Rhode Island Special Ed Families Invited To Online Forum

WARWICK, RI — Parents of special needs students across Rhode Island are invited to an online meeting where three state representatives will describe bills they have introduced that are designed to strengthen access to special education.

Rep. Terri Cortvriend, Rep. Lauren H. Carson and Rep. Julie A. Casimiro will host the community forum on Monday, March 8, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. They say the meeting was arranged in conjunction with Arc of Rhode Island, an organization working with Rhode Island parents seeking appropriate special education services for their children.

In a media release, the three said the meeting will offer an opportunity to discuss the proposed legislation and provide feedback. Those who wish to attend may visit https://conta.cc/2NLpa7W.

The three bills are as follows:

2021-H 5833 — Sponsored by Rep. Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport), this bill creates an ombudsman for special education — independent of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education — to ensure school districts meet the minimum standards required to comply with individualized education programs for students with disabilities. The ombudsman's office would provide parents and teachers a place to bring up possible violations by districts and RIDE without the need to hire a lawyer. The office would collect data about possible violations and would have investigative powers for both districts and RIDE. The office is modeled after the Office of the Child Advocate, which was created to collect data and investigate after injuries and deaths of children in Department of Children, Youth and Families care.

2021-H 5159 — Sponsored by Rep. Casimiro (D-Dist. 31, North Kingstown, Exeter), this bill designates physical, occupational, speech, and music therapies and behavioral health services as essential special services to be provided to students with disabilities during times of a declared emergency, including the current pandemic.

2021-H 5352— Sponsored by Rep. Cortvriend (D-Dist. 72, Portsmouth, Middletown), this bill puts into statute local advisory committees in every school district that advise the district on the unmet needs of students with disabilities. The committees work with parents, guardians or caretakers to ensure students with disabilities receive the services to which they are entitled under state and federal laws. The bill would add reporting requirements.

“The pandemic has been an extremely challenging time for all students, and especially for those who require special education services," the legislators said in a joint statement. "And many parents have said their struggles to get the services their kids need long predate the pandemic. Our goal with all of these bills is to make sure that families have avenues to seek the help they need if they believe their children are not receiving the level of service to which they are entitled by law."

The three said they want to ensure that every special education student in Rhode Island is able to get the support they need to reach their full potential. The legislators held a forum back in October to learn about the challenges special education parents have been facing both during and before the pandemic.

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