All children begin learning about life through the education process. Going to school is often a challenge for a child with an intellectual or developmental disability. The Arc strives to make this “seemingly natural” step less difficult for everyone to face. Inclusion in a regular classroom has been proven to have a noticeable positive effect on the self-esteem of a child with an intellectual or developmental disability. The Arc of Fort Bend supports parents in their efforts to include their children in the classroom and in extra-curricular activities, as appropriate. The Arc works with schools, principals & teachers to develop plans that will benefit students.
The Arc’s Education Advocate’s responsibilities include:
- Providing resource and referral information to parents.
- Facilitating parent training on topics related to Special Education. (Assisting parents with Admission Review or Dismissal (ARD) meeting preparations.)
- Facilitating activities that provide “networking” opportunities for parents of school aged children.
IDEA, The Manual for Parents and Students about Special Education Services in Texas, 2016 is the newest version of what has become known as The IDEA Manual. The 2016 IDEA Manual is a valuable resource for families learning about the Texas special education system and is available in both English and Spanish on The Arc of Fort Bend’s website, The Arc of Texas’ website www.thearcoftexas.org and at Disability Rights Texas website. The manual can be downloaded and used by anyone.
The manual incorporates Federal and state laws including, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) last reauthorized in 2004, current Federal regulations and current state laws through the 2011 Texas legislative session. We direct readers to the TEA web site, www.tea.state.tx.us/special.ed for the most up to date state rules and TEA Guidance documents.