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SPECIAL
EDUCATION
WHAT IS I.D.E.A.?
The Federal law that
supports special education and related service
programming for children and youth with
disabilities is called the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
OBTAINING A COPY OF
CONNECTICUT’S SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW
The IDEA is a
Federal law and, as such, provides minimum
requirements that states must meet in order to
receive federal funds to assist in providing
special education and related services. State
law may go beyond the federal requirements.
Parents may want to contact the Connecticut
State Department of Education, Office of Special
Education and ask about Connecticut's laws and
regulations regarding special education.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR SERVICES
UNDER THE IDEA?
The regulations for
IDEA define a "child with a disability" as a
child evaluated as having autism,
deaf-blindness, deafness, developmental delays,
emotional disturbance, hearing impairment,
intellectual disability (mental retardation),
multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment,
specific learning disability, speech or language
impairment, traumatic brain injury, visual
impairment including blindness and other health
impairments.
WHAT IS SPECIAL EDUCATION?
Special education is
defined as instruction and services that are
specially designed to meet the child’s unique
learning needs. This instruction is provided at
no cost to the parents.
For more information about the
federal law I.D.E.A. go to National
Information Center for Children and Youth
with Disabilities
STATE EDUCATION RESOURCE
CENTER
SERC is a
centralized resource center for professionals,
families, and community members regarding
education and early intervention for
Connecticut's children and youth and their
families, particularly children with special
needs, at-risk learners, and diverse learners.
CT PIRC, SERC's Parent Information and Resource
Center, answers questions regarding school
districts; school choice; the No Child Left
Behind Act, including information on tutoring
and other supplemental educational services that
parents are entitled to receive under NCLB; and
other education policy related issues. SERC also
provides professional development and other
technical assistance initiatives, family
education and support, and information and
materials dissemination. For more information go
to:
http://www.ctserc.org
EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL
EDUCATION PROGRAM
Child
Development Infoline provides information
for families of children ages 3 through 5 who
have disabilities requiring special education
services. Referrals are made to local education
agencies for evaluation and assessment. Eligible
children receive special instruction and related
services addressing their developmental needs.
ADVOCACY GROUPS
Advocacy groups inform
parents of children with special needs; educate
public officials; and provide information
regarding inclusive education laws, strategies
for PPT meetings and taking legal action.
The following are Advocacy Groups
in Connecticut:
- Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center
- Western
Connecticut Association for Human Rights
- Learning
Disabilities Association of Connecticut
- Padres Abriendo Puertas:
Statewide special education advocacy group for
Hispanic parents teaches parents to be
advocates for their children with disabilities
and offers workshops, resource materials,
monthly information exchanging meetings, and
parent-to-parent support.
- Connecticut Coalition for
Inclusive Education:
Statewide advocacy group supports parents of
children with special needs, educates public
officials, and provides information regarding
inclusive education laws, strategies for PPT
meetings and taking legal action.
- African
Caribbean American Parents of Children with
Disabilities:
AFCAMP provides advocacy, training, and
support for parents of children with
disabilities in the Greater Hartford area. An
affiliated group, PEETA (Parent Empowerment
through Education, Training and Advocacy)
provides advocacy, training and support in the
Greater New Haven area.
TO FIND PROVIDERS IN
CONNECTICUT'S COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE:
Search by service names:
Education
Advocacy Groups
Special
Education
Special
Education Advocacy
Disability
Related Support Groups
Parent
Support Groups
Individual
Advocacy *Disability Issues
Specialized
Information and Referral *Special Legal/Education
Issues
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SOURCE:
National Information Center for Children and
Youth with Disabilities, Connecticut
Department of Education
PREPARED BY: 211/lb
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: October2011
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