Whether your child with a disability is going back to in-person learning, a hybrid model, homeschooling with itinerant services at home, or completely virtual our back-to-school checklist will be the same. It won’t include the typical 3-ring binder and box of crayons. Instead, it will require vigilance and continued advocacy on the part of parents and students.
Below the checklist you will find a list of resources specific to learning during the pandemic from numerous disability rights organizations.
Back-to-School Checklist during the Pandemic:
- Take the First Step: Don’t wait for your child’s IEP team case manager or special education teacher to contact you. Call or email before school begins, request an IEP meeting, and ask how your child will receive all needed services and supports even during the pandemic. Many students with disabilities did not receive the services outlined in their IEP this past spring. Many parents became solely responsible for their child’s specialized instruction, therapies, related services, etc. This is not legal under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) even during the pandemic, and cannot happen again this fall. Our children cannot afford to lose out on needed services again this new school year. Ask for a Prior Written Notice detailing, in writing, how the school intends on delivering these services virtually, in the home, or in-person during alternative school scheduling.
- It’s All About the Data: Your iPhone isn’t just for adorable pictures of your child. It can be a great tool for monitoring your child’s progress at home. With a majority of students around the country doing at least some learning virtually in the home or in day cares, parents and caregivers are now the experts in progress monitoring. You can use short video clips to prove that your child is not accessing the grade-level curriculum through synchronous (live) online instruction. You can use your iPhone notes to write real-time details about behaviors, task avoidance, successes in math, struggles in reading, etc. You can also request frequent data from private providers like tutors, therapists, etc. These experts can lend credibility to your own data. Write down what works and what doesn’t work. Track regression and progress. It’s important to videotape or write these incidents as they happen, because as the old adage says: “if it’s not in writing, it didn’t happen.” This parent-led progress monitoring can be used to make the argument for compensatory education.
- Know Your Child’s Rights: Do not sign any document that waives your child’s right to a Free and Appropriate Education (FAPE) now or ever! The Department of Education and U.S. Congress have not waived any rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) during the COVID-19 school closures and alternative learning models. Many advocates and attorneys recommend the child’s IEP remain untouched during this time. Many states have created temporary COVID-19 learning plans to supplement, but not supplant a child’s IEP. I would argue that your child should receive all the services and supports outlined in their pre-COVID IEP even during this time. In practice this will likely take creativity on the part of school districts and courage on the part of parents to push school districts to uphold their legal responsibility.
Resources Related to Educating Children with Disabilities during the COVID-19 Pandemic:
I will add to this resource page as I learn of new resources for learning during the pandemic.
Remote Learning Strategies This google doc has a list of apps and website and platforms that teachers can use to make virtual learning more inclusive and interactive.
Educating all Learners Alliance a National Network of Educational Experts created this resource library to help teach all learners during the pandemic.
TIES Center The National Technical Assistance Center on Inclusive Practices for students with the most significant disabilities includes blog posts on the left hand side of the website. The latest blog posts include specific strategies for including students with disabilities in virtual learning during the pandemic. Here’s my favorite blog post to prepare for learning during the pandemic: The 5C Process
The 12th Annual Summer Leadership Institute has gone virtual, and this year’s speakers talk a lot about inclusion during the pandemic. The tickets are discounted at $150. I’ve enjoyed a lot of the webinars.
Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates is making their annual conference virtual and has created weekly webinars related to learning for children with disabilities during the pandemic. The webinars are recorded and free to COPAA members.
The Department of Education has released a Q-and-A outlining the school districts’ responsibilities to children with disabilities during the pandemic.
Reopening Washington State Schools 2020: Special Education Guidance Check your state department of education website for more specific information for your state
A Day In Our Shoes has a great selection of COVID school closure related topics.
