New CEC Resource Available on IDEA Part C Regulations
Posted Wednesday, May 23, 2007 by ecac
CEC (The Council for Exceptional Children) together with its Division on Early Childhood (DEC) and the Infant and Toddler Coordinators Association (ITCA) have developed a new resource to help readers understand the IDEA Part C proposed regulations, released by the U.S. Department of Education on May 9. This side-by-side comparison of the current IDEA Part C regulations to the 2007 proposed Part C regulations is intended to serve as a tool to assist readers in preparing their own analysis related to the Part C proposed regulations.

The side-by-side comparison can be found at: http://www.cec.sped.org/Content/NavigationMenu/PolicyAdvocacy/IDEAResources/ideapartc.htm

Regulations for Part C of IDEA '04 ( Early Intervention ) released for comment!
Posted Wednesday, May 23, 2007 by ecac
As required by IDEA '04, the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for the IDEA Part C Regulations has been published in the Federal Register. Part C covers infants and toddlers birth to 3. The proposed regulations can be found at: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/07-2140.htm

The public now has the opportunity to provide comments and input to the U.S. Department of Education on the proposed regulations during a 75-day public comment period. The close of that 75-day period will be July 23, 2007.

The dates and locations of the public meetings have also been announced:

June 4, 2007, 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Portland, Oregon
June 6, 2007, 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
June 11, 2007, 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Indianapolis, Indiana
June 14, 2007, 3:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Washington, DC

Comments are due July 23rd and can be submitted by hand delivery, mail, or through the eRulemaking portal. Comments submitted by fax or email will not be accepted. To submit your comments electronically: go to www.regulations.gov , select "Department of Education" from the agency dropdown menu, and click "Submit." On the next page, click the Document ID next to "Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers With Disabilities." All comments (regardless of how they were submitted) will be available for public viewing at this site with contact information included.

Parents of Disabled Child Win Ruling
Posted Wednesday, May 23, 2007 by ecac
High Court Says They Don't Need Lawyer to Sue Over Special-Ed Needs
By Robert Barnes
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 22, 2007; Page A03


The Supreme Court ruled yesterday that parents of disabled children do not have to hire lawyers to sue school districts when they attempt to ensure that their children's special needs are adequately met.

The court found that the federal Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which guarantees children a "free appropriate public education," gives rights to parents as well. Parents may represent themselves in federal court when disputes arise between them and a school district over what is best for the child, the court held.

Sandee Winkelman and husband Jeff, back right, sued the Parma, Ohio, school district on behalf of their autistic son, Jacob. "It is not a novel proposition to say that parents have a recognized legal interest in the education and upbringing of their child," Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote in an opinion joined by six of his colleagues.

Justice Antonin Scalia, joined by Justice Clarence Thomas, wrote separately to say the majority's view of parents' rights under the law was too "sweeping." Scalia said the law gives parents a more limited ability to sue -- for instance, to seek reimbursement for enrolling a child in a private school.

The decision could allow more parents unhappy with education plans drawn up for their children by school districts to sue for changes.

Some parents of disabled children contend that it is expensive and often difficult to find lawyers who will take such cases.

That was the experience of Jeff and Sandee Winkelman, who sued the Parma, Ohio, school district on behalf of their autistic son, Jacob. The Winkelmans said they could not afford an attorney to continue their dispute with the school board over its decision that Jacob's needs could be met in a public school.

Federal courts generally allow individuals to represent themselves -- but not others -- without the aid of a lawyer. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit dismissed the Winkelmans' appeal on behalf of Jacob unless they obtained counsel to represent their son. That was the decision reversed by the Supreme Court yesterday.

The majority said a comprehensive reading of the act makes it clear that parents have rights at each stage of the process and thus may represent themselves in federal court.

"The parents enjoy enforceable rights at the administrative stage, and it would be inconsistent with the statutory scheme to bar them from continuing to assert these rights in federal court," Kennedy wrote.

****************************************************************************************

UNC Autism Research Program Current Research Opportunities
Posted Tuesday, April 24, 2007 by ecac
The University of NC Chapel is conducting several research programs involving:
1. Boys with developmental delays between the ages of 18-41 months and
2. Sibilings of children with Autism - newborn - 12 months old

For more information, please call 1-800-793-5715 or click HERE or via email at : autismresearch@med.unc.edu

___________________________________________________________________________________