Does anyone have experience with an IEP? School district agreed to pay for books on tape, how to word on IEP?

Question

He is in a public high school and I want the IEP to follow him through college. Right now, the books on tape is worded very vaugely. All it says is "books on tape." They have agreed to pay the costs, however I am afraid next year if not worded correctly it will come back to bite me. Once it is on an IEP, shouldn't it follow throughout his high school education and into college? I also wanted to add that I would be able to request teachers, if available, for him. I was told that I couldn't do that. Any advice is appreciated!!!

Answer 1

There are no IEPs in college.

Students have some protections under civil rights laws/ 504 plans, but no longer under special education law.

Here is a great resource on the subject.

http://www.tcnj.edu/~technj/2004/transit...

Answer 2

IEP's do NOT follow a child thru to college. Colleges might offer their own help, but it will be different than an IEP plan. If a child is in SCHOOL till they are 21, they can have an IEP plan. But not college.

First of all,  write a letter to the district sped director requesting 'prior written notice' on WHY they agree to the books on tape. They can 'say' they agree, but if you don't request this they will have a memory lapse and say they didnt' agree to it.

By law they have to have LEGAL reasons for getting books on tape and give you these reasons in writing in the prior written notice.

You have to make SURE this IS written into the IEP plan or they WILL NOT do it. By law if something is NOT written on IEP plan they don't have to do it.

As far as how to word it on the IEP plan, think about what his problems are , why the books on tape are needed and

1. WHEN they will be used

2. WHY they will be used

3. HOW they will be used

All this has to be explained in detail in the IEP plan or the school won't do anything. And do NOT let them use the words 'as needed'. They will decide it is NEVER needed.

As for reqesting teachers for him, do as above. Write a letter asking for this to be written into the IEP plan and if they refuse, write back and request prior written notice if they refuse. THey have to have legal reasons for refusing.

Answer 3

Once something is placed on his IEP it does not mean it will stay there throughout school. At least every three years the child must be reevaluated. This evaluation is often called a "triennial." Its purpose is to find out if the child continues to be a "child with a disability," as defined by IDEA, and what the child's educational needs are (does he require the use of books on tapes anymore etc..). However, the child must be reevaluated more often if conditions warrant or if the child's parent or teacher asks for a new evaluation.  The IEP team must review the child's IEP at least once a year. One purpose of this review is to see whether the child is achieving his or her annual goals. If he is found not to need certain accomodations etc anymore they will be removed from his IEP.

You can ask for an IEP review meeting at anytime where you and the other members of the IEP team can review his current IEP and make any changes that is needed, like with the books on tape..maybe being more specific, does he receive the books on tape for each subject, certain subjects, just for certain things , including that they are covering the costs, etc..his IEP should list any and all accomodations he receives, with details of each.  Going to leave a couple links for you hoping they will help..1st is to the US Dept. of Education's IEP Guide..they have tons of info about IEP's from evaulation,  to setting up the IEP, reviewing and reevaluation..they also have info about local and state education facilities: information about special education, children with disabilities, the IEP process, & IDEA.

The 2nd is to Wrightslaw..their mission is to provide parents, advocates, educators, and attorneys with accurate, up-to-date information about special education law and advocacy so they can be effective catalysts. You will find articles, cases, newsletters, and resources on dozens of topics in the Advocacy Libraries and Law Libraries. They have everything you need to know about your and your child's rights, tips and strageties to get the most out of an IEP and tons of other useful info.

The 3rd is to Tool Kit on Teaching and Assessing Students With Disabilities: Accommodations. They have different accommodations that can be used within the classroom either by the type of accommodation or by the persons needs, here you might be able to find other accommodations to discuss with the IEP team and maybe have them added to his IEP. They also have info about how the accommodations should be included within the IEP.

Answer 4

It does not follow through college... just high school. You might want to check out http://www.bookshare.org/ They give free access to books for the visually impaired, learning disabled, and mobility impaired for FREE. I know at least some can be in auditory format but it is all on their website. The student's IEP will be rewritten each year. Therefore, someone at the meeting will need to continue to write it on the document for the service to continue to be provided no matter what it is.

Answer 5

I was on an IEP when I was in school, and I remember that my mom was allowed to request certain teachers if they were available. I'm not sure if you have the right as well because the regulations may have changed since then, or they may be different depending on the school district.

In addition to the excellent, accurate, and throroughly information that the previous answers gave, I also suggest that you contact your state's Parent Training & Information (PTI) center.  Nearly every state has a PTI, and the people who work there are trained to assist parents of students with special needs with questions and difficulties they have regarding IEP's and other concerns.  You can find your state's PTI by doing a web search for the name of your state and the words "parent training information."  The PTI person will be able to let you know your rights in regard to your specific state's laws and regulations.

Answer 6

Callie,

You bring up several questions; let me try to address each one individually.  

First, let me clarify that the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) covers students who have been found eligible for an IEP, ages birth to 21.  This law extends protections to the student and parents through the age of 21 or until the student graduates from high school.  Once the student receives their HS diploma, IDEA ends.  His IEP cannot carry over into his college years; however, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) covers all qualified individuals with a disability of all ages.  The term qualified individual with a disability means an individual with a disability who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the employment position that such individual holds or desires.

There are marked differences between IDEA and ADA.  IDEA requires school districts to form a team of people knowledgeable about the disability and ensures adequate academic progress is made by the student.  ADA requires public agencies to make "reasonable accommodations" but doesn't make any allowances or guarantees for student progress.

To put it another way, if a student on an IEP is failing a grade, the IEP team must reconvene a meeting to review the IEP and educational placement of that student.  The team will look at why the student isn't making satisfactory progress and make changes to the program or placement as deemed necessary by the team.  However, a student on an IEP can fail a class, but only in two situations: 1) excessive absences NOT linked to the disability, or 2) lack of effort on the part of the student.  

ADA requires that public, and some private, agencies receiving federal funding, which includes universities, to make reasonable accommodations.  This may mean that books on tape be made available to this young man in college.  

Most universities have an office that deals with disability concerns.  I would contact them to see what documentation they would need in order for him to continue to receive accommodations in college.  The way the accommodations or modifications are worded on the IEP wouldn't carry a lot of weight for the college, but they might use it as a reference tool when drafting an accommodations plan for college.

I hope this helps clear up some things for you.  If not, feel free to contact me and I can share more of my understanding of IDEA and ADA with you.

I have also listed a link below to the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) website that compares ADA, IDEA and Section 504 of ADA.

Links to the text of ADA and IDEA are also found below.

Answer 7

a. colleges are not bound by the same rules that govern high schools

b. colleges do not use IEPs...he may have to go through the university to have special accomodations made...

c. no college anywhere is going to let mommy pick their kids classes

d. he needs to be classified as an "auditory learner"...but even then it is rare that the college will foot the bill for books on tape...textbooks on tape are available but there are certain qualifiers that must be met...very often the books on tape can replace the traditional text book but it is not upto the school to make it available...