You may have questions about your child’s educational journey, including special education services. Please review the additional resources linked below to learn more about Special Education and finding help for your child.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law that makes available a free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities throughout the nation and ensures special education and related services to eligible infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities.
Special education means instruction that is specially designed to meet the unique needs of a student with a disability. It includes any related services like transportation, occupational or physical therapy, or assistive technology, needed for the student to benefit from his or her special education services. Special education is not a place, but a set of services and supports that can be provided in many ways and in many different settings. What special education looks like for an individual student is outlined in his or her IEP (Individualized Education Program). The IEP is developed by a team referred to in Texas as the admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee. The parent is a member of the ARD committee.
To request an evaluation, please visit the evaluation and eligibility webpage. To learn more about 13 disability categories, visit the SPEDTex website.
SpedTEX provides excellent information for families and educators, including frequently asked questions, parent training, and resources.
Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) services are for children three through five years of age. ECSE teachers provide services in a variety of settings such as Head Start, pre-kindergarten 3 & 4, kindergarten, and other early childhood settings. To learn more about Early Childhood Special Education, visit the SPEDTex Early Childhood Guidance Document or contact Kelly Volding, the Austin ISD ECSE Coordinator, at kelly.volding@austinisd.org.
- What are Compensatory Services? Compensatory services are used to help students make up for progress or skills they lost when their special education services were not provided. This includes situations where a child does not get special education services because he or she was denied a timely initial evaluation, but later found eligible. If an initial evaluation was denied when it should not have been, compensatory services may be needed to make up for the delay in your child getting special education services.
- Who Decides if Compensatory Services are Needed? Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD} committees decide if compensatory services are needed and what those services will be. Parents and guardians are members of the ARD committee. Your participation is very important.
- How Do I Request Compensatory Services for My Child? Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD} committees decide if compensatory services are needed and what those services will be. Parents and guardians are members of the ARD committee. Your participation is very important.
Transition planning supports students with disabilities and assists both families and students in planning for life after graduation. For more information on transition services, including 18+ programs, please contact Regina Earls at regina.earls@austinisd.org or your child’s campus special education teacher.
- Resources for Learning at Home
- Reading Rockets for Parents
- Supporting Your Child’s Literacy Development
- Learn at Home (Scholastic)
- Child Mind Institute: Managing Behavior at Home
- 15 Behavior Strategies for Children on the Autism Spectrum
- Family Schedule Templates, SPANISH - Family Schedule Templates
For More Questions or Support
For more questions or support, please contact your child’s campus principal, contact the Austin ISD Special Education Department by email at speddept@austinisd.org or by phone at 512-414-SPED (7733), or visit SPEDTex.