Disabilities+and+Resources+-+educate+everyone

If your child has a disability, he or she may be eligible for Section 504 accommodations and related services or IDEA Special Education.
 * What if my student has a disability? **


 * Section 504 ** of the ** [|Rehabilitation Act of 1973] **, is American legislation that guarantees certain rights to people with disabilities. It was one of the first U.S. federal civil rights laws offering protection for people with disabilities. It set precedents for subsequent legislation for people with disabilities, including the Virginians with Disabilities Act in 1985 and the [|Americans with Disabilities Act] in 1990 (wikipedia). This [|wikipedia page] provides a short introduction to the legislation.

The ** Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ** ( ** IDEA ** ) is American legislation that ensures students with a disability are provided with Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) that is tailored to their individual needs (wikipedia). This [|wikipedia page] provides an excellent introduction to the legislation.

Once you understand the national legislation, you may want to learn more about how Virginia implements it. The Virginia Department of Education has a page for Special Education on their web site. From there, you can find this important information:
 * The Parents Guide to Special Education (2010) is available here. Information about due process begins on page 52. We will add information about due process to this page.
 * Information on timelines is provided by the [|Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center] here.
 * Virginia regulations, including those for due process hearings, can be found here.
 * If you proceed to due process, you will be assigned a Hearing Officer. It is useful to read the Guidance for Virginia Hearing Officers because it explains what they are required/encouraged to do, and what is possible.

=Resources= What resources are available to help me understand the rights of disabled students and students requiring special education?

National Resources
Parents, educators, advocates, and attorneys go to [|Wrightslaw]  for accurate, reliable information about special education law, education law, and advocacy for children with disabilities. Begin your search in the [|Advocacy Libraries]  and [|Law Libraries] . You will find thousands of articles, cases, and resources about [|dozens of topics]

State Resources
VA Department of Education Virginia Family Special Education

LCPS Resources
Loudoun has a [|Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)]  to advise the School Board on unmet needs of special education students. SEAC is composed of 21 members who are parents and at least one educator who volunteer their time to our community. They are appointed for two-year terms by the School Board through an application and recommendation process. The executive committee of SEAC is elected by its 21-person membership to lead the work of SEAC throughout the year. You can learn more about SEAC and see a list of their programs and upcoming meetings on their web site. Some resources that are particularly helpful are:

[|Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats from the 2017 Parent Survey]

SEAC welcomes ideas, comments, or concerns from the public. SEAC serves as an advisory committee to the LCPS School Board to help address systemic issues and not individual concerns or specific situations. The SEAC wants to hear your thoughts concerning global issues and concerns that can help to serve students with disabilities throughout the school district. Your input can be verbal or written. At every SEAC meeting an opportunity is provided for public comment. The SEAC meets at least six (6) times a year and the meetings are held at the LCPS Administration Building, 21000 Education Court, Ashburn, VA. The meetings are open to the public and held from 7 to 9 PM, with public comment held at the conclusion of each meeting. Public comment is to be received and delivered without SEAC comment, except for request for clarification. The Director of Special Education will respond to persons presenting public comment either verbally at the next regular scheduled SEAC meeting or with written correspondence prior to the next scheduled SEAC meeting. All public comments will be recorded in the minutes of each SEAC meeting and referenced in the SEAC Annual Report to the School Board. [|Click here to find instructions for providing your public comments.]

Parent Resource Center