Simply, parental involvement helps hold schools accountable for maintaining a healthy and safe educational environment. With the health care plan intact, the next step in preparing the technology dependent child for the school system is the development of his own individualized educational plan. According to this law, children with special needs are entitled to receive the services they need to reach their maximum potential. This law, along with the federal special education law, P.L. 94-142, contains important rights and protections to ensure that students with special needs receive the educational benefits intended for them by the laws. This principal means they have the right to be educated and to participate in regular classrooms with their non- disabled typical classmates as much as possible.
Parents have important rights.
They are equal members with professionals on the educational team. In order for a child to receive special education services, an individualized educational plan must be written for that child. Much to our surprise, we've learned that Chapter 766 laws protect children and parents. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for parents to become familiarized with these regulations. To help us, we were introduced to a child advocate from the Federation for Children with Special Needs.