of children with disabilities. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I’ve met many children that have varying levels of disabilities. Some children could use help with basic life skills training areas such as money management, cooking, shopping, room organization and transportation to be successful. Other children can aspire to college and beyond. But they need the support of our district and our community to be successful.
Thank you,
Thank you,
De Hereira Parent/Advocate
Special Education Advocacy
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