The Office of Civil Rights recently sent letters out to districts across the country regarding how schools define which children have disabilities and how they provide support and assistance to those students.
Guidance Memos
In the not so distant past, a letter such as this guidance letter from OCR one would be sent to districts, who would copy it and send it on to their Directors of Special Education and Principals. Who might add it to their monthly staff meeting discussions. Copies would also be sent out to Parent Training and Information Centers, who would add a blurb in their monthly or quarterly newsletter. And finally, it would be linked to on the US Dept of Education website.
Social Media
Today, however, that same letter has been blogged, tweeted, and Facebooked multiple times. And this is the second go around for this particular letter! That means that not only is the letter reaching those who are in administration and teaching, and those who are funded to help families with children with disabilities, but also, one can only hope the message is reaching regular folk!
Is there a down-side?
Well, as the article points out the National Association of School Boards is concerned that parent organizations will disseminate the letter, leading to increased parents requesting accommodations. But, perhaps, what it will mean is a move to create a real continuum that includes fully implement RTI (response to intervention), 504 plans and IEPs? Perhaps the move by the University of Florida to merge it's special education and general education programs into one program, that insures that all teachers graduate with a foundation in both disciplines will be implemented elsewhere. In the meantime, I don't see a downside to districts being reminded that just a child who has a prosthetic limb is still a child with a disability who may need a 504 or IEP plan.
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