THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 15, 1995 TAG: 9502140112
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LINDA McNATT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ISLE OF WIGHT LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
When Renee Bevan's 4-year-old son, John, first entered special education two years ago at Carrollton Elementary School, she had questions she couldn't get answered and had concerns for her son that she felt weren't being met.
So Bevan got involved. She joined what was then the Special Education Advisory Committee, what is now the Isle of Wight Parents and Friends of Exceptional Children.
``We wanted to change the name to something less imposing and more parent-friendly,'' Bevan said in a recent interview. ``I wasn't even aware the committee existed until after John had been in special ed for almost a year. Now, we'd like to see more parents attending the meetings and participating.''
And the new name isn't the only change that has occurred since Bevan took over as committee chairwoman more than a year ago.
The school system has hired a vision specialist to serve John, who is blind, and other children in the county school system with vision problems. Because of early intervention, John will be in a regular kindergarten class next year.
Working through the committee, another parent who was having difficulty communicating with a school administrator and teachers, Bevan said, was able to improve communication. The result: keeping better track of tests and other papers that often were being lost - thus improving the child's school experience.
Another parent, Bevan said, was having difficulty getting spelling words sent home so she could help her child, even though that requirement had been written into the child's Individual Education Plan, commonly known as the IEP. Once the committee got involved, that problem was solved.
``Almost 100 percent of the time, the law is on our side,'' Bevan said. ``Parents just don't know how to go about getting what their children need.''
And often, she said, parents with children in both regular and special education classes have trouble getting teachers in the regular classes to understand their children's special needs.
Dr. Warren J. Winter, coordinator of special programs and services for the county schools, said special-education children being properly served in regular classrooms can be a legitimate concern. But school administrators usually do everything they can to encourage communication between the special-ed teacher and the regular teacher, he said.
And there is even more that parents can do to make certain their youngsters get what they need. Copies of two pamphlets - ``Parental Rights in Special Education'' and ``A Parent's Guide to Special Education'' - are available at every school, Winter said. ``Both of these contain good, concise information.''
And getting involved in the group, Winters added, is a way of keeping up with new issues to stay informed.
Bevan believes getting involved is the answer, too, and that's exactly what the committee is designed to do - get parents involved.
``We may have about 20 people at most of our meetings,'' she said. ``But half of those people will be teachers and administrators. We'd love to get more parents out. We think we can help them to understand how they can work to make things easier for their child.''
The Parents and Friends of Exceptional Children meets at 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month. This month's session will be Feb. 21 at Hardy Elementary.
There are more than 500 special education students in the Isle of Wight school system, Bevan said, and all parents or guardians of those students are welcome at the committee's meetings.
During January, which was Special Education Month, the committee sponsored a disabilities-awareness poster and essay contest, which was open to all students. Its theme: ``If You Can Do It, So Can I.''
Prizes, in elementary, middle school and high school categories, are to be awarded at this month's meeting. First-place winners in each category will receive a $50 savings bond. Also at the meeting, a group prize will be given to the best class entry, and other prizes, from local merchants and restaurants, will be given to participants. MEMO: For more information about Parents and Friends of Exceptional Children,
call Renee Bevan at 357-2967 or Dr. Warren Winter at the School Board
office, 357-4393.
ILLUSTRATION: Renee Bevan
Committee chairwoman
by CNB