Education Team

Ann Siegel

Who Are We

• The Education Team works to ensure that children with disabilities throughout Florida receive free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environments.

Who Do We Assist

• Our services are provided for children with developmental disabilities and other physical, emotional, and/or intellectual disabilities.

Advocacy

• We advocate for children to receive the necessary accommodations, services, and supports mandated by federal and state law, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA).

What We Do

• The Education Team provides individual case advocacy for students with disabilities, including representation at Individual Education Plan (IEP) meetings, mediations, and/or administrative hearings when needed.

What We Do

• We also provide systemic or public policy advocacy, community education, and outreach, technical assistance to other service providers, information, and referrals to individuals, self-advocacy support, and other services.

What We Do

• In addition, the Education Team works closely with the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) on administrative rule-making and other policies pertaining to the education of children with disabilities.

What We Do

• We also collaborate with many other Florida and national agencies and organizations involved in disability rights and children’s advocacy.

Services

• Services from the Education Team can include short-term assistance, technical assistance, and information and referral services.

• The level of service is based on the issues and concerns surrounding the case and the parent/legal guardian’s specific request for assistance.

Education Team

• The Education Team is comprised of advocates and attorneys.

• Each case is reviewed individually for representation.

FAPE

• Free and appropriate public education.

• All children are entitled to a FAPE.

• To the maximum extent appropriate all children with disabilities should be educated with their non-disabled peers. (least restrictive environment).

Educational Planning

• Education decisions made on behalf of the child can alter the rest of the child’s life.

• For example, changing a child to a special diploma can limit the child’s educational and employment opportunities.

Educational Surrogate

• 20 U.S.C. §1415 (b)(A)(i) The judge over seeing the child’s case may appoint an educational surrogate to oversee and make educational decisions on behalf of the child in the dependency system.

Educational Surrogate

• A Surrogate shall not be an employee of the state educational agency, the local educational agency, or any other agency involved in the education or care of the child.

• A Guardian Ad Litem can be an Educational Surrogate.

Contact Information

• Disability Rights Florida

• 850.488.9071

• 800.342.0823

• TDD 800.346.4127

• Fax 850.488.9071

• www.DisabilityRightsFlorida.org