{"href":"http://player.captivate.fm/services/oembed?url=http%3A%2F%2Fplayer.captivate.fm%2Fepisode%2F7e19d678-b7a5-42fb-8503-4eec546bed82","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Captivate.FM","provider_url":"https://www.captivate.fm","width":600,"height":200,"type":"rich","html":"","title":"Using USDOE Guidance in an Inclusion Argument: Letter to Autin","description":"The United States Department of Education gives us several gifts every year. The come by way of Dear Colleague Letters and Guidance Documents. In this episode, I\u2019m going over a Dear Colleague Letter written back in 2011 that is super helpful in inclusion/ LRE discussions with IEP teams. The letter, \u201cDear Autin,\u201d gives us two really helpful quotes about educational placement and least restrictive environment. \r\n\n \r\n\nFirst, Letter to Autin (written 3/7/11) indicates that \u201c[a]s the regulations make clear, placement decisions must be made on an individual basis. Placements that are determined based solely on the category of a child's disability are not consistent with the regulations.\u201c We can use this in special education to combat a district\u2019s position that \u201call children with autism/ intellectual disability/ etc. are educated in a self-contained classroom/ a certain school/ a \u201cunit.\u201d You\u2019ve heard this sentence, and I know what you\u2019ve felt\u2026 \u201cThat can\u2019t be what the law says.\u201d Now you\u2019ve got a paragraph, written by the USDOE, to support your advocacy. \r\n\n \r\n\nLetter to Autin also says, \u201c a child's placement must be determined on an individual case-by-case basis, depending on each child's unique needs and circumstances, made at least annually, based on the child's individualized IEP, and as close as possible to the child's home. Recognizing that there is no \u2018one size fits\u2019 all approach, \u2026\u201d There are several great clauses in this sentence. I break them down for you in this episode and include some ideas about how to structure your advocacy to keep it centered on the particular child and his or her needs. \r\n\n \r\n\nLink Mentioned: Letter to Autin:\r\n\nhttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1rDcYRRWxvO_bpoAuScVy8fgyQ3gxCNFu/view?usp=sharing\r\n","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/80163e41-792b-4cfe-9c4d-8ef922176003/8652091-1599164556720-78131d67c4efc.jpg"}