New at NICHCY

This month from the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities

NICHCY has maintained a core of key publications for many years, updating them every time our nation's special education law is reauthorized or significant changes occur in the field. Here are the latest to get complete facelifts so they are not only shiny-new again but are also consistent with the requirements of IDEA 2004 and its regulations.

Categories of Disability Under IDEA (GR3)
If you're familiar with NICHCY products, then you'll know this one by its former name, "Disabilities That Qualify Infants, Toddlers, Children, and Youth for Services under the IDEA." A long and frightening title, wasn't it, but no more. If you want to find out how IDEA defines the disability categories under which a child may be found eligible for services (see, the old title did make sense), this publication will tell you. Posted online at:
http://www.nichcy.org/InformationResources/Documents/NICHCY%20PUBS/gr3.pdf

Your Child's Evaluation (BP1)
What's involved in evaluating a child to determine if he or she has a disability and is eligible for special education and related services? Find out in 4 easy-to-read pages that describe IDEA's requirements for evaluation. Posted online at:
http://www.nichcy.org/InformationResources/Documents/NICHCY%20PUBS/bp1.pdf

Your Child's Evaluation (BP1)
Here is a comprehensive but brief look at the special education process from start to finish. It begins with the question "Why is my child struggling in school?" and goes on to describe the evaluation process under IDEA, how eligibility for special education is determined, and what's involved in writing and implementing the individualized education program (IEP), the crown jewel of special education. New provisions in IDEA regarding IEP meetings are also detailed. The publication finishes with brief looks at reevaluation and IDEA's vehicles for resolving disputes that may arise between parents and school systems. Find the revamped and expanded LG1 online at:
http://www.nichcy.org/InformationResources/Documents/NICHCY%20PUBS/lg1.pdf

Developing Your Child's IEP (PA12)
Written expressly for parents by a parent, this 28-pager gets to the heart and soul of the IEP. It looks at every component of this all-important document, otherwise known as the Individualized Education Program. Every child with a disability receiving special education under IDEA must have an IEP, and parents are important members of the team that develops it. Want to be more involved in that process? New and shiny, this publication stands ready to help.
Find it online at:
http://www.nichcy.org/InformationResources/Documents/NICHCY%20PUBS/pa12.pdf

NICHCY is also pleased to launch a new series of questions and answers about IDEA, beginning with these two offerings:

Questions and Answers about IDEA: Purposes and Key Definitions (QA1)
Find out what Congress established as the purposes of IDEA. Also learn how four of IDEA's key terms are defined: free appropriate public education (FAPE), child with a disability, special education, and related services. These 8 pages are yours for the reading and downloading, at:
http://www.nichcy.org/InformationResources/Documents/NICHCY%20PUBS/QA1.pdf

Questions and Answers about IDEA: Parent Participation (QA2)
A parent's right to participate in meetings and decision making regarding their child's special education is one of IDEA's foundational principles, strongly supported through explicit provisions and guarantees. Go straight to the heart of the matter in this 12-page Q&A summarizing parental rights of participation and describing prior written notice, the procedural safeguards notice, and the in's-and-out's of parental consent. Enjoy, at:
http://www.nichcy.org/InformationResources/Documents/NICHCY%20PUBS/QA2.pdf