September 2022
Pediatric brain injuries are strikingly common in the U.S. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 60,000 kids require hospitalization for traumatic brain injuries every single year. Many others sustain TBIs but never receive professional medical care, unfortunately. A pediatric TBI can cause a child to experience a variety of long-term problems, including learning difficulties, mood changes, and visual or auditory impairments. If your child is returning to school after suffering a TBI, he or she may need access to special education. What is special education? Even under ideal circumstances, many children struggle to learn in conventional classrooms. If your child has a TBI, though, picking up information in such a setting could be downright impossible. Special education includes a spectrum of educational services children can utilize in many different settings. Often, individuals with specific training and experience work as special education teachers. This means teachers can assess the needs of students in real-time, allowing them to make changes to educating kids who have disability-related educational needs. How can you ensure your child gets a good education? You still may be learning to cope with your child’s TBI, so you may feel busier than ever. Still, special education for your child may not land in your lap. That is, you may have to be an advocate for your son’s or daughter’s educational interests. If your child’s school is unable or unwilling to provide special education, you may have to prepare for a bit of a fight. Ultimately, understanding your legal options is one of the first steps you must take to ensure your child gets a good education after suffering a TBI.
There are plenty of hurdles for parents and children in the education system. For those parents supporting their special needs children, those hurdles increase. When it comes to securing the education of a child, parents will do what they must. If a school district fails to deliver on its promises, parents may band together to seek a resolution. Families lining up According to NJ.com, nearly 15,000 families could claim their children have suffered harm over the years due to administrative delays. As the investigation continues, it seems that budget allocation does not provide for enough judges to hear the cases—despite the federal requirement to resolve cases involving special education students within 45 days, not counting adjournments. Many parents may have the right to declare a lawsuit when it comes to seeking justice for their children. The average case resolution was 212 days. Some families waited more than nine months for the courts to hold hearings. Flawed systems stacking up problems Many consider the state systems flawed when it comes to helping educate special needs children. When a state program fails its students, it is up to the parents to call for action. When parents of special needs children face difficulty when it comes to accessing educational services, there are resources available to help. Those parents looking to provide their special needs children with an education have a lot ahead of them, especially when external factors complicate things. When it comes to securing that fairness and education, it is important for families to communicate and lean on their resources in order to formulate the best defense.
In Washington, students with mental or physical disabilities may have a 504 plan or Individualized Education Plan to help ensure they receive the assistance needed to reach their educational goals. However, as the end of high school approaches, many special needs children and their parents may be wondering how they will make the next step: transitioning from the classroom to the workplace. One option for students who want to pursue a job is working with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. DVR offers young persons with special needs a variety of services to help them with job counseling, training and placement. Who is eligible for transition services? Generally, eligible students are currently enrolled in a recognized secondary or postsecondary education program and have a 504 plan, IEP or documented disability . While there is no strict age requirement, eligibility may depend on a student’s assessed ability to transition to work. What transition services are available? Transition services available to special needs youth include: Job exploration: students learn more about different types of jobs and identify their own interests, skills and work preferences Workplace preparation: students develop job-related skills for living independently, such as time/money management, resume writing, interviewing and accessing support Work experience: students gain real-world experience through job shadows, workplace tours, internships and other activities DVR’s pre-employment services also emphasize the importance of self-advocacy. In addition to learning skills to help them live and work independently, special needs students learn how to speak up for their own rights while knowing when to ask for assistance or services they need as they transition from school to work.
