There is a huge strain on families with disabilities to pay for independent evaluations, private educational services, advocates, and attorneys so their children can be educated. Our family has been there and had to do that with multiple children and it had been a huge economic sacrifice. We do what we can, but the resistance to educate children with disabilities is constantly there and it is not only a struggle to get an IEP just to have services not be provided.

For a public school system that has failed to close the achievement gap, I often wonder if the underlying reason is the denial of FAPE for students with disabilities. Families with means supplement - which is not a free education but at least it’s an education.

Anonymous wrote:Any recommendations for someone who helps you figure our the resources available for my child? He has ADHD and is now is newly diagnosed as on the spectrum but high functioning and at grade level academically.

Thank you so much. I posted in special needs as well.

Rich Weinfeld has been our education advocate for years (since DS was in 1st grade; and he’s in 5th grade now). He was the former Director of the Twice Exceptional program of MCPS. I highly recommend him.

One thing to remember though, even with a great IEP, parents should get help for their kids outside of what the school can offer. My son goes to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (and has had occupational therapy as well) and he also goes to two supplemental classes in math and language arts so he’d be challenged.