PART ONE BY LAUREN AGORATUS INTRODUCTION I wrote this manual to help other families of individuals with special needs and the professionals who work with them. My daughter now has five life-threatening conditions, and autism just to keep things interesting. We have been through everything from early intervention to currently going through transition to adult care. I hope this helps you on your journey. EARLY & CONTINUOUS SCREENING Families may be concerned that their child […]
BY JUDITH CANTY GRAVES AND CARSON GRAVES Evaluations are a major part of the special education experience. The purpose of evaluations, aside from determining eligibility for special education, is to inform parents, teachers, and other specialists how a student’s disabilities may be affecting his or her ability to learn and interact socially with peers. This information is important in providing a road map for the student’s special education Team to develop an effective Individualized Education […]
BOOK EXCERPT BY SHARLENE HABERMEYER, MA “Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.” – Vincent Van Gogh As a young child, Anthony suffered with severe language, social, and emotional issues. Socialization was a particular challenging issue. It was difficult for him to socialize with his peers, to work independently at school, and he was argumentative with his teachers. But music changed all that. Today, Anthony attends […]
BY LYDIE RASCHKA With a grant from the National Inclusion Project, the Marquis Studios Inclusion Program was launched in 2011. As the six year olds filled the sunny art studio, they chanted the teacher’s name, “Hiromi! Hiromi!” With her frizzy pigtails, crinkly-eyed smile, and blocky gray tunic, Hiromi Niizeki looked like a big first-grader herself. This was Ms. Niizeki’s second season teaching visual art in the Inclusion Program, a project designed by Marquis Studios. Marquis […]
BY DR. MARY A. HOUSER AND DR. CHARLOTTE L. FONTENOT Whether at the pre-IEP conference, during the IEP conference, or beyond, it is the parent who steers their child’s educational course. Every parent of an exceptional child receiving special education in the public schools today has heard the words, “IEP meeting.” For some, these words conjure positive thoughts about a productive meeting that will educationally benefit their child. For others, however, the words “IEP meeting” […]
