Unpacking Special Education Therapies, A 504 Plan, & Beyond
Public special education therapies should be both available and adjustable for every student on the spectrum – but they aren’t.
About 15% of all students in the U.S. receive special education services of some kind. But most industry professionals agree that there are not enough professionals to meet the needs of students with disabilities.
Nationwide, students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face inadequate public special education therapies. Due to a national shortage of special education teachers, public school special education is not enough for students and teachers, despite having legal rights in place like Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
As questions about public special education therapies come up, there is one thing to keep in mind…
From public school teachers and staff to medical and special education professionals – we all want the same thing: To get students at all levels of learning the help they need to be successful.
Explore why advocating for adequate public special education is just as important as supporting public educators in your community.
Join the email list, and don’t miss a single future update.
Public Vs. Private Special Education Therapies, A 504 Plan, & IEPs Explained
There are several legal rights all children on the spectrum have in the United States of America. Rights for students with autism are generally incorporated through 5 laws or otherwise specific plans for students with disabilities:
1. Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) passed in 1975, is the law that requires all students with disabilities to get access to “free appropriate public education” or FAPE.
2. Section 504
“Section 504 is a federal law designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive Federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education (ED).”
U.S. Department Of Education
Based on Section 504, a 504 plan is an educational tool for students with disabilities, including those with ASD. This plan empowers children to thrive in an educational environment tailored to meet their learning needs. A child’s recommended plan may include special accommodations and supports or modifications like extra time on tests, preferential seating, or assistive technology.
The goal is for parents and professionals to collaborate and level the playing field, for students with disabilities so they can participate fully in school activities and achieve their potential.
504 Plan & Individualized Education Program (IEP) Refresher
According to the National Education Association (NEA), a 504 plan is typically created for students who have a disability and do not require special education services. An IEP offers a program with specialized instruction and support to access and progress in the curriculum.
3. Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)
The ADA prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including schools. This law helps ensure that students with ASD can participate, learn, and grow in public educational programs.
4. Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA)
Set up to protect the privacy of student education records, FERPA gives parents the right to access their child’s educational records. This further ensures that sensitive information about children with ASD is kept confidential.
5. Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
The ESSA supports students, usually within grades K-12, with disabilities to ensure they are included in state assessments and other accountability systems. This helps set an expectation of social and academic progress for students with autism that is both thoughtful and achievable.
Public Education Fails To Keep Up With Special Education Demands
There are more than a few reasons families turn to privatized special education. You may be asking…
What about asking the teacher in the classroom for help?
Shouldn’t public school teachers know how to teach children with ASD?
What makes special education therapies so valuable?
The number of students in special education has doubled in the past 45 years. And 1 out of every 5 public schools report being understaffed in special education at the start of the 2023-24 school year. Even so, demand heavily increases for well-trained, empathetic special education teachers and specialists.
However, the truth is that public educators are already dealing with a whole catalog of problems in public education on top of special education-related challenges like:
- Not enough specialty staff available
- Little to no experience working with ASD students
- Insufficient or nonexistent training for students with special needs
When placed in this type of learning environment, students on the spectrum fall much further behind than necessary. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Also, families don’t need to be wealthy to access the special education therapies their child is entitled to and deserves. The following is a general breakdown of how private schools differ from a 501(c)(3) status school.
| Criteria | Public | Private | Private Special Education |
| Funding | Government | Family Pays Tuition And Donations | Publicly Funded Or Family Tuition & Very Small Donations |
| Class Size | Large | Small | Very Small |
| Special Education Services | Broad Specializations | Limited | Highly Specialized |
| Teacher Qualifications | Certified | Certified And Non-Certified | Certified If Publicly Funded |
| Cost To Parents | Free | High | Free If Publically Funded |
| Curriculum Flexibility | Standardized | Flexible | Highly Individualized |
| Diversity | High | Varies | Varies But Usually Limited To Disability |
| Facilities | Varies | Often High Quality | Often Very Specialized |
Potential’s Springtime School
Staff, parents, and students love Potential’s Springtime School because it uses Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) principles to create IEPs for long-term student success. Furthermore, the school offers:
- Small classroom sizes (no more than 6 students to a teacher)
- A nurturing environment
- Individualized attention
- Highly trained behavior technicians
- A program designed to address challenging behavior
It’s hard to feel safe and confident about your child’s education and care, especially when they are on the spectrum. Few people know this better than Potential’s CEO & President, Kristine Quinby.
“It leaves a hole in my heart that I can’t help everyone…every child and every adult on the spectrum.”
Kristine Quinby, CEO & President of Potential, Inc.
Going Beyond The Paperwork For Transformational Special Education Therapies
There is so much information and misinformation about autism and ABA therapies online. It’s often hard for parents to know what information to trust. This is why it’s a part of Potential’s mission not to be an obstacle for families by instead offering reliable resources, support, and (sometimes) a simple phone call back to connect and put their minds at ease.
Finding adequate public special education therapies is hard on families, which is why we do what we can to bust myths, dismiss stigmas, and offer real resources and support to individuals. Have more questions about ABA therapy?