The Challenges of Special Education for Parents and Students: A Literature Review By Reshma Mulchan

This

issue of NASET’s Practical Teacher

was written by Reshma Mulchan, a graduate student at Florida International University. The article presents a

literature review on the challenges of special education for parents and

students. Multiple studies (Burke, 2013; Chen & Gregory, 2010; Mandic,

Rudd, Hehir & Acevedo-Garcia, 2010) often claimed that parents of students

with disabilities encountered a plethora of barriers and challenges regarding

special education systems.  Parents are

hampered in their quest to source information pertaining to specific special

educational services because they cannot acquire reliable support and

guidance.  In addition, sometimes

inadequate information is furnished to parents of students with disabilities

about special education support and funding. Sourcing disability funding and

support services can be a problem when parents don’t apprehend the process.

Furthermore, parents struggle to find appropriate funding for special equipment

and support for their child with a specific disability. Parents are unable to

advocate for their child with disabilities because they are not equipped with

necessary information. Moreover, many parents misunderstand the process of

Individualized Education Program (IEP) and their role as an advocate for their

child with disabilities because of language barriers. Parents can become

overwhelmed by the trials and obstacles regarding finding appropriate

educational services and systems for their children with disability.