North County Health Nuggets

The Importance of Special Education

Public schools across the country provide special education services to more than 7.5 million students with disabilities, about 15 percent of all public-school students. These services are available in both public and private schools. Special education is not just about teachers and classrooms—it is about teamwork.

A child’s support team may include teachers, school staff, physicians, public health professionals, physical, occupational, and speech therapists, counselors and mental health professionals, school nurses, and—most importantly—the student and their parents or guardians. Working together helps ensure that each child receives the support they need to succeed.

As a parent or caregiver, it is normal to have questions or concerns when beginning this process—or even later on Parents are often the first to notice when something does not seem quite right. Some signs that a child may have a learning disability include:

• Difficulty reading or writing
• Trouble with math
• Poor memory
• Difficulty paying attention
• Trouble following directions
• Difficulty telling time
• Problems staying organized

A child with a learning disability may also:

• Act without thinking about the consequences
• “Act out” at school or in social situations
• Have trouble pronouncing words or expressing thoughts clearly
• Speak like a younger child or use short, simple sentences
• Struggle with changes in routine or schedule
• Have difficulty understanding words or concepts

It is important to remember that all children may show some of these behaviors at times, and this does not always mean there is a problem. To determine whether a child qualifies for special education services, the school must take two steps. First, they determine whether the child has a disability covered under special education laws. Second, they determine whether the disability affects learning enough to require special education services. Your local public-school district manages this process, and a simple phone call to your school can help you connect with the right person.

Resources:
Eligibility: Determining Whether a Child Is Eligible for Special Education Services – Learning Disabilities Association of America
Signs of Learning Disabilities – NICHD, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development-Student Success | NEA

Submitted by: North Country Community Health Services and Beltrami County Community Health Services- www.ncchb.org or www.co.beltrami.mn.us/services/public-health/ or find us on Facebook-North Country Community Health Services

(Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard and Lake of the Woods Public Health)