" There is no more

powerful advocate
than a parent armed
with information and
options."
-Rod Paige, Secretary of Education

Abbreviations in Special Education

ABA | Applied Behavioral Analysis
ADA | Americans with Disabilities Act
ADD/ADHD | Attention Deficit/Attention-Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder
APE | Adaptive Physical Education
ASD | Autism Spectrum Disorders
BIP | Behavioral Intervention Plan
CCSS | Common Core State Standards
CP | Cerebral Palsy
DB | Deaf-Blind
DD | Developmental Delay
ED | Emotional Disturbance
ELL | English Language Learner
FAPE | Free Appropriate Public Education
FBA | Functional Behavioral Assessment
FERPA | Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
ID | Intellectual Disabilities
IDEA | Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

SPECIAL
EDUCATION FOR
PARENTS:
ALL YOU NEED
TO KNOW ABOUT
YOUR RIGHTS

IEP | Individualized Education Program

IFSP | Individualized Family Service Plan
ITP | Individualized Transition Plan
LRE | Least Restrictive Environment
ODD | Oppositional Defiant Disorder
OHI | Other Health Impairment
OI | Orthopedic Impairment
OT | Occupational Therapy
PBS | Positive Behavioral Supports
PDD | Pervasive Developmental Disorder
PT | Physical Therapy
RSP | Resource Specialist
RTI | Response to Intervention
SAI | Specialized Academic Instruction
SDC | Special Day Class
California Department of Education
Special Education Division
Procedural Safeguards Referral Service
1430 N Street, Suite 2401
Sacramento, CA 95814
Telephone: 800-926-0648
Fax: 916-327-3704

SLD | Specific Learning Disability

SLI | Speech/Language Impairment
SLP | Speech/Language Pathologist
For a full list visit:
http://www.parentcenterhub.org/repository/acronyms/

Bryce Guzzetta
Kathleen Cauffman
Ana Paula Villarreal
Meaghann Denyer

Your Rights
Parents of children with disabilities from ages three through twenty-one have
specific educational rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA). These rights are called procedural safeguards. Individuals serving as
surrogate parents and students aged eighteen receiving special education services,
are also entitled to these rights.
As parents of a child receiving special education
services, your rights are the following:
-

to participate in your child's IEP meetings &

decisions about him/her
to receive prior written notice of meetings or
any changes to your child's program or
placement
to consent (or not) to your child's
assessments or placement
recommendations
to be given a nondiscriminatory assessment
that is fair to your child
to receive independent educational
assessment if you're not in agreement with
school's testing results
to access your child's educational records
to have your child stay in current placement
when there is disagreement
to receive mediation and translation services
when needed
to file a complaint against your school district
if your child's needs are not met
to be informed of alternative placements
to be informed of private school policies

The top mistakes parents make at IEP Meetings:

- not reading the child's IEP goals carefully
- not asking enough questions to clarify
- not being familiar with procedural
safeguards
- not making requests in writing
- believing the teachers and other
professionals at the meeting are the only
experts
Remember you know your child best, and you are
their strongest advocate. Make sure your child is
getting his needs met at school!

Individual Education Plan Meetings

An IEP is mandated for all students who qualify as
having special needs. The IEP has many team members
compromised of every influential adult that can help the
student succeed in aiding their education. The meetings
are focused on analyzing the studen'ts progress and
areas of need to be addressed in both home and school.
Annual Meeting: The IEP team meets annually to
reassess the goals and services that are provided for the
special needs student. The student is evaluated to
ensure that they are progressing on their current goals,
and that the setting is still appropriate to help the student
in the best way possible.
Tri-annual Meeting: This is a meeting that occurs once
every three years. The student is re-evaluated and
assessed to ensure that they still meet criteria to be
considered a student with special needs as well as
ensure the placement the student is in continues to be
the best for adressing the student's needs.

Types of Placements for your child

Levels of Least Restrictive Environment
General Education (Inclusion) Class
Resource Classroom
Self-Contained Class/Special Day Class
Out-of-District Placement (Non-public or specialized
school)
For more information on LRE visit:
http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/pubs/504001Ch07.pdf
http://www.parentcenterhub.org/repository/placement-overview/
http://sbo.nn.k12.va.us/sped/lre.html