Action | Revisions to comply with the “Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004” and its federal implementing regulations. |
Stage | Proposed |
Comment Period | Ended on 6/30/2008 |
I am opposed to changes in the DD regulations. It has been my experience that this label is valuable during a developmental period when testing and other measures are less reliable. Because testing scores are less reliable in young children, the use of the DD label allows for crucial growth and development to occur. When retesting is done then the value of early intervention is often seen as children "test out" of special education services. Other children develop a more solid cognitive and academic profile that reflects a specific disability clearly when they are older. Changes in the DD regulations would remove the flexibility to allow children time to grow and mature. It would lead to a loss of early intervention services for many children who have an unclear developmental profile because they are young.