Special Education

Parents & Families

Mason-Lake ISD PARENT RIGHTS HANDBOOK        March 2003 Version

OVERVIEW

Parents or any other interested party may contact the Mason-Lake ISD at 231.757.3716 to obtain a copy of this Procedural Safeguards document and Parent Handbook. 

General Policies:

*Special education services are to be provided to all children with disabilities from ages 0 through 26, as long as they have not graduated.

*State and Federal Laws guarantee a Free and Appropriate Education (FAPE) to all identified handicapped students.

*The Intermediate School District, in cooperation with your local district, must develop a state approved plan that outlines the programs and services for all handicapping conditions.  This plan is available at your local or ISD Superintendent’s office or at the Special Education Office at the ISD for your review.

*The Mason-Lake ISD believes that all children should have the opportunity to be educated together, regardless of handicapping condition, in the school he or she would attend if not handicapped unless otherwise determined appropriate through the IEP process.

 The following is a list of Special Education Disability eligibility areas as defined by applicable State and Federal laws and regulations.

• Autism
• Cognitively Impaired (CI)
• Emotionally Impaired (EI)
• Hearing Impaired (HI)
• Learning Disabled (LD)
• Physically Impaired (PI)
• Otherwise Health Impaired (OHI)
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Early Childhood Developmental Delay (ECDD)
• Speech and Language Impaired (SLI)
• Severely Multiply Impaired (SXI)
• Visually Impaired  (VI)

The following is a list of related services provided by the Mason-Lake ISD.

• Early-On Services
• Homebound and Hospitalized Services
• Occupational Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• School Social Work Services
• School Psychological Services
• Speech and Language Services
• Teacher Consultants (LD, EI, VI, HI,  and Autism)

SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS
(available within the Mason-Lake ISD)

If a program or service is not available within a local school district, they may make arrangements with a neighboring school district to provide the programs or services.  Other services may be contracted.

Where Can Parents Contact Local or ISD Superintendents?

Where Can Parents Get Additional Assistance and Help?

• Closer Look (National Information Center for the Handicapped,  Box 1492, Washington DC)
• Project Find (Mott Children’s Health Center, 806 W. 6^th Ave.  Flint, Mi.  48503  1-800-572-6955)
• Michigan Protection & Advocacy Service  (106 W. Allegan Suite 210, Lansing, Mi.  1-800-292-5923)
• Michigan Dept. of Ed. Office of Special Education and Early Intervention Service (Davenport Building, PO Box 30008,  Lansing, Mi. 48909  1-517-373-0923)
• Citizens Alliance to Uphold Special Education (CAUSE)  (3303 W. Saginaw, Suite D-1,  Lansing, Mi. 48917   1-800-221-2304)
• Civil Rights Commission   (2542 Peck St.   Muskegon Heights, Mi.  49440   1-616-739-7168)
• Other agencies and contacts may be obtained by calling the Mason-Lake ISD special education office at 231.757.3716.

PARENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (PAC)

The Mason-Lake ISD-wide Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) is a group of parents of handicapped students who live within the local constituent districts. 

• All PAC members are responsible to advise on matters relating to special education programs and services.  Members then report back to their local districts.
• The PAC has an active role in the development of the Mason-Lake ISD mandatory Special Education Plan.
• The PAC discusses items such as waivers and deviations from the Plan prior to applying for approval of these waivers or deviations to the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Special Education.
• The PAC provides a forum for all parents and interested parties for sharing information, ideas, concerns, suggestions, and support.  The PAC may be involved in providing in-service training and presentations for other parents.
• The Mason-Lake local chapter of the PAC is represented by the Statewide Parent Advisory Committee.
• Parents are welcome to attend PAC meetings.  Please call the ISD for time and location at 231.757.3716. Parents are welcome to contact your local PAC representative for assistance and support.   For further information about who the PAC representatives and officers are for this current school year, please contact the ISD special education office.

LINK TO PROCEDURAL SAFEGUARDS:

MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION:  Office of Special Education and Early Intervention Services

http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,1607,7-140-5235_6785_6786---,00.html