School Planning Information for Children with Autism

Entering your child with special needs into the public school system can be overwhelming.  The Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) provision of special education law ensures that to the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities, including children in public or private institutions or other care facilities, are educated with children who are nondisabled.  School is important for every child, helping to create social skills and preparing them for adulthood (also see Jobs).  The school system is required to provide specially designed instruction (SDI), at no cost to the parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability.  The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities stated that this may include instruction in the classroom, in the home, in hospitals and institutions, and in other setting.  Special education services may include speech-language pathology services, occupational therapy, physical therapy or any other related service, travel training, and vocational education.

The Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a written document for each child with a disability which outlines the specially designed instruction, services, goals, accommodations, modifications and transition services a student’s program will entail.  The information, goals and services within the IEP are based on the results of the evaluation, which determines eligibility or the results of a re-evaluation.  The IEP is created through the collaborative efforts of the IEP team which includes the parents of the student, regular education teacher(s), special education teacher(s), administrative designee, someone who can interpret the instructional implications of the evaluation results, and any other knowledgeable person requested by the parents or school, and the student, if appropriate.