BD is an 8th grade student identified as “Twice Exceptional,” a student who has the potential for high academic achievement and who has also been identified as having one or more disabilities that impact him educationally. BD is blind and has also been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
Kerri Feeney/ Feeney Law Offices PLLC, recently represented BD and his parents in a Special Education Due Process complaint against the Shoreline School District. In the complaint, the parents explained their concerns about the District’s failure to provide educational programs and supports individualized to meet BD’s unique needs as a student with a visual impairment. For example, the parents complained that BD was not able to fully access educational content because the school district had failed to provide appropriate assistive technology devices. The braillist and paraeducators assigned to support BD lacked training.
On May 24th 2021, a settlement agreement was entered where the Shoreline School District agreed to provide the following:
Direct instruction to BD in all areas of the Expanded Core Curriculum.
Instruct BD in how to utilize assistive technology.
Ensure all curricular materials are accessible to blind students before those materials are given to BD.
Provide BD with accessible materials at the same time or earlier than those materials are provided to nondisabled classmates.
Provide BD with daily access to a braille embosser.
Provide BD with access to braille translation software.
Provide BD direct instruction in how to access/use all educational software and platforms utilized by his curriculum.
BD and his parents were invited to speak at the National Federation of the Blind of Washington to tell the story about how they navigated the educational system. We are excited for this family to share what they accomplished through their advocacy. You can tune in to hear their story at 10:30 am on Saturday, November 6, 2021.
Link to event:
Please reach out to Feeney Law Office PLLC with any questions or concerns about the educational services and supports your child receives in the public school system.
BD running Cross Country, Fall 2021
