1. Your Exceptional Child!
By: David Cantwell

2. What You Need to Know! Important Legislation Your Child’s Education
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What You Need to Know!
Important Legislation
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Your Child’s Education
Pre-referral Team
Response to Intervention (RTI)
Individualized Education Plan
The Importance of Family
Family Centered Model
Family System Theory
Services/Support Groups

3. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
HISTORY
Education for All Handicapped Children Act
1990/1997 – Amended and became known as IDEA
2004 – Reauthorized as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) or IDEA 2004
2006 – Part B (Part B for school-aged children)
2011 – Part C (Toddlers to 3 year olds
The Goals of IDEA:
1. Ensure that all children with disabilities have available to them free appropriate public education (FAPE) that is designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for post-secondary outcomes.
2. Ensure that the rights of children with disabilities and their parents are protected.
3. Assist states in the implementation of a statewide, comprehensive, coordinated, multidisciplinary, interagency system of early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.
4. Ensure educators and parents have the necessary tools to improve educational results.
5. Assess and ensure the effectiveness of efforts to educate children with disabilities.
(Glide-k12, 2012)

4. Your Childs Educational Plan
Pre-referral team
Teachers, counselors, administrators, psychologists
Test New Strategies before referral
Still in use but effectiveness unknown
Response to Intervention (RTI
Evaluating change – or lack thereof
“Quality” instruction must be given
Implications for both Academic and Social Behavior evaluations
Uses a 3 tiered model for evaluation

5. 3 Tier Model

6. Your Childs Education Individualized Education Program (IEP)
Legal document Describing educational services for your child
Kick start the plan by setting high attainable goals
Federal and state regulations demand presence of
Representative of the local school district, Teacher, Parents/Guardian
Student(whenever appropriate)
Information Included (State/Federal law does not regulate a degree of detail)
Age, grade, date
Special Educational needs
Present scores and measurements
Aids and services required ,assistive technology, modifications, personnel support
Measureable goals
Short term  long term

7. IEP (EXAMPLE)

8. The Importance of Family to Your Childs Success!

9. The Importance of Family
FAMILY-CENTERED MODEL
Family decisions
Based upon professional advice and encouragement
Professionals work for the family
Wraparound service model
Works In conjunction with Family-centered model
Families use ALL available community services for their family
Mental Health
Social Welfare
Juvenile justice

10. The Importance of Family
FAMILY SYSTEMS THEORY- Understanding behavior using four interconnected components
Family Characteristics
Severity of disability, family size, cultural Background, socioeconomic status, & coping styles
Understanding your own family, helps to relay necessary information to professionals
Family Interactions
Cohesion and adaptability - How Healthy is your family?
How do you handle adversity?
How well do you adapt?
Family Functions
Daily Routines and Functions
Social, educational, professional, medical
What level of involvement do you want/can you have in your child’s development?
Family Life Cycle
Four Stages
Early Childhood, Childhood, adolescence, and adulthood
What changes?
What stays the same?
How can you transition?

11. Additional Services and Support Groups
Additional information on IDEA can be found at
The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
Local Support groups in Indiana
IN SOUCE – Indiana Resource Center for Families with Special Needs
GiGi’s Playhouse- Down Syndrome Achievement Centers

12. "I thank God for my handicaps, for, through them, I have found myself, my work, and my God." -- Helen Keller

13. Reflection
I decided to tailor my presentation to the three initial and, in my opinion, most important areas of information for families who just had or are about to have a child with a disability to know.
LEGISLATION - I choose to talk about the legislation IDEA because it is important for every family with a child who has a disability to understand their rights and the laws that effect them. While the tabs are not there, I would also use this time to talk to the parents about the long history of this legislation, and the fight that so many have gone through for so long to gain these rights. Like any other minority group or subculture in this country, it is important that parents know the history behind it so they are able to help improve the future
EARLY EDUCATION - The first steps can often be the hardest for families of children with disabilities. So I wanted to explain to the them, the step by step process of evaluating their children and setting up an educational plan for them. Much like legislation, Parents need to be aware of what the guidelines and expected steps are so that they can stay as involved as possible
IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY - I chose to talk about the different family models, because I personally believe that family is the most important part of this whole process. A child born in to a loving, caring, and involved family stands a better chance to succeed in life, regardless of their developmental disabilities. Bringing up the professional information on this topic, helps me to speak to the parents about important their continued involvement is to their child’s future success.

14. References
Hallahan, Daniel P., Kauffman, James M., Pullen, Paige C. "Exceptional learners." Hallahan, Daniel P., Kauffman, James M., Pullen, Paige C. Exceptional learners. Boston, MA, 2009.
(November, 2012) “IDEA-Individuals with Disability Education Act.” National Dissemination Center for Children with disabilities. Retrieved from
(2013). “Response to Intervention.” School of Social Work: University of Michigan. Retrieved from
(2013). “Individual Education Plan.” Special Education Needs: Linsnagarvey High School. Retrieved from