25 Aug 2003
Federal Law Provides Free, Appropriate Public Education to All Children
DALLAS?The Dallas Independent School District?s Child Find program is designed to identify, locate and evaluate any child with known or suspected disabilities to determine whether a need for special education and related services exists.
DISD offers comprehensive special education services to eligible children. A free, appropriate, public education with a full range of services is available to qualified participants until age 21.
Services provided by the school district include screening in areas such as vision, hearing, motor skills, speech, language and general development. School-based evaluations are made in several areas including learning disabilities, speech and language development, physical impairments, vision or hearing problems, mental retardation, emotional disturbances, autism or pervasive developmental disorders, health impairments, or traumatic brain injuries. During the 2002-2003 school year, more than 2,500 referred students received support through Child Find. All referrals are confidential and services are provided at no cost. The parent, legal guardian or surrogate parent retains the right to refuse services, and is furnished with other procedural safeguards under federal and state law.
For information concerning eligibility criteria and referral procedures, Dallas residents may contact the Dallas Independent School District?s 24-Hour Child Find Referral Line, (972) 502-6031; for Spanish, call (972) 502-6149.