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Who do I call if I have concerns about my child's development or learning?
What is an IEP?
What is a 504 plan?
What if I disagree with an IEP team decision?


Who do I call if I have concerns about my child's development or learning?
    If you have concerns about your child's development it is a good idea to discuss these concerns with your child's pediatrician also a referral can be made by parents or others to:

• The Infants and Toddlers Program (birth to age 3)--  410-313-7017
• Childfind if the child is age (ages 3-5)-- 410-313-7046
• Your child's school (if the child is school aged) --Parents should write a letter to the school principal or special education team leader requesting a meeting to discuss concerns and discuss the need for assessments.

What is Special Education? 
The term ‘special education’ means specially designed instruction, at no cost to parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability.  The law is clear that special education is not a place but a service and that service can be delivered in a variety of settings.

What is an IEP?
An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a written statement of the educational program designed to meet the child's unique needs.  Every child who receives special education services must have an IEP.  The purposes of an IEP are to create reasonable learning goals for the child and to state the services that will be provided to attain those goals.

Each child's IEP must contain specific information, as listed within IDEA (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), our nation's special education law. This includes (but is not limited to):

• the child's present levels of academic achievement and functional performance, describing how the child is currently doing in school and how the child’s disability affects his or her involvement and progress in the general curriculum
• annual goals for the child, meaning what parents and the school team think he or she can reasonably accomplish in a year
• the special education and related services to be provided to the child, including supplementary aids and services (such as a communication device) and changes to the program or supports for school personnel
• how much of the school day the child will be educated separately from nondisabled children or not participate in extracurricular or other nonacademic activities such as lunch or clubs
• how  the child is to participate in state and district-wide assessments, including what modifications to tests the child needs
• when services and modifications will begin, how often they will be provided, where they will be provided, and how long they will last
• how school personnel will measure the child’s progress toward the annual goals.

  What is a 504 plan?
A 504 Plan outlines the accommodations and services to be provided to a child who qualifies as having a mental or physical disability that substantially limits one or more life activities as defined under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. These accommodations ensure that a student has access to the academic curriculum and extra curricular programs and activities. Section 504 does not allow for changes to curriculum. The 504 Plan should be reviewed and revised regularly to ensure that the child’s needs are being met.  Some common accommodations are: extra time for assignments, extra time on tests, reduced workload, frequent breaks, preferential seating, reduction of distraction, use of a scribe, use/access to computer, screen readers.  This list is in no way exhaustive or a menu.  Accommodations should be based on the needs of the individual student.