Abbreviations
IDEA
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
This IDEA principle ensures that all disabled students from ages 3-21 are educated through public schools
shared decision making
An approach for families and professionals to make decisions together while respecting one another's cultural differences
The law in the U.S. that mandates parental involvement in special education decision making.
IDEA
FAPE
Free appropriate public education
Placement in general education to the highest extent possible
Least restrictive environment (LRE)
Common challenges faced by families when collaborating with professionals in special education
language barriers, mistrust, defensive attitudes, different cultural views
SES
socio-economic status
ESSA
Every Student Succeeds Act
Counseling, speech, OT and PT all fall under this category
Related services
One of the recommended approaches for professionals to improve collaboration with families
Reflective practice, inner work, cultural therapy
cultural reciprocity
engage in discussions with families regarding differential cultural values and practices and respect/make allowances for differences in perspective
when responding to the family’s need
FERPA
Federal Education Rights & Privacy Act
System of mutual accountability of educators and parents
Procedural due process
Cultural awareness affect on professional/family relationships
This factor interferes with professionals understanding of culturally diverse families' perspectives and limits effective collaboration.
Recommended in professional education to better support culturally diverse families in special education
cultural awareness and sensitivity training into professional development
SEAs
State education agencies
Name 6 of the 13 categories of disability
autism, deaf-blindness, emotional disturbance, hearing impairment, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, visual impairment, developmental delay