As students return to the classroom, their educational experience will be far from ordinary. That’s because many districts in California and across the country are not hosting in-person classes. If your child has a learning disability, this may not be ideal for them.
Since your child requires extra learning assistance, they may struggle as their accommodations and support systems dramatically shift. But regardless of their physical presence in school, your child deserves a fair and quality education.
While children’s IEP and 504 plans aren’t always the same, parents may have a few questions on what their options are during distance learning.
Can my child still receive the same accommodations they had in class?
Yes, California schools still have a legal obligation to provide children with learning disabilities, whether they’re in school or at home. However, distance learning could impact how your child receives those accommodations. If you have concerns regarding those changes, an attorney can help you examine your child’s IEP or 504 plan to develop alternatives that fit their needs.
My child typically has an aide in the classroom, can they still have one?
This can be a bit of a gray area. It may depend on how both the child’s and the aide’s schedules are structured. Speaking with your child’s case manager can help you get a better idea of what options are available.
We want to make adjustments to our child’s education plan, is that possible?
Parents can still meet with their child’s IEP team to make adjustments to their existing plan. While these meetings aren’t required, you can always reach out to your child’s teachers and case manager if your child is struggling and need to make adjustments.
I want to get my child an IEP, are educational evaluations still available?
Some parents are discovering their child has a learning disability for the first time, as their child continuously struggles with online learning. Fortunately, much of the testing a school psychologist would do in-person can get done digitally. There are also private testing centers that may be open on an adjusted schedule.
Children with disabilities deserve a level playing field
School is already tough for many children with learning impairments. As most California schools are going remote this year, that leaves these kids and their parents wondering how they’ll get the accommodations they need. Fortunately, they can benefit from a dedicated legal advocate who knows the ins and outs of the education system.