Friday, November 23, 2007

Special Needs Children Need a Choice

Currently, there is no cure for pervasive developmental disorders (PDD). However, there are treatments, such as certain types of medication to address specific behavioral issues as well as therapy specialized to fit the child. In addition to medication and therapy, children with a PDD may need additional education requirements.

The public education system may try to help those with special needs, but they may not be able to do so. Some states have enacted laws that allow parents of special needs children to make a choice for their child’s education.

Missouri has about 4,200 known cases of young people with a PDD. Many of these children are not receiving a free appropriate public education (FAPE), which the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) says they must. Parents of a special needs child need an avenue to change schools if their child is not receiving a quality education. It is not a one size fits all equation. Each child has his/her special requirements and we need to strive to meet those. By not allowing a child to move schools, we are depriving that child of a chance --- a chance that we should all have.

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