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 rulemaking 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
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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
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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
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Disability Rights Florida
850.488.9071
800.342.0823
TDD 800.346.4127
Fax 850.488.9071
www.DisabilityRightsFlorida.org