6 Parenting Tips - How To Successfully Overcome Special Education Deceptions

Are you a parent of a special needs child who has been told things
that are not true about your child's education, by disability
educators? Are you a parent who is afraid to stand up to the
deceptions? Would you like to learn six disability advocacy tips, for
standing up to some educators who are not truthful? This article will
teach you easy to use parenting tips to help you in your fight for
your child's educational life. These tips along with knowledge ofthe
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) will help you in
your disability advocacy journey.
I will give an example of a common lie that is heard by many parents,
and follow up with six tips.
Lie: "I am sorry, we cannot give your child speech therapy, because
the category your child receives special education under is a learning
disability." (Be sure that your child is tested in all areas of
suspected disability! Some school personnel deny services without even
testing the child, to see if the child needs services in a specific
area such as speech).
Tip 1: Ask for, in writing, a copy of the state or federal law that
the school person is using to deny needed special education services.
(IDEA does not allow school districts to base services on labels, only
educational needs). For example: "Could you please show me, in
writing, the state or federal law that states that you have the right
to deny my child an educational service that they need."
Tip 2: If the disability educator made this statement in a verbal
conversation, as soon as possible after the conversation, write the
educator and quote what they said. Also, keep a copy. It may be
necessary to write the special education person a couple of times, to
get a response.
Tip 3: Use the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to
strengthen your position. For Example: "IDEA states that the purpose
of the law is to ensure that all children with disabilities have
available to them a free appropriate public education that emphasizes
special education and RELATED SERVICES designed to meet their UNIQUE
NEEDS . . .Section 1400 Purposes."
Tip 4: Tell the disability educator, in writing, that since they are
not able to show you a state or federal law that states that your
child's label determines service (it doesn't), that you stand by your
position that your child needs speech therapy. Remember to be
assertively persistent! Also, use testing to prove that your child is
below age and grade equivalents to justify related services.
Tip 5: Consider getting an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE),
for your child with a qualified person. In the above example, you
could take your child to a qualified Speech and Language Pathologist,
and have the child tested. Make sure they are willing to write a
detailed report to include recommendations.
Tip 6: Send the independent evaluation report to school personnel, and
ask for an IEP meeting to discuss the evaluator'srecommendations. If
possible, have the evaluator participate by telephone.
This article has given you six parenting tips that you can use to
successfully overcome disability educator's deceptions. You have the
right to hold special educational personnel accountable for giving
false information. Good luck in your advocacy journey!

The College Education Grant is Free Money for School

The costs of attending college today continue to skyrocket. Many students are finding it nearly impossible to finance their own education. With costs exceeding $15,000 a year, getting a part-time job often isn't the answer. Balancing an education with the demands of a full-time job is becoming increasing impossible.

Individuals who want to pursue higher education and need monetary help to attend college have a couple of options. Self-help federal aid allows you to get loans and work-study programs. The second option, gifts don't require repayment.

In addition to the US Federal government, other organizations offer aid as well. This aid comes in the form of a college education grant. The great thing about a college education grant, like the majority of grants and unlike student loans, is that you don't have to repay the money.

College education grants are based on need and are highly competitive. These grants won't necessarily cover all costs of an education, but provide the bridge that can make educational pursuits possible. These grants are donated by federal or state governments, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, research institutions, funding institutions, corporations, and private individuals.

The key is to start your research early when looking for college education grant opportunities. Starting during your junior year of high school is not too early. Anyone who wishes to pursuit a post-secondary education should complete a Free Application for Student Aid form and forward it to the department of education as early as possible. This should be submitted to the state assistance agency in the state where you hope to attend college or university. You may find eligibility for more than one grant or scholarship. Many grants are donated on a first-come first-served basis, so it's best to get applications in early.

The Federal Pell Grant and the Federal Educational Supplemental Opportunity grant are two of the most popular and well-known need-based grants.

The Federal Pell Grant provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate and certain post-baccalaureate students. Students may use their grants at any one of approximately 5,400 participating postsecondary institutions.

The Federal Educational Supplemental Opportunity Grant Program provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate students for post-secondary education. Students can receive these grants at any one of approximately 4,000 participating postsecondary institutions. Institutional financial aid administrators at participating institutions have substantial flexibility in determining the amount of FSEOG awards to provide students who are enrolled or accepted for enrollment.
Start with your local library or high school counselor's office for information about all the financial aid available to you. On the web, an internet search with the words college and grants should prove very useful. Some of the more popular sites such as finaid.org, collegeanswer.com, and the Michigan State Library website are excellent sources for college education grant information.

Tips For Finding The Best Online Education Opportunities

Online education is the new way to obtain a degree with convenience. There are a number of wonderful online programs which allow individuals to obtain their education at times which are most convenient to their currently daily schedules. Whether attending full time or holding down a day job and taking classes whenever possible, this online educational avenue is a great thing to pursue. There are a few tips to keep in mind in order to find the best education opportunity possible for those who wish to obtain degrees via the World Wide Web.
Search a Multitude of Options
First and foremost, it is extremely important to look around a bit at different options and not select the first online university which you come across. As with any type of educational institution, some online education providers are better than others. Therefore, shop around a bit with regard to educational possibilities and only select one from the bunch after thoroughly reviewing your options.
Consider The Cost Of The Online Program
It is also important to consider how much the entire online program will cost you. This relates to not only the online class portion but books and any other costs as well. Some online program providers will offer loans for those who need to find a way to pay for their education. Other providers may not offer loans but will accept money obtained via outside lenders. In addition, there may be a way to pay for the online degree in installment payments which will make the overall education much more affordable.
Determine How Many Credits Will Need to Be Obtained to Acquire a Degree
You should also determine how many credits you will need to acquire in order to get your degree in the desired educational subject. Some online schools will offer degrees for fewer credits than others. By choosing a school where less credits are required, you may find that you receive the same type of education for less money. Therefore look into the credit requirements of each online educational provider prior to selecting a specific one.
Look Into How Classroom Sessions Are Administered
One who is searching for an online school should also find out how the virtual classes are administered. Some may find that classes where the students can do the coursework at their leisure may be more suitable to their schedule than ones which require the student to log on at certain times throughout the week to attend classroom sessions. This is an important factor to consider so that you can be certain to get all of your coursework done in a timely and efficient manner.
Inquire About the Reputability of the Online Program
Last but certainly not least, you should inquire about the reputability of a certain program prior to signing up for a specific one as this will often determine whether the program is worth your money or not. As with any educational institution, certain online educational programs will be better than others. Therefore, try doing some research online when it comes to figuring out how good a certain education program is and ask friends and family members with regard to online education recommendations.