Yes. Federal and state law define special education services as “specially-designed instruction, at no cost to the parents, to meet the unique needs” of students with disabilities. Specially-designed instruction means “…adapting, as appropriate to the needs of an eligible child…the content, methodology, or delivery of instruction” to address the unique needs of the child and to ensure their access to the general curriculum, so that they can meet the educational standards that apply to all students.[1] Therefore, requesting and discussing a student’s unique need for a particular method of instruction or specific program at an IEP is within a parent’s/guardian’s/other education rights holder’s right.
- 34 C.F.R. Sec. 300.39; Cal. Ed. Code Sec. 56031.[↩]