Requesting One-on-One Adult Assistance? Keep These Things in Mind.
How and when adult aides are appropriate.
Understanding the Request for an Adult Aide in Special Education
Many parents request an adult aide for their child with special needs, only to have the school deny the request. Aides may be requested for various reasons, including:
- Instructional support
- Health and medical needs
- Student safety
However, schools often face challenges in filling these requests, and approval depends on several factors.
Why Schools May Deny an Aide Request
Special education law requires that students receive instruction in their Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). Having an aide present at all times may not always align with this principle.
How to Strengthen Your Request for an Aide
- 📌 The best approach is to ensure that your child undergoes a proper evaluation for the need of an adult aide.
- 📌 Comprehensive and appropriate assessments provide data-driven evidence to support the request.
- 📌 A Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) is based on assessment data, which should be reviewed objectively by both the district and parents.
Assessments to Determine the Need for an Aide
Gathering enough data requires multiple assessment tools. Expatiate offers a comprehensive Adult Aide Assessment Profile that can be administered on an ongoing basis to determine the specific needs for an aide.
📧 Questions? Email us at simplesped@excomweb.com.