The question for April 28, 2020 comes from Mary in Elmira:
I would like information on advocating for a child in our care with regard to his receiving special accommodations via the school.
Can you please explain what an IEP is and how my foster son might qualify?
The Coalition HelpLine answers:
An IEP is an Individual Education Plan.
To be eligible for an IEP under the law, your child must meet the following criteria: have an identified disability that impedes learning to the point that the child needs specialized instruction in order to close the gap between the child’s own academic achievement and that of his/her age peers.
There are 13 categories of special education as defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). In order to qualify for special education, the IEP team must determine that a child qualifies based one or more of the following categories: Autism, Blindness, Deafness, Emotional Disturbance, Hearing Impairment, Intellectual Disability, Multiple Disabilities, Orthopedic Impairment, Other Health Impaired, Specific Learning Disability, Speech or Language Impairment, Traumatic Brain Injury, Visual Impairment.
For more information on how to advocate for a child in your care please feel to reach out to the Coalition 888-354-1342 and check out the NYSED web page for more information. http://www.p12.nysed.gov/
Do you have a question? Call us on the HelpLine!
Call the Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition of New York’s toll free HelpLine at 888-354-1342: the only FREE statewide 24/7 service of its kind for designed specifically to assist foster parents, kinship carers, adoptive families, related professionals and those wishing to foster or become parents. We have the support you need right now.