Education Info

Links to other pages on this website:

EARLY INTERVENTION

EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY

INCLUSION

TRANSITION FROM SCHOOL TO LIFE

IEP Checklist iphone application

The IDEA, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act provides that children with disabilities will be served from birth through 21 years old. The ESE (Exceptional Student Education) Department of the School District of Palm Beach County provides these services from age 3 through the school year of a student's 22nd birthday. The child moves from a Family Support Plan to an IEP, Individualized Education Plan. This transition from receiving therapies to writing goals related to educational objectives is challenging at times and families should educate themselves on the differences and how they may affect their child.

Benefits of Preschool Inclusive Services 

Early Childhood Learning Info from Florida Center for Inclusive Communities

Florida Center for Parent Involvement

Gold Coast provides training opportunities for families whose children will be transitioning to preschool or kindergarten. The trainer discusses the differences between services in early intervention, preschool, and kindergarten, the IEP process, what to expect, and how to prepare. Educational Advocacy is a project of the organization. Families may be supported through the IEP process with information and training. The IEP document, developed through a partnership between school and home is driven by a student's present level of performance and indicates the point at which to develop goals that will lead to academic and social success. A student will have an IEP as long as they are receiving special education services. Your child has the right to go to school and the right to have a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). For more information about the law go to www.wrightslaw.com

IEP GOAL BANK

IEP SPEECH GOAL BANK

NDSS Elementary and Secondary Education Information
 

NDSC Position Statement on Quality Education for Students with Down syndrome

NDSC Position Statement on Inclusive Education for Students with Down syndrome

Families have discovered that the education of a child with Down syndrome is positively impacted when parents participate in the process with school as an equal partner. This means communicating with your child's teachers, working with your child at home on all aspects of education: academic, social and behavioral; and knowing what your child is currently able to do at the time the IEP is written.  Often this is accomplished by keeping records (data collection) at home.

Children with Down syndrome want to be independent just like their typical peers and it is important that parents provide learning opportunities to move in this direction.  Parents often report that they feel unequipped to "teach" their children so we will use this webpage to list links to various education related websites. Gold Coast Down Syndrome Organization wants to help you work with your child at home to achieve their greatest success in a home/school partnership and open doors in the community. Please let us know of more links to post here.  Contact us at gcdso@bellsouth.net or by phone 561-912-1231.
 

Links (some of these resources are available in our lending library): 

DownsEdUSA
The Learning Program

www.starfall.com

www.hwtears.com

Signing Time

Crossword Puzzels

Totally Words
Sentence Building
Tag Reading System
Magic School Bus Interactive
Sesame Street