When we think of access and accessibility, we generally think of the way people enter buildings but it’s so much more than that. In this episode we talk about how accessibility and universal design can be incorporated into physical spaces and programming so that we can meet the needs of the most people regardless of their age and ability.

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What happens when a support or service isn’t available? This happens most commonly with weather or sickness and it can feel stressful for everyone. One thing that can be helpful is to agree upon a back up plan before it’s needed and document it in the student’s IEP. This allows the ARC team to be thoughtful about the most appropriate backup plan that can best meet the student’s needs. It also prevents the decision having to be made by a single person in real time.

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You can find more information about KY IEP Advocate at www.kyIEPadvocate.com

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Guest:

Nick Caprino, Attorney at the Children's Law Center in Northern Kentucky

ncaprino@childrenslawky.org

Acronyms, Highlights, & Links:

Consent to Evaluate Form = https://www.education.ky.gov/specialed/excep/forms/Documents/Consent%20to%20Evaluate%20ReEvaluate%20rev1.pdf

Remember! "X" = will be evaluated & "E" references finding of a previous evaluation

Procedural Safeguards/Parents Rights = https://www.education.ky.gov/specialed/excep/GuidanceResources/Documents/Procedural_Safeguards_Notice.pdf

ARC Meeting = Admissions and Release Committee

IEP = Individualized Education Program

IDEA = Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (https://sites.ed.gov/idea/)

Preparation before meeting:

-Clearly identify and be specific about the issues at hand.

-Think of potential solutions (including those that seem obvious or "dream" solutions).

-Share an outline of issues with the school before the ARC meeting.

During the meeting:

-Discuss the specifics of the issues at hand.

-Speak up! You are the expert in your own child and your concerns and questions are valid.

-Present the solutions you brainstormed ahead of the meeting. Don't worry if they say no to a solution. The next step is to ask "why" with the goal to move toward a comparable solution.

-If a potential solution requires additional time and/or data collection, agree upon a deadline and set a date for a follow up meeting.

-Conference summary report serves as the official record of the meeting.

Record keeping outside of the meeting

-Make sure everything is in writing at some point in time. If a phone call is made in response to an email, be sure to follow up that phone call with an email summary. Send those emails to someone in the school's administration, someone in the district's special education department, someone from the school's special education department, and someone else that you trust (ex: a general education teacher). You can request that all of these individuals are a part of the ARC team attending meetings.

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www.kyIEPadvocate.org

Takeaways:

Remember, a lack of resources is not an excuse to not meet the requirements to educate your child.

Thoughtfully prepare ahead of the ARC meetings, participate during the meeting, and keep a record of anything happening outside of the meeting in email form.

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