PARENT INVOLVEMENT
Parents are important partners in the special education process and it is our desire to learn from you to improve our programs for each student. We want to assist you in learning about our programs. Please see the information and resource links below.
Parent Liaison-Melinda VanClapDurp
[email protected]
PARENT SURVEY
The online survey is open now for parents to access and is available in English and Spanish. The online surveys can be accessed using the links below:
English Version
Spanish Version
SUSPICION OF A DISABILITY
If you suspect that your child has a disability, and your child is currently enrolled in Bedford County Public Schools and is currently not receiving services as a student with a disability, please contact your child's school and ask to speak to the SCT Coordinator for that school.
If you placed your child at a private school located in Bedford County, please contact the Bedford County School Board Office at 540-586-1045 and ask for someone in the Special Education Department to assist you.
If you placed your child at a private school located in a locality outside of Bedford County, please contact that locality for assistance with investigating Special Education Services.
If you suspect your pre-school age student has a disability, please contact Ashley Safrit, SCT Pre-School coordinator/Lead Preschool Teacher at 540-586-8339.
ONLINE REFERENCE TOOLS
The following is a list of compiled websites and/or contact information which may be of interest to parents of students with disabilities.
SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SEAC)
Bedford County Public Schools’ Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)
Questions regarding the Special Education Advisory Committee can be directed to the Special Services office at 540-586-1045.
BCPS SEAC Page
VIRGINIA FAMILY SPECIAL EDUCATION CONNECTION
The Virginia Family Special Education Connection is a website dedicated to providing comprehensive information on special education issues, practices and services to Virginia families who have children with disabilities. This resource was developed by VDOE, in collaboration with the Helen A. Kellar Institute for Human disAbilities. A link to the website is as follows:
Virginia Family Special Education Connection
THE PARENT EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY TRAINING CENTER
This website provides information and training about special education for children with special needs in Virginia. A link to the Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC) is as follows:
The Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center
PROCEDURAL SAFEGUARDS
This document includes the full explanation of all of the procedural safeguards available to parents of students with disabilities. Links to this document are included as follows:
Special Education Procedural Rights and Safeguards (English)
Los derechos de la familia con respecto a educación especial
THE VIRGINIA FAMILY'S GUIDE TO SPECIAL EDUCATION
This document was developed by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) in an effort to help parents understand their rights and responsibilities, your child's rights, and the school's responsibilities to meet the special needs of identified children. It includes a description of the special education process and what is required of parents and the school during each step of that process. Important timelines are highlighted in each section. This guide was revised in 2023. Links to this document are included as follows:
The Family's Guide To Special Education (English)
Guia de Educacion Especial para las Familias de Virginia (Spanish)
REGULATIONS GOVERNING SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES IN VIRGINIA
These regulations set forth the requirements of the Board of Education regarding the provision of special education and related services to children with disabilities in the Commonwealth, reflecting both state and federal requirements. The regulations are applicable to all local school divisions, state-operated programs, the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind at Staunton, and private schools in the Commonwealth that provide special education and related services to children with disabilities. A link to this document is as follows:
Regulations governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia
VCU AUTISM CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE
VCU-ACE is a university-based technical assistance, professional development, and educational research center for Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Training Information
Family Resources
I’M DETERMINED
This website is an asset to assist parents with strategies to assist children in developing self-determination skills and identifying options after high school. A link to the website is as follows:
I'm Determined
VDOE RESOURCES FOR PARENTS
Inclusion Project
Virginia Board for People with Disabilities
A Life 4 Me
History of Disability
PEATC Youth Advisory Board
VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF AGING AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES
The Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, in collaboration with community partners, provides and advocates for resources and services to improve the employment, quality of life, security, and independence of older Virginians, Virginians with disabilities, and their families. A link to their website is as follows:
Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services
VDOE RESOURCES FOR CAREER AWARENESS AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES
Center on Transition Innovations
ACE IT in College
Mason LIFE
Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center
Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services
Office of Disability Employment Policy
SERVICES FOR STUDENTS IDENTIFIED AS HEARING OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED
The Department of Education shall annually prepare and distribute to local school boards packets of information describing the educational and other services available through the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind, the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing, and the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired to students who are identified as hearing impaired or visually impaired. Local school boards shall annually post this information on the school division's website and inform the parents of those students who are identified as hearing impaired or visually impaired of its availability. School boards shall ensure that packets of such information are available in an accessible format for review by parents who do not have Internet access.
RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH SENSORY DISABILITIES
Specific Disabilities - Sensory Disabilities
VDOE Sensory Disabilities Resource Document
Annual Resources Update for Serving Students with Sensory Disabilities (Revised October 2024)
Guidelines for Working With Students Who are Blind or Visually Impaired in Virginia Public Schools and Resource page
AGE OF MAJORITY
When a student reaches the age of 18, that adult student is presumed under Virginia law to be capable of making his or her own decisions – including educational decisions. Initially, the student and parent(s) are notified, at least one year prior to the student’s eighteenth birthday that the transfer of rights will occur at age 18. The following link leads to the VDOE Technical Resource Document (Updated 2015) on this topic.
Age of Majority - Transfer of Rights
EARNING VIRGINIA HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA/PROFILE OF A VIRGINIA GRADUATE
The following link leads to the VDOE site which includes a list of frequently asked questions and answers about earning a Virginia high school diploma.
http://www.pen.k12.va.us/instruction/graduation/index.shtml