Expert: Tim Runner - 10/10/2010

Question
at my son's iep meeting i was told his main issue is his need to focus when the teacher is teaching the entire classroom. the teacher says he does well when things are taught to him one on one but when it comes to teaching him with the whole class he is not able to stay focused. the teacher says he seems to lose interest and dazes off. i'm requesting for a one to one aide for him. what criteria needs to be met in order to qualify for a one to one aide?

Answer
Maria,

Because one-to-one aides are expensive to school districts, they often fight to keep from having to provide one. Unfortunately, they often provide aides to students that are disruptive rather than those that need one to help with attention and learning.

I assume your son qualifies under the special education category of "Autism" and that he is being taught in a special day class with other Autistic students? If so, there should already be some aides in the class room. The school may say these aides are try to help him.

Unfortunately, the law does not specify a specific criteria for when a student should have an aide. This makes it more difficult to get one. You are taking the necessary first step by asking for one in his IEP. If the school refuses, then you need to rule out other possible causes of his inattentiveness. Does he take any medications that might make him sleepy? Is the material being taught too difficult or too easy for him? Have they moved his desk close to the teacher's desk? Is he getting enough sleep at home? The reason you have to rule out these possibilities, is to be able to take your fight to the next level, a filing for Due Process. This is a time consuming process where parents either have to hire an advocate or lawyer, or they represent themselves (in these cases, parents loose much of the time because they are going up against the district's lawyers). In hearing, the district will claim that one or more of these items are the real cause of his dozing and inattentiveness.

It really helps that his teacher has made the statement she made, but you should still expect an uphill battle.

I wish you and your son the best,
Tim Runner, Advocate
Advocates for Kids
Email: timrunner@cox.net
Phone: (949) 582-3601
You can learn more at my web site:
www.special-education-answers.com