Today’s show is a replay of the Thriving Special Families podcast hosted by Crystal Sanford. We appeared as guests on Crystal’s live podcast on September 22; the episode is titled “Compensatory Education: Where Are We Now?” You can view the video podcast on YouTube or find the link on Crystal’s website. She is a consultant with Sandford Autism Consulting and is passionate about working with families and community members. It was nice to talk to someone who understands the nuances of compensatory education. We dove deep into the topic, along with tips and tricks for getting compensatory education in this time of COVID. Join us to learn more!

Show Highlights:

• How Vickie and Amanda were led to become special education attorneys
• How compensatory education is defined as “a way to put a student in the place they would have been if not deprived of special education-related services”
• How the comp ed law is an equitable remedy for the harm that has occurred; it can be educational services for the student OR reimbursement to the parents for private educational services
• How comp ed is a little different now in the time of COVID
• How parents get access to comp ed with the options of an IEP meeting, alternative dispute resolution, mediation, etc.
• Why it does not matter if one or all students regressed because every student with an IEP has rights and protections; many districts received additional funding to provide services during COVID--so the excuses are not valid!
• Tips for parents: the first step is an IEP meeting after in-person learning has gone on for at least 30 days; ask the IEP team how they are addressing the learning regression; ask for work samples, test results, and assessments; and consider asking for a private, independent assessment
• How a parent knows when it is time to see an attorney (There is a two-year statute of limitations.)
• Options for parents if the school is found negligible (Ex: reading interventions)
• The need that comp ed services be individualized and customized
• Highlights of Amanda and Vickie’s Inclusive Education Project: a non-profit organization providing legal services and a weekly podcast

Connect with Crystal 

To access autism and IEP resources: www.sdautismhelp.com/resources

Find the Thriving Special Families podcast: Thriving Special Families - YouTube

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