Special Needs Students Need Extra Planning Published May 3, 2007 POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Editor's note: This is the fourth article of a four part series providing advice and direction to parents on issues related to permanent change of station moves and school relocation for their children. While preparation is key to successful transition of military children to new schools, it's critical that parents of students with disabilities ensure their records are up to date. A military child with disabilities faces unique challenges after a move regarding appropriate accommodations and finding programs to meet certain disability requirements. If your child is receiving services, parental knowledge and advocacy can be a significant issue during relocation and there are several long term and short term steps that should be taken to insure successful relocations for your child. Parents should keep an active file of all their children's special education paperwork. This file should contain copies of past and current reviews, progress reports or any evaluations conducted (cognitive speech, OT, PT, etc.). The file should also contain functional assessments, behavior improvement plans, related medical evaluations or services and copies of most recent medical records, results of any vision or hearing assessments, current progress reports and report cards, and placement paperwork documenting decisions from previous schools. This folder needs to be hand-carried by parents during any PCS move so all information will be readily available at the new school. Prior to relocating, parents may want to meet with personnel at the current school to discuss the progress the child has made since the last review. If a student is within two or three months of annual or triennial review, we recommend that the school conduct these meetings prior to the PCS. This ensures those who have the most knowledge of the student develop a review which will carry the student forward for the next year. The receiving school still mat have to modify the review process. Ask for written suggestions that may help your child and staff at the new school. It may also be appropriate to contact the local special education or exceptional children's personnel at the new location prior to the move and request assistance as to what should be done before the transition. Be sure to take any special equipment and refill medication prescriptions that your child may need for the next few months. When you go to enroll in a new school system, keep in mind special education eligibility and services under IDEA can vary between military and civilian schools. When you enroll at a new school, your child's current assessment will be initially serviced or provided as practically as possible. The new school, whether military or civilian, may need to conduct new evaluations to determine eligibility, appropriate accommodations, placement, and services based upon their own regulations, guidelines and eligibility criteria. Additional discussion of advocacy issues for parents of children with special needs is available through Web sites such as Specialized Training of Military Parents, www.stompproject.org/ and the DOD Special Needs Parent Toolkit available at the Military HomeFront Web site, www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/. (Courtesy of Pope School Liasion Officer.)