Special Needs is a broad term for a great many diagnoses; these can range from those that cause developmental delays, medical, psychiatric and congenital conditions that require accommodations, so that such children can reach their potential. These designations are useful and are reflected in law. As a result, there are systems in place to properly educate and develop this population.
These protections come from the Individuals for Disabilities Education Act. It ensures students with a disability have Free Appropriate Public Education, commonly known as FAPE. In addition to FAPE, this system provides the core educational program called the Individual Education Program (IEP), in a Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), with Appropriate Evaluation, Parent and Teacher Participation, and Procedural Safeguards. Central to the system are developmental/progress components, which are monitoring and reviews that are protected under Confidentiality of Information. These programs can begin, after proper diagnosis along with meeting the disability eligibility guidelines at both the Federal and State level, as early as 3 years and will continue until the child comes to the end of High School, usually between ages 18 to 21 years old, depending on State guidelines.
In every case, the core curriculum is governed by the Individual Education Program (IEP). This comes with transition planning, which begins around age 16. What this means is, each child’s evaluation and education regimen will start to include skills that will begin preparing them for adulthood.
For any parent, this is a big transition, but for one with a special needs child, there are unique challenges that involve issues such as housing, vocation, education, and access to other needed resources just to name a few. Each part of caring comes at a cost, and we want to help you be prepared.
We know that you want to continue to be there for your special needs child, just as you have always been.
You have dreams for your child’s future, and those dreams should be protected no matter what.
The thought of illness, injury or worse should not be left to chance, but carefully planned and protections put in place beforehand.
We at Community Assurity group are dedicated insurance professionals who care deeply about the special needs community.
We recognize each family as having their own unique needs and desires for a full, rich and productive life for their special needs child.
Our mission is to assist you in placing proper protections that will address the financial needs during those critical and crucial times as they arise.
The above information is a very short summary of the Individual for Disabilities Education Act (I.D.E.A.). For a comprehensive overview of this important legislation, please go to https://sites.ed.gov/idea/
Community Assurity Group does not provide tax or legal advice, nor is it a social service organization, or a government agency.
Please seek advice from the appropriate professional advisor(s) for such matters.
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