This month the United States Department of Education Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services published a Dear Colleague Letter intended to help clarify the use of Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports in the IEP. A copy of the guidance can be found here: Dear Colleague Letter-on-PBIS-in-IEPs–08-01-2016 Of course, as a governmental document, it was a little…
“What is Inclusion?The term inclusion implies a certain educational placement philosophy, interdisciplinary team planning approach, instructional method and attitude.” “Inclusion DOES NOT necessarily mean that a student never leaves the class and is never paired with another student who receives special education services. Rather, it means that the student is truly a member of a…
When discussion of placement arises in an IEP meeting, often how much “inclusion” will be accessible for a student becomes a topic of conversation. Where is “inclusion” in IDEA? Is that term actually there? Or is it a concept? Least Restrictive Environment is the term IDEA uses to define placements. The United States Department of Education,…
Chattanooga Inclusive Ed recently provided a requested white paper to Chattanooga 2.0 outlining current deficiencies in inclusive best practices in the Hamilton County Department of Education, a summary of evidence on the benefits of inclusion for children with and without exceptional needs, and concrete recommendations for reform. Here’s an excerpt from the white paper on…
The internet holds a plethora of resources on the topic of transition, whether it be to secondary education, employment or independent living. Here are a few that we have discovered through the years. Some include older data, but their suggestions and recommendations are still valid. How Students with Disabilities Can Prepare for College –…
For years parents and educators have heard many excuses why students with disabilities should not be full included in their home zoned school.. Many times these excuses fall into specific categories. Myth #1: Students with significant disabilities educated in general education classrooms won’t get the support they need. Myth #2: Students with the most significant…
What Every Parent Advocating for Their Child Should Know “Had Nate’s family accepted the initial recommendation of the school, Nate would not have had access to the general education curriculum. He would not have read The Scarlet Letter and been able to share his thoughts on it with friends. He would not have dissected a…
The sheer volume of autism treatment options can be overwhelming to a parent with a new diagnosis. We have listed here some common treatment options with summaries and links to additional details on each treatment option. Websites listed here have been used and recommended by LifeLine families over the last 13 years. Not all options…
“A paraeducator is an individual who provides instructional or related support to students under the direction and supervision of a certified teacher. In the last two decades, the roles and responsibilities of paraeducators in inclusive schools have reached new levels of importance. The role of paraeducators has evolved from clerical support to personal support, such as feeding…
“Ralph Braun passed away in 2013. In 2010, Braun recognized that he was getting thousands of requests from people who wanted accessible vehicles but who couldn’t afford to purchase them. He wanted to be able to help everyone who needed an accessible vehicle, but he recognized that was an impossible dream. So, he created The…
