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Hello, everyone. My name is Joyce Ridgeway and I am so excited to be with you today. I want to thank Julie and the entire Exceptional Lives team for inviting me.
My assignment today is to answer questions that you have submitted, so here we go. The first question says:
How should I choose which school would be best for my child? (H2)
You can choose the school of your own choosing based on your own criteria, because whichever school you choose, you’re gonna go in, you’re gonna ask them questions, find out if they have the services that your child needs. But if they don’t, under IDEA, which is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, you have the right to require them to get whatever your child needs at that school because that is the school that they’ll be attending.
The community schools, or public schools, as we call them, will already provide Speech, [OT Occupational Therapy], PT [Physical Therapy], and in-class instruction with supporting staff. Your child will be able to receive those services from Pre-K3 all the way through 12th grade, okay?
Remember, if they don’t have what you need, you can require them to obtain it. It’s the law. It’s your child’s right. Every child is entitled to a good education. [H2]
And in order for your child to get the education that they need, they will have to get whatever is needed for your child at that school that you choose. So you choose the school that works best for you, closest to where you work, closest to your home, which one has what your child needs, and make sure that if they don’t have it, they get it. I hope that this has been helpful to you. You have a great day.
