Virginia Regulatory Town Hall View Comments

Department of Education

State Board of Education

Regulations Governing Special Education Programs for Children With Disabilities in Virginia [8 VAC 20 ‑ 80]

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

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6/30/08 4:40 pm

Commenter: Katherine Williams, parent

A reminder of the purpose and reason for the VA Special Education Regulations

Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004

`(d) PURPOSES- The purposes of this title are--

`(1)(A) to ensure that all children with disabilities have available to them a free appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living;

`(B) to ensure that the rights of children with disabilities and parents of such children are protected; and

`(C) to assist States, localities, educational service agencies, and Federal agencies to provide for the education of all children with disabilities;

`(2) to assist States in the implementation of a statewide, comprehensive, coordinated, multidisciplinary, interagency system of early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families;

`(3) to ensure that educators and parents have the necessary tools to improve educational results for children with disabilities by supporting system improvement activities; coordinated research and personnel preparation; coordinated technical assistance, dissemination, and support; and technology development and media services; and

`(4) to assess, and ensure the effectiveness of, efforts to educate children with disabilities.

Isn’t one of the main purpose of the IDEA 2004 the protection of the rights of special needs children and their parents?

I find it unbelievably sad that I should have to take my time away from my severely disabled child with autism and my family in order to defend my parental rights and have to oppose an organization (VDOE) who should be my best friend in life. It has taken me weeks in between my daily life responsibilities to review the regulations and the various position papers, and after reviewing everything I am completely overwhelmed by the changes. Honestly, I feel like I am frozen, crushed by the magnitude and the force of the tension and bad feelings that these changes promote between educators and parents of special needs kids. The proposed changes are such an affront that I can hardly find my voice. And I question whether my words even matter and whether I actually still have a voice. VDOE, isn't it your mandate to help children with special needs and their parents? Don’t you know that parental involvment is the key to good outcomes for children? Aren’t we all on the same team? Don't you know how hard are lives are as parents of special needs children?

Please choose to only implement changes that are necessary under the federal regulations at this time, or that actually clearly help parents and children with special needs, as a sign of good will, and a clear acknowledgement that upon review and reconsideration VDOE wants parents as part of the team.

I thank all of the advocacy groups for their many hours of work reviewing these proposed regulations and opposing the unbelievable number of changes that run counter to the needs of our children and diminish our involvement as parents. Parents of children with disabilities need your attention to detail and advocacy. Thank you.

Doesn’t this Act exist to provide funding and guidance for States in order to work with us as parents to try to grow our special kids into functioning members of society?

We, as parents have the mammoth share of time during which to teach and develop our special kid’s daily living skills, language and behaviors which often constitute most of the goals and objectives in our kid’s IEPs. Why is our input of no real value?

What is the purpose of the Virginia Special Education Regulations?

Katherine Williams, parent

CommentID: 1750