Advocating for African American families with children who learn differently.
Psychologists: Accessing Special Education Services Under IDEA
Before a child with a disability can receive special education and related services for the first time, a full and individual initial evaluation of the child, must be conducted. Informed parent consent is required before this evaluation may be conducted. There are at least two ways in which your child may be selected to receive an evaluation:
You may request that your child be evaluated. You can call or write to your child's teacher, the principal of your child's school, or the director of special education in your school district. If the public agency suspects that your child has a disability, your child must be evaluated at no cost to you. If the public agency refuses to evaluate your child because it does not believe that your child has a disability, you must be given a written notice of refusal and a full explanation of the reasons for the refusal. Under IDEA, you have the right to request mediation or challenge the public agency's refusal through a due process hearing.
The public agency may ask to evaluate your child. Based on a teacher's recommendation, or observations or results from tests given to all children in a particular grade, a public agency may recommend that a child receive further screening or assessment (at no cost to you) to determine if he or she has a disability and needs special education and related services. You, as a parent must give informed written permission before the public agency may continue to pursue the evaluation by using due process or mediation procedures, unless doing so is inconsistent with State law.
Upon completing the administration of tests and other evaluation materials, a group of qualified professionals and you, the parents, must determine whether or not your child is a "child with a disability," as defined by federal special education law and local policy, and whether your child needs special education and related services. This determination will be made based on the results of your child's evaluation and information from a variety of sources, including aptitude and achievement tests, parent input, teacher recommendations, and your child's physical condition, social or cultural background, and adaptive behavior.
If the evaluation results indicate that your child meets the definition of one or more of the disabilities listed under IDEA and needs special education and related services, the results will form the basis for developing your child's Individualized Education Program. If you, as parents of a child with a disability, disagree with the results of your child's evaluation as obtained by the public agency, you have the right to obtain what is known as an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE). An IEE means an evaluation conducted by a qualified examiner who is not employed by the public agency responsible for the education of your child. If you ask for an IEE, the public agency must provide you with, among other things, information about where an IEE may be obtained.
Although the AACLD does not make recommendations or provide endorsements for psychological testing services, the following information is provided as a source for parent review in searching for these types of services in your community. To narrow the field of psychologists being searched, you should ask if the psychologist you are contacting conducts testing for children with learning problems and what his/her experience with schools has been. Click on one or more of the following:
National Association of School Psychologists Lists state associations on its website that may be able to help identify psychologists in private practice who conduct testing for children experiencing problems in school.
American Psychological Association Provides a locator to find a psychologist in a specific area. A referral can also be obtained by calling 1-800-964-2000.
One of the best ways to identify a psychologist is through a referral from a friend who has had a good experience with someone in the field on a similar issue. Also, check to see what resources might be available at any universities or colleges in or near your community. The AACLD is also gathering information on educational testing services.
