Parents urged to demand special education services
September 27, 2010 in Special Needs News by Admin Dawn
Christina Parra’s 2-year-old son was diagnosed with autism in Albuquerque earlier this year. When she returned to Las Cruces, there were few resources to turn to for help, she said.
“We really felt like there was no where for us to go,” Parra said.
“If parents have a gut feeling that something is going on with their child, be persistent, and don’t let professionals brush them off and say they will grow out of it. I hear that a lot,” Parra said. “If parents and grandparents are concerned, find someone who will listen.”
By federal law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 requires that special education services are provided at no cost to families. Approximately 10 percent of students in the U.S. are identified as having a disability and a majority of these 6.5 million students receive instruction in general education classroom settings with the assistance of specially trained teachers, said Anne Gallegos, department head of New Mexico State University’s Special Education and Communication Disorders program.
Read more here: Parents urged to demand special education services – Las Cruces Sun-News.
