StarVista’s Child and Parent Services (CAPS) Special Needs Group
Guest Blog 2022
StarVista’s Child and Parent Services (CAPS) is available to any family with a child 0-17 living in Redwood City, East Palo Alto, San Mateo, Half Moon Bay, Montara, El Granada, Moss Beach, San Bruno, South San Francisco, and Daly City. The focus of the program is on reducing caregiver stress through a strength-based and short-term approach.
Child and Parent Services (CAPS) is also available to any child 0-17 that has experienced a crime or abuse and/or neglect that lives in San Mateo County. The program aims to provide services that will provide support to victims and their families. All services are available in the family’s home, virtually, or in their community.
CAPS recently started a virtual parent group series for Parents/Caregivers with special needs, with the goal to educate parents on how to teach parents/caregivers how to manage the School District when there is disagreement, what to expect from GGRC, and how to apply, How to apply for IHSS benefits and what to do if the application has been rejected, and have knowledge of the Rights for Children with Special Need and when to seek Legal advice. Attendees can expect to learn about new topics related to mental health, child education, parental/caregiver stress, childhood development, and more. Each month, CAPS welcomes a special guest speaker that shares their expertise in supporting parents/caregivers, children, and families. One guest speaker that focuses on advocacy for children with special needs is Jennifer Chang, Educational Rights Attorney, who shares information about District Assessments, IEEs, and key takeaways during her presentations.
Here are some questions Jennifer answers during her presentations:
What are school district assessments and their purpose?
Their purpose is to determine whether the student qualifies for special education services. Assessments are to assist the Individualized Education Program (IEP), determine the student’s strengths and weaknesses, what kind of services the child needs, and what areas goals need to be drafted. It further helps the IEP team determine whether the intervention the district has been providing, helping the student make progress.
What is an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE)?
Typically, public schools in the United States evaluate a student with special needs to determine the appropriate placement and educational plan for them, providing that student with a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). Sometimes, parents disagree with the school’s evaluation of their child.
When this happens, parents may be entitled to request an Independent Educational Evaluation, an IEE. This is an independent evaluation of the student with special needs that is conducted by a neutral third-party assessor not affiliated with the school district. A school does not necessarily have to adopt the results of IEEs, but it does have to consider them, and the evaluation does go on a student’s permanent record.
The Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) legally gives parents the right to request that the school district fund the IEE. Schools in the US are also legally required to provide information on how parents can obtain an IEE. Even so, the process can feel overwhelming for many.
What is a key takeaway for parents/caregivers that attend a CAPS group?
To gain valuable knowledge. Knowledge is power and unless parents are aware of their rights they cannot adequately advocate for their children. Not only do you learn a specific topic, but during these presentations, many parents share their personal stories, and this is a great way to learn as parents can understand how the topic/area of law is applied in real-life situations.
Jennifer Chang is an Education Rights Attorney who fights for children with special needs to get them the education and services they are entitled to by law. These students and their families are the heart of Jennifer’s practice, and she has worked tirelessly over the last decade to bring them the same educational opportunities and chances given to any other student in the American school system.
StarVista’s CAPS program hosts virtual groups for parents/caregivers every month. Follow StarVista on Facebook to be notified of upcoming classes. All virtual groups are free to attend!
Learn more about StarVista’s Child and Parent Services program here.
