Special Education Law Blog

The Not So Neutral Effect of the End of Net Neutrality On Our Schools

The current round of tax "overhaul" legislation and repeal of net neutrality rules will have wide ranging and mostly negative effective on students with disabilities. This blog is the first in a series of blogs on the effects of these legal changes on students and others with disabilities. On December 14, 2017, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to repeal an Obama-era regulation that ensured net neutrality.  The Restoring Internet Freedom Order, which had been implemented in 2015 to prevent the blocking, throttling, or paid prioritization of content on the internet, was designed to ensure that use of the internet was a right and not a privilege. The effects of the net neutrality repeal have left many educators and advocates deeply concerned about its impact on education, both at the K-12 level as well as higher level education.  Shockingly, the FCC itself appeared to have not weighed these considerations.  Several senators noted by letter prior to the December 14^th vote that the 210-page proposal from the FCC never even mentioned the word “student” or “students.”

Schools Must Ensure that Web-based Content is Accessible

The issue of accessibility of web-based content is fairly new, given that the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 pre-date the internet boom and the growth of innumerable emerging technologies that school districts are rapidly incorporating into their educational programs today. But as more and more schools adopt online learning, as enrollment in virtual schools increases, and as complaints from students with disabilities escalate, it is becomingly increasingly clear that schools need to determine the accessibility of new technologies before their adoption. Accessibility should not be an afterthought.

Virtual Schooling Needs to Be Adapted for Students with Special Needs

Many of the same obstacles that exist in traditional bricks and mortar classrooms, are carried over to the virtual or e-learning environment. Given tight budgets and other constraints, virtual learning will have greater appeal to school districts,  but it is not a easy fit for many students with special needs. Critical technological, accessibility and curricular issues need to be worked out.  While I am a big proponent of technology, I have not yet found the virtual learning world to be a good fit for my son and many of the students I represent.  The following blog post is review of some of the current research and issues that pertain to virtual learning.

Brain Interface Controlling Computers

While I am not ready to start implanting electrodes into my brain to speed up my slow typing or to assist my son's computer interface, technology is advancing that would make brain-based control of the computer a reality. Here is a current article on new advances in brain interface control of the computer.

Apple Highlighting Disability Apps

Apple is spotlighting the increasing number of apps meant for  individuals with special needs with a featured special education section in its App Store. The section titled “Special Education” launched late last week and includes 72 applications for the iPhone and 13 applications for the iPad in 10 categories ranging from communication to emotional development and life skills, according to Trudy Muller, an Apple spokeswoman.

These apps can be used on all Apple products including the iPad which is increasingly being used in the school setting. These applications in conjunction with the devices themselves increase student's abilities to communicate and access the curriculum and make the meaningful progress intended by IDEA. 

Location App to Keep Students Safe and Sound

AbleLink Technologies today announced the release of Community Sidekick, an innovative iPhone application designed for individuals with special needs who wish to provide automated location updates to friends and family members as they travel in the community. Sidekick can provide travelers that sense of security that comes from knowing "someone is watching over you," as well as peace of mind to their caregivers.

 

New Application for Apple Products Tries to Protect Students from Sexting

This fall Apple started to develop a technology that could help prevent sexting . This technology would allow parents to block incoming or outgoing texts containing certain words. Considering the recent incidents of sexting in the news, this would allow parents to put up one more line of defense against sexting. 

 

The Virtual Future of Special Education

The world continues to get smaller thanks to technology and the special education world is no exception. From specialists using video conferencing to touch base with clients to students using technology to express themselves, the possibilities seem to be endless.

 Recently in Washington, a school district used technology to discuss a student with selective mutism. The insight and knowledge that school personnel was able to attain would not have been possible without the technological advances. Students can also get evaluated and even receive therapy virtually. The growing access to early diagnoses and intervention will help students all over the county.

 These advances can also provide access to education for students who are unable to attend school due to health issues or other reasons. One of the most widely used practices of videoconferencing for special needs students is connecting students from remote locations to the classroom.

 

New I-Phone Application, IEP Checklist, A Great Tool for Parents by Nicole T. Jorwic

Going into an IEP meeting can be an intimidating thing for any parent, even when they have an attorney or advocate in their corner. Feeling that you are on a level playing field with the school could provide peace of mind.  The new I-phone application, the IEP checklist, would provide that peace of mind. The application was created by the Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center, a Virginia center that’s part of a national network of special education parent information and training centers funded by the Department of Education. This new app is so cool and should justify the purchase of an I-phone, if just for the look on the school personnel and their attorneys faces.

This application allows you to look up everything from notification time requirements, to scientifically-based research, and it leads you to a brief description and lists the section of the IDEA that addresses each issue. This is a great tool to balance the powers between the school districts and families. The application allows you to take notes under each section to keep your thoughts organized. You can also save your notes in the application in order to refer back to them at another time or at the next IEP meeting.  Next we need a goal writing app and apps for literature that applies to your child's/client's disability.  School districts that would take advantage of unsuspecting parents have been fairly warned that parents are now fully loaded with the law for their next meeting.

Live Binder of AT Resources

Among the things you can never have enough of is information and resources on AT. Here is a great resource in a format called Live Binder , that until now I was unaware of and could be a great modality for classrooms and other settings.