When Congress revised IDEA in 1997 and the regulations were finalized in September 1999, several new categories were added under Sec. These changes allow children who had previously not been considered for special education services to be provided with these services. Adversely affect a child s educational performance. Yes, you read correctly. Even severe asthma can be considered an acceptable diagnosis for consideration of special education services.
Education includes more than the traditional academic subjects.
A child with severe asthma may require specially designed instruction in gym class or to participate in social and play activities on the playground. For a child with ADD or ADHD, a small school or class that is flexible and has few distractions, may not require special education. But if you put that same child, even if he is taking Ritalin, in a large classroom with many distractions, and a program that requires him to sit still and listen to long verbal lectures on subjects, then the child may very well need a specially designed education program to progress. It is more than just a matter of how severe the child s disability is, the school environment and educational style of teachers can make a significant difference in whether your child qualifies for special education services or not. We have staff who have received extensive training from the U.S. Department of Education on this and other related subjects and can provide federally-approved workshops and assistance.