Kids with delayed skills or other disabilities might be eligible
for special services that provide individualized education
programs in public schools, free of charge to families.
Understanding how to access these services can help parents be
effective advocates for their kids. The passage of the updated
version of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA
2004) made parents of kids with special needs even more crucial
members of their child's education team. Parents can now work
with educators to develop a plan — the individualized education
program (IEP) — to help kids succeed in school. The IEP
describes the goals the team sets for a child during the school
year, as well as any special support needed to help achieve
them. Who Needs an IEP? A child who has difficulty learning and
functioning and has been identified as a special needs student
is the perfect candidate for an IEP. Kids struggling in school
may qualify for support services, allowing them to be taught in
a special way, for reasons su