Roger Pierangelo - Special Education Eligibility: A Step-by-Step Guide for Educators

This book is dedicated to my wife, Jackie,
and my two children, Jacqueline and Scott,
who provide me with the love and purpose for
undertaking projects that I hope will enhance the lives of
others. My life has been blessed by their loving presence.
I also dedicate this book to my parents, who provided me with
the secure and loving foundation from which to grow; my sister,
Carol, who makes me smile and laugh; and my brother-in-law, George,
who has always been a positive guiding light in my professional journey.

R. P.

This book is dedicated to my wife, Anita,
and two children, Collin and Brittany, who give me the
greatest life imaginable. The long hours and many years
it took to finish this book would never have been possible
without the support of my loving wife. Her constant encouragement,
understanding, and love provide me with the strength I need to
accomplish my goals. I thank her with all my heart. I also dedicate
this book to my parents, who have given me support and guidance
throughout my life. Their words of encouragement and guidance
have made my professional journey a rewarding and successful experience.

G. G.

Copyright 2007 by Corwin Press

All rights reserved. When forms and sample documents are included, their use is authorized only by educators, local school sites, and/or noncommercial or nonprofit entities who have purchased the book. Except for that usage, no part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Pierangelo, Roger.

Special education eligibility : a step-by-step guide for educators / Roger Pierangelo, George Giuliani.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-4129-5423-5 (cloth)

ISBN 978-1-4129-1785-8 (pbk.)

1. Special educationUnited States. I. Giuliani, George A., 1938- II. Title.

LC3981.P539 2007

371.90973dc22

2006102667

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

07 08 09 10 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

S pecial Education Eligibility: A Step-by-Step Guide for Educators focuses on understanding the eligibility criteria and process for students with suspected disabilities. The term special education eligibility refers to a series of criteria that are used to determine whether a student meets the requirements under the federal law (Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004) as a student with a disability.

There are many reasons why a teacher would need to know about the eligibility requirements for students with special needs. The most important reasons include the following:

To understand how the classifications of the students in your classroom were derived

To understand how to make an appropriate diagnosis when you attend an individualized education program (IEP) or Committee on Special Education meeting

To be able to render a professional opinion about whether a students classification is no longer an appropriate one or needs to be changed as a result of developing and new factors

To be able to explain to parents or guardians how eligibility may be determined should the parent or guardian be considering an assessment for special education services

To have a consistent format for making eligibility determinations when working with the student study team and making a referral for a student with a suspected disability

To use as a reference guide when you are unclear about how various classifications are determined under the law

Special Education Eligibility: A Step-by-Step Guide for Educators takes you through a step-by-step process, so that you will have a basic overview of how all the various classifications under the federal law for special education are determined.

In the course of writing this book, we have encountered many professional and outstanding sites. Those resources have contributed and continue to contribute enormous information, support, guidance, and education to parents, students, and professionals in the area of special education. Although we have accessed many worthwhile sites, we especially thank and acknowledge the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities, the Alaska State Department of Education, and the National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Roger Pierangelo and Dr. George Giuliani extend sincere thanks to Allyson Sharp and Laureen Shea at Corwin Press. Their constant encouragement and professionalism made this project a very worthwhile and rewarding experience.

Roger Pierangelo: I extend thanks to the following: the faculty, administration, and staff of the Department of Graduate Special Education and Literacy at Long Island University; Ollie Simmons, for her friendship, loyalty, and great personality; the students and parents of the Herricks Public Schools I have worked with and known over the past thirty-five years; the late Bill Smyth, a truly gifted and extraordinary ordinary man; and Helen Firestone, for her influence on my career and her tireless support of me.

George Giuliani: I extend sincere thanks to all of my colleagues at Hofstra University in the School of Education and Allied Human Services. I am especially grateful to those who have made my transition to Hofstra University such a smooth one, including Maureen Murphy (dean), Daniel Sciarra (chairperson), Frank Bowe, Diane Schwartz (graduate program director of early childhood special education), Darra Pace, Gloria Wilson, Alan Wenderoff, Laurie Johnson, Joan Bloomgarden, Jamie Mitus, Estelle Gellman, Joseph Lechowicz, Holly Seirup, Adele Piombino, Marjorie Butler, Eve Byrne, and Linda Cappa. I also thank my brother and sister, Roger and Claudia; mother-in-law Ursula Jenkeleit; sisters-in-law Karen and Cindy; and brothers-in-law Robert and Bob. They have provided me with encouragement and reinforcement in all of my personal and professional endeavors.