Ennis Britton's On the Call

On the Call: Autism Eligibility

Jeremy Neff and Erin Wessendorf-Wortman Season 3 Episode 8

A medical diagnosis can be one piece of the puzzle in special education. In this episode, Jeremy and Erin dive into autism eligibility under the IDEA, examining a case from North Carolina where a school district defended its decision to deny special education services to a recently diagnosed student. They look at the critical steps of conducting thorough initial evaluations and the importance of collaborating with parents to clarify the distinction between a medical diagnosis and educational eligibility. They share strategies to ensure a complete, accurate understanding of a student’s unique educational needs.

*Listen to the "choose your f-word" IEE episode referenced in this episode here

Join Jeremy Neff and Jessica Hunter at the CASE Academy of Law and Leadership in St. Louis on April 23 where they will present Mind Over Matter: Overcoming Cognitive Biases in Special Education Decision-Making. They will delve into the concept of cognitive bias and its impact on special education decision-making. Participants will engage in hands-on scenarios learning to navigate the biases of all parties involved in order to achieve more effective outcomes.