Megan Faust, Ed.S.

Warm-up activityhttp://www.tlc-ne.com/giveitatry1.htmlWork in groups to try to decipher the reading

passage on your tables!

IDEA v. §504Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act

of 2004 (IDEA 2004)Reauthorization of U.S. Department of Education

regulations governing the education of preK-12 learners with disabilities through age 22

§504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973Guarantees reasonable accommodations to

individuals with disabilitiesAdministered by the HHS Office of Civil Rights

Exceptional Student EducationStudents identified through Early Intervention

Services or the PS-RtI process as being suspected of having an educational disability

Referred for a psycho-educational evaluation (not a psychological evaluation)

Eligibility requirements (not diagnosis) differ depending upon suspected educational disability

Eligible learners must be educated in the Least Restrictive Environment (i.e. maximizing access to the general education curriculum with same-age peers)

ESE Alphabet SoupC = Orthopedically Impaired

These students may have obvious physical disabilities, such as being confined to a wheelchair, or less obvious disabilities,

such as celiac disease.

ESE Alphabet SoupD = Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy (“OT”) is a related ESE service that addresses fine and gross motor deficits as well as activities of daily

living.

ESE Alphabet SoupE = Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy (“PT”) is a related ESE service that addresses a learner’s ability to

physically access the school and curriculum as independently as possible.

ESE Alphabet SoupF = Speech Impaired

Speech impaired learners participate in some sort of speech therapy to address

concerns regarding fluency and intelligibility.

ESE Alphabet SoupG = Language Impaired

Language impaired learners participate in some sort of language therapy to address concerns regarding oral communication

that adversely affect the learner’s academic, social, emotional, or vocational

development.

ESE Alphabet SoupH = Hearing Impaired

Hearing impaired learners may participate in assistive technology trials to enhance

their access to instruction. They also may benefit from consultation with specialists.

ESE Alphabet SoupI = Visually Impaired

Visually impaired students typically participate in assistive technology trials to enhance their access to curriculum and

instruction, orientation and mobility training to enhance independent movement at school, and instruction in learning and

using Braille (if necessary).

ESE Alphabet SoupJ = Emotional/Behavioral Disabilities

Emotionally or behaviorally disabled learners exhibit severe, chronic, and

frequent abhorrent or atypical emotional or behavioral functioning that is seriously

detrimental to the learning environment.

ESE Alphabet SoupJ = Emotional/Behavioral Disabilities

Emotionally or behaviorally disabled learners frequently have highly

inappropriate responses to normal stimuli. They might or might not have mental health

diagnoses as well.

ESE Alphabet SoupK = Specific Learning Disabilites

Learning disabled students have learning profiles that suggest difficulties with

perception, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia that significantly impair reading, writing, and

mathematics.

ESE Alphabet SoupK = Specific Learning Disabilites

Learning disabled students have average (70-129) IQ’s. The impact of a learning disability

also falls within a rangeMild effect – can usually master grade level

content with accommodationsModerate effect – can likely master grade

level content with accommodationsSevere effect – might never master grade

level content even with accommodations

ESE Alphabet SoupL = Gifted

Gifted learners enjoy intellectually challenging and creative activities and

acquire concepts quickly.

ESE Alphabet SoupM = Hospital/Homebound

Students temporarily confined to the hospital or the home due to medical or psychological concerns may qualify for

instruction in the hospital or home for the duration of their absence.

ESE Alphabet SoupP = Autism Spectrum Disorder

ASD falls anywhere on the spectrum between Asperger Syndrome and severe

autism.

ESE Alphabet SoupT = Developmentally Delayed

Cognitive, social/emotional, and speech/language developmental delays are seen in children under the age of 5 years.

ESE Alphabet Soup

W = Intellectual Disability

A learner with an intellectual disability generally performs far below grade level in

all or most academic areas due to a significantly low IQ.

What is the purpose of an IEP?Most common exceptionalities in K-12

K-Specific Learning DisabledF-Speech ImpairedG-Language ImpairedJ-Emotional/Behavior Disability

What is the purpose of an IEP?To identify the learner as a student with a disability

(SWD) who requires specialized instructionTo identify stakeholders in the learner’s education,

including regular and exceptional education teachers, related service providers, and parents

To describe the type and frequency of ESE services (the “specialized instruction”)

To describe the type and frequency of Related and Supplementary services (e.g. “Counseling,” “Occupational Therapy,” or “Continuous Supervision”)

What is the purpose of an IEP?To describe meaningful, measurable annual

goals directly related to the identified disability or related service areaNot necessarily equivalent to classroom or

curricular goalsTo describe the extent to which the SWD will

be removed from activities with non-disabled peers (the “Least Restrictive Environment”)

To describe the type, frequency, and location of classroom, curricular, and assessment accommodations

Accommodations v. ModificationsAccommodations Modifications

Changes to the learning environment, instructional

materials, and/or instructional delivery

Changes to the actual curriculum (what the student

should know and be able to do)

Level out the playing field Reduced expectations for content mastery

Assistive Technology Always below grade level

Can occur during standardized testing

Assessed using alternate assessment methods

For ESE as well as ELL and §504 plan-eligibilities

For ESE only

Applicable to all eligibilities In FL, generally applicable to InD and ASD only

What is the Least Restrictive Environment?“Placement” = time with non-disabled peers

>80% of the schoolday>40%<79%<39%Other . . .

“Inclusion” = maximum LRE placementLawsuits are won and lost over procedural errors

frequently involving IEP team placement decisions!This includes decisions regarding discipline of

SWD!

The take-away . . .SWD are not going anywhere.We are ethically and legally obligated to educate

SWD.Discipline of SWD is tricky (that’s a whole other

discussion).IEPs are not magic bullets.Some SWD can learn to overcome their

disabilities such that they qualify for dismissal from ESE.

Some SWD cannot but can be taught learning strategies to accommodate themselves.

Additional resources . . .http://idea.ed.gov/http://www.fldoe.org/ese/http://www.sednetfl.info/