A series of recent news stories have exposed a number of problems in Stockton, California school districts, particularly the Stockton Unified District. Among the problems, parents there claim that students with disabilities aren't getting proper access to the educational resources they need.

To be fair, disability services across the country are under stress as the cost of materials rises and districts struggle to find qualified personnel. The trouble in Stockton, though, offers a good chance to talk about what the law says about disability rights and what obligations schools are under to provide disabled students with what they need to succeed in the classroom.

If you don't feel your child is being provided with the proper education resources, it's important you act now. Nothing is more important to your child's future than their education. The Lento Law Firm's Education Law Team can help. Call 888-535-3686 to find out more, or use our automated online form to let us know how we can help your family.

Your Child's Rights Under the Law

Your disabled child is entitled to an education that's appropriate to their needs, but that's also equal to that of their non-disabled peers, and they are entitled to that education at taxpayer expense. That's not just a nice idea or even a moral imperative—though it is both of those things. It's the law.

Students with disabilities are protected by a number of pieces of federal and state legislation. That starts with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Educational Act (IDEA), which is specifically targeted at helping disabled students succeed in schools. In addition, most states, including California, have passed further measures that describe how federal law should be properly implemented and that hold districts accountable when they aren't responsive to the needs of their disabled students.

The law says, for instance, that schools must make any necessary accommodations to help students get an equal education. That requirement extends to technology, materials, physical modifications, and personnel. If your child needs a sign-language interpreter, your school is obligated to provide one. The same is true whether they need access ramps, learning software, or textbooks in Braille. And keep in mind that the law doesn't only protect students with physical disabilities. Students with ADD, ADHD, dyslexia, and other so-called “hidden disabilities” are entitled to accommodations as well.

One of the chief complaints of Stockton parents is that there simply aren't enough faculty trained in special education and not enough paraprofessionals in the district to meet demand. Stockton is an area of California that is experiencing rapid growth. In addition, there is a shortage of paraprofessionals around the country right now due largely to the low wages, poor benefits, and limited work hours. District officials plead that they are under budgetary pressures that make it difficult to keep up with the demands they face under the law.

That's as it may be. The fact is, though, that disabled students deserve these resources and, further, that the law says they are entitled to them. Your job as a parent can't be to solve your district's problems or the larger problems that may be plaguing the American education system. Your job is much simpler: to protect your children. That means holding educators responsible for educating them properly. The law gives you the tools to do that, and you should leverage those tools in any way you can.

Trust the Lento Law Firm

The Lento Law Firm is here to help you do just that: leverage the tools you have at your disposal as a parent. We know exactly what the law has to say about your child's rights. We're also experienced working with school districts in Stockton and around the country. Our Education Law Team can pressure your district to fulfill its responsibilities, and we're ready to hold it liable any time it fails to do that.

To find out about all our services, call 888-535-3686 today or use the firm's automated online form.