Special
Education Services
All
children with disabilities are entitled to a free,
appropriate education in a full continuum of settings
ranging from a regular public school classroom with
support services, to a residential school when necessary.
Transition planning is also important to help secure
needed service after age twenty-one.
Federal
and State law provide for specific rights and procedural
protections for chidlren with disabilities and their
families. Getting advice about the law, and yours
and your child's rights and responsibilites early
in the process can help you develop appropriate stategies
to support your child's educational rights.
Rights in Higher Education
While some rights and protections guaranteed by these laws terminate when a student with
disabilities graduates high school, post-secondary institutions and higher education entrance
testing services (ETS, GRE, LSAT) have certain obligations under
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the American's with Disabilities Act to provide reasonable
accommodations for students with disabilities.
Students with disabilities are entitled to accommodations designed to "level the playing field." Post-secondary
institutions and testing services must therefore provide appropriate accommodations to ensure they are not
discriminating based on a student's disability. Accommodations may include extra time on tests, a reader,
large print text, note takers and other supports. It is up to the individual to request these accommodations,
however, and securing them may require specialized legal representation.
Call
now to learn how attorneys at
Hinkle, Fingles & Prior can help your family
get an appropriate education for your child with a
disability. In many circumstances, it is possible
to recoup legal fees and costs related to litigation.
See
our Questions page for more about special education
for children with disabilities.
