Section 504 is a part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which is a federal statute, not a state statute. Basically, Section 504 is an anti-discrimination, civil rights statute which insures the needs of students with disabilities are met as adequately as the needs of all students in educational system.

Section 504 (29 U. S. C. 794(a), 34 C. F. R. 104.4(a) “No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States, as defined in section 706(8) of this title, shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance….

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School is now once again in sessions. You have prepared your child for the new school year, but are you prepared? As a parent, what do you need to know about your child’s school and his/her rights in that school? What right do you have as a parent? You, as the parent, definitely need to understand the laws of your state and how they work. You need to know all about the school that your child attends, how they work, how they score tests, and how standardized testing is done in that school.

State laws do give our children special rights, but you as the parent must advocate for your child to guarantee that your child gets the proper education that he/she needs. There is one outstanding website that will help you find the information available. This website will assist you in finding everything from how schools view parents to how schools view students. Sections of this website will assist you in understanding tests and measurements. This will enable you to understand test scores to identify a child’s strengths. Basically, only your child’s weaknesses are focused on the school report. You will find it refreshing to find that your child does have many really good points!

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New findings by the Council of State Government’s Justice Center made a bitter discovery this year when it found that Texas public schools more frequently disciplined children with learning disabilities by in school suspension, out-of-school suspension, and expulsion. Records were evaluated at Texas’s largest school system which enrolls close to one million students. They revealed that 75% of middle and high school students with disabilities had been suspended, expelled, or both at least once. Only 55% of the learning disabled students had not suffered those consequences.

Findings showed that the punishments were equally administered to the disabled students. Of those students suffering from an emotional disturbance, 90% were suspended or expelled at least once between the 7th through the 12th grades. Even more astounding was the fact that half of this group were suspended or expelled more than (eleven) 11 times.

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I want to share a book with you. The Autism & ADHD Diet by Barrie Silberberg is a remarkable book that I refer to clients when I meet a child such as Noah. Today, I referred this book again and I thought I should post it on our web so that parents could easily locate the book and include it on their home reference shelf.

The rate of ASD has increased alarmingly in recent years. In 1995, one in 500 children was diagnosed with autism. In 2000, the rate was one in 250. Today, in 2008, it’s one in 150, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Noah's Story

Noah was a wild boy before he began second grade. His father and I were called to the school for an IEP (Individualized Education Program) meeting. Because of Noah’s out-of-control behavior, school officials didn’t want him there. Yet they were willing to have professionals observe him and try to fit him into a regular class. The plan was to meet again in November and decide what to do.

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When I begin working with children that have special needs, I find that many parents struggle with keeping up with all the paperwork that comes along with the Individual Educational Plan (IEP). I recommend that parents purchase a large 3D binder with tabbed insert pocket dividers. Sections should be labeled: IEP Team Members "Fill In" Table of Contents form Notifications Current Performance Annual Goals Services, Support and Aids Special Factors Students Placement State and District Assessments Special Notes; sent to parents and copies you send to teachers, administrators and aids Communications: letters, email notes, phone log By managing the IEP paperwork in an organized system, parents will be able to stay engaged and in control of this tedious process. As your child moves from one grade level to the next, from elementary school to high school, your system will help you to recall the past so that you can impact the current plan and prepare for the future! Don't leave home without it!

Determine the child's learning style. It can be visual, tactile or auditory. Jan Van Blarcum, founder of Dallas-based Creative Tutors, believes understanding how a child learns is essential to helping her retain information. She advises using a learning styles chart as the determining factor.

Special Needs kids can welcome an amusement park in San Antonio, Texas. The grand opening is Friday, April 9th. Tickets for special needs kids are free, family members and caregivers cost $5.

It is extremely exciting that there is a sensory village and handicap access to all the rides along with additional caution with crowd control.