WHYY RTL training workshops Links to show descriptions and sites What's on TV12? For preschool children School-age children Kids on the Internet Identity in a diverse society Around the Holidays Activities E-mail WHYY Ready To Learn Service

Your child's educational rights shouldn't be a secret Today, "inclusion" in regular classrooms is the norm for most children with learning disabilities in America. In the past, students with special learning needs were separated from the other children at school. Those were the days that "John," who has a mild learning disability, began attending "special ed" classes for severely disabled students in his elementary school, which continued all the way through high school. Anna Mary McHugh knows John's story first-hand, because he gives her advice when her computer goes haywire. McHugh is president of the local chapter of the Learning Disabilities Association (LDA), based in Uwchlan, Chester County, PA (phone: 610-458-8193). The group focuses on informing parents about their children's educational rights and options.

All children have the right to a good education in the U.S. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and other state and federal laws are meant to guarantee special education for those who need it. However, children with learning disabilities sometimes may not receive adequate educational support because parents are not always aware of their rights. The LDA has 13 chapters across Pennsylvania (and many more across the nation) to promote awareness of learning disability issues. Each chapter offers an advocate who informs parents of their rights and acts as a liaison between the caregivers and the school. The first step in seeking help is determining whether your child indeed has a learning disability or special learning needs. Because problems often surface first in school settings, a teacher may approach parents with the possibility of a problem. Or, parents may suspect it on their own. "Sometimes, parents have a feeling that something just isn't right," McHugh says. "The child may be of average or above average intelligence, but parents may feel their child isn't progressing normally." In these instances, parents can request an evaluation by asking the teacher or going to the school principal. After the evaluation, parents must take an active role in their child's education, from reading up on the latest discoveries, to becoming the child's vocal advocate, and learning what needs to happen in the child's home to support his or her education. "Parents and caregivers should be aware of every aspect of their child's disability," said McHugh. Children with learning disabilities have the right to an Individualized Education Program (IEP), like the one that helped John. The IEP is designed by a team made up of parents or caregivers, the child's regular teacher, special education teacher, school principal, and anyone else involved in the child's education, such as the child's speech pathologist or counselor. The IEP is reviewed and revised annually. Once the IEP is designed, parents should monitor the progress of their child carefully. Under new federal requirements, report cards will be given to learning disabled children several times a year. The new system should allow parents to keep a close watch on their child's education. While new laws are certainly making education for learning disabled children more progressive, McHugh believes schools are still overburdened. "Teachers need more support when giving learning disabled children the special help they need," McHugh says. --by Susan Chernesky --Susan was an intern at WHYY during the fall of 1998. For more information, the local chapter of the Learning Disabilities Association can be reached at 610-458-8193. Also, WETA, Washington, DC's public TV Station, operates an extensively helpful Web site called LD Online.