Special Education Tip – Let Me Speak My Mind – 53-2017

Rochelle’s Special Education Tips

Let Me Speak My Mind

If you have a student who requires Assistive Technology (“AT”) (low tech or high tech) to communicate, now is the time to plan staff training in the use of the AT. The AT training should be conducted immediately prior to the first student day of school. Otherwise, you could end up with a student with whom you cannot communicate on the first day of school. This is not legally or educationally acceptable. There should be a system in place to make sure timely training occurs. Ideally, planning and tracking the training should be jointly done by the AT specialist and the case manager. Training should occur whenever a new staff member joins the team or when the student’s classes change, which might occur at the end of the first semester.

504 Statewide Consortium

Tips has learned that a 504 Statewide Consortium has been formed. The Consortium welcomes any District Level 504 Leader/Coordinator to contact Dr. Sally Dorman, Howard County Public School System, at sally_dorman@hcpss.org to discuss joining. The Consortium has begun meeting and intends to meet at least four times per year.

Rochelle’s Special Education Tips (“Tips”) are designed to be helpful and thought provoking, but should not be considered legal advice as they may not be accurate for use in all situations. Tips are based on my opinions and positions in accordance with federal and Maryland law and my over 35 years of experience in the special education legal field. – Rochelle S. Eisenberg, Esquire

Copyright © 2017 Pessin Katz Law, P.A. All rights reserved.

Tips may be reproduced for distribution within the educational institution, the individual school or school system and is for use by their staff. Additional distribution must be approved by author.

If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, please e-mail Rochelle S. Eisenberg at reisenberg@pklaw.com, put “unsubscribe” in the subject line and your name will be removed.