POPIN, a program of Family Network on Disabilities is designed to ensure that parents of children with the full range of disabilities and mental health challenges have the training and information they need to prepare their children for school and be able to lead productive, independent lives to the fullest extent possible. These programs offer free help and information to families of students with disabilities and the professionals that serve them.

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IDEA is a federal law requiring schools to serve the educational needs of eligible students with disabilities. This presentation will provide an overview of IDEA in which participants will learn about the thirteen disability categories covered under IDEA and how each part of IDEA (A, B, C & D) deals with a specific area of the law. This presentation will also provide a glimpse at IDEA's six major principles, focusing on student and parental rights as well as the responsibilities of public schools for students with disabilities.

We will cover students with disabilities' rights to a Free and Appropriate Education (FAPE). FAPE is the first tenant of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. It is the provision that guarantees the right to an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) to keep students in school, and having the means to do well educationally, through the use of accommodations, modifications, related services, and non-academic services, like transportation and mental health services. All children, whether a ward of the state living in an institution, experiencing homelessness, in a residential placement, or in the public school setting are guaranteed the right to a Free and Appropriate Public Education.

We will cover the right to free and appropriate evaluations of children in the educational system. The local LEA (school district) has an obligation to evaluate and identify students that have exceptional learning needs. Together, we will discuss your rights, timelines, and prior written notice. If, after evaluation, exceptional student educations needs are identified, the district has a responsibility to create an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) to further identify needs and the means that the district will use to assist children in meeting those needs going forward.

We will discuss your child's right to an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). The IEP is a legally binding document that identifies the individual needs of each child served under the Individuals with disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The IEP is a dynamic document that lists the needs of that particular child and how their disability manifests in the educational environment. In response to those individualized needs, goals are written to address the academic, social, behavioral, independent functioning, health, mental health, and transitional goals for students 12+. Accommodations, modifications, assistive technology, related services, and placement, are all based on these individual needs.

Children served with Individualized Education Plans, under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are considered first and foremost, regular education students. Every effort must be made to keep the child in the least restrictive environment and included with their non-disabled peers to the maximum amount allowed. Any amount out of the regular education classroom dictates notation on the IEP. Districts are obligated to show how they used accommodations, modifications, assistive technology, related services, and collaborative teaching with ESE professionals, prior to removal from the inclusion environment. Come learn about the ways that the IEP supports keeping kids in their mainstream classes.

Parents are an important part of the IEP team. Parents have unique insights and plenty of anecdotal data of their child in many different environments, as opposed to school personnel, who see the child in one. Parents have also used trial and error in regard to behavioral issues/learning strategies and can offer invaluable information, as to what works at home, or not. We, as parents, know many of the manifestations of their disability that can express itself in the educational environment. Our function at meetings, is to work collaboratively in the development of the Individualized Education Plan. Learn your rights and how to better advocate for your child's needs.

Sometimes, miscommunications can occur in the development of the Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Parents and the district/school personnel can find themselves on the opposite sides of an issue. Parents and students can also feel frustrated when the items listed on the IEP are not being implemented. Whatever the reason, disagreement is natural and occurs when we are advocating for our kids. Should this occur, the family is allowed to resolve the issue by a variety of means; starting with requesting a mediation, or facilitated IEP to due process and legal action. Come learn your rights and all the Procedural Safeguards.

Ginger Manley has been with FND since 2019 as a Parent Trainer.

She is a mother of two sweet and amazing boys who are both on the Autism Spectrum. Ginger has been honored to support and advocate for our special needs families, including our military families in the Northwest Florida region. She has been very involved within the military family programs, as well as community special needs programs. She is also an Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) case liaison for NAS Pensacola, as well as a former STOMP - (Specialized Training of Military Parents) parent trainer. Ginger has traveled internationally and nationally to share information with parents, state PTI’s, and other support personnel and agencies.