When your child has special needs when it comes to education, it is often left to you to work with the school and make sure those needs are met. For some parents, this process goes smoothly. The school is understanding towards the child's needs and is willing to take feedback from the parents into account. However, the communication does not always flow this well. Some parents run into trouble when it comes to working with the school to meet their child's special education needs. In that case, contacting a special education lawyer is usually the best choice. Here are four signs you need to call a lawyer about your child's educational situation.
1. The school refuses to meet with you.
The school administrators must be willing to meet with parents to discuss their children's goals, progress, and personalized education plans. If the school is outright denying you a meeting, then you need to get a lawyer involved. This may also be the case if the school is trying to manipulate you into not meeting with them. For instance, if they assert that they only take meetings on Wednesdays even though you have made it very clear that you cannot meet on Wednesdays, you should call a lawyer.
2. The school has not made changes that they promised to make.
If the school agreed to make certain changes to your child's educational program and failed to actually make those changes, then you need legal assistance. For instance, if the administrators agreed to have an aide sit with your child in math, but it has been three weeks, and an aid has still not been provided, then the school is not holding up their end of the agreement, and they need to be held accountable.
3. The school refuses to listen to your requests.
As a parent, you do have a say in how your child is educated. If the school refuses to heed your input and simply insists that they know best, you may have a case against the school. You should certainly have a lawyer look into the circumstances of the case, sooner rather than later, so that you can regain some control over your child's education.
4. Your child is being abused or mistreated.
If you feel that your child is being abused or mistreated by school staff due to his or her special education needs, then call a lawyer and also call the police immediately. Stop sending your child to school unless your lawyer tells you otherwise.
