An earlier post discussed challenges facing military families, who must move often. Autism Speaks reports:
In response to longstanding concerns raised by military families subject to frequent relocation, local school districts have been directed to provide special education and related services for transferring military students that are "comparable" with what they received at their previous school. An estimated 23,500 children in military families have autism.
The directive was issued as guidance by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSEP) for local school districts around the nation to understand their obligations under the federal IDEA Act and their responsibilities to satisfy the IEPs of "highly mobile students," such as those in military families, migrant families or foster care, or the homeless.
Military and other highly mobile students frequently face challenges with school districts and often have very little recourse due to ongoing relocation. Due process proceedings are time intensive and the family may be required to move again before any conflict can be resolved.Click here for the OSEP letter to state special education directors,
