As you deal with the challenges of raising a special needs child, you should not forget that you have rights as a parent. Your son or daughter faces challenges on a daily basis. Not only do you have to ensure that they are getting the education they deserve, but you also have to educate yourselves in the rights you have to play an active role in their development.
As a Parent of Special Needs Children, You Have Rights
If you are a parent of a special needs child, the lawyers at The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd want you to be aware of the numerous rights you have. Those include, but are not limited to the following:
- A full, free and individual evaluation of your child's educational needs to determine if he or she qualifies as a student with a disability
- Evaluation of your child in all areas of suspected disability or disabilities
- Re-evaluations at least once every three years
- A copy of the evaluation report, along with an explanation of the results to show the significance of your child's educational program prior to the PET meeting
- Provide written consent for evaluations by the school
- Revoke parental consent for evaluation at any time
- Clarifying your opinions and recommend special education services
- Provide written consent before implementation of your child's initial Individual Education Program (IEP)
- Request a PET meeting to discuss changes to or concerns about the IEP
- Inspect, review and receive a copy of your child's educational records
- Request dispute resolution through complaint, mediation or a due process hearing if you disagree with your child's evaluation, identification or placement
- Appeal the due process hearing decision if you do not agree
For help asserting your rights as a parent of a special needs child, contact the Houston attorneys at The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd at 888-388-TODD (8633) for a free initial consultation.
