The issue: Parents’ requests of the school need to be reasonable. Under usual circumstances, parents of children with disabilities should need only to request rather than demand services, and they need to be reasonably patient before moving to “demand mode.” The special education laws were developed to provide children with a reasonably good education and not a perfect education. So, if you start to demand services or accommodations that are deemed excessive, don’t be surprised when the school digs in its heels. But if you feel that your school is not providing services that are clearly indicated because it can’t afford to (or for any other reason), then call them to task – or call your state’s Department of Special Education or the Office for Civil Rights. Return to Building Bridges Between Home and School
