Hello, and welcome to a brave, new world at LDI!
Over its 38-year history, LDI has been first and foremost, an intimate connected community which for better or worse, was able to work and grow together in the same space and time! This is no longer a capability we can provide, but we believe we have charted out a course of action that will allow us to continue to operate and provide our quality education and supports to our students and families.
The move towards an online school has been a tremendous undertaking to accomplish in three weeks, and as one can imagine, still has many steps to go to enable a truly dynamic, interactive and virtual learning experience.
Included in this packet, are links to State and Federal Special Education policies relevant to providing equal access, accessibility and accommodations to our students within the digital learning space. Please know we have incorporated this guidance into all aspects of our delivery of instruction, support services, and staffing.
As is necessary or relevant, updates to laws or regulations covering the special education of our students will be provided as they occur.
More than anything else, Veronica, the staff and I appreciate the trust, respect, and hopes for your child that you place in us…. It is why we are together in creating a future that develops, mentors, and empowers our students to cultivate a life worth living.
Links
Office for Civil Rights Offers Resources on Compliance When Schools Go Online
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) offered two resources addressed at accessibility of online teaching for students with disabilities. The first resource, a short webinar, is designed to help institutions ensure accessibility for students with disabilities when instruction goes fully virtual, including both online learning and website accessibility. “Services, programs and activities online must be accessible to persons, including persons with disabilities https://www.policyinsider.org/2020/03/office-for-civil-rights-offers-resources-on-compliance-when-schools-go-online.html
Education Department releases COVID-19, IDEA-related Q-and-A
The Department of Education released a question-and-answer document pertaining to students with disabilities and COVID-19 today. The OSERS document answers questions schools might have about students with disabilities and the IDEA as related to the COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus, outbreak. https://sites.ed.gov/idea/department-releases-covid-19-idea-related-q/
