Description:

This session helps parents of children with complex medical needs navigate the educational system. Explore the challenges these students face and the importance of understanding their legal protections like Section 504, ADA, and IDEA.

Topics include the necessity of creating comprehensive IEPs and Individualized Health Plans (IHPs) with actionable emergency plans. Gain tips for managing frequent absences, using seizure action plans, and ensuring your child is included in mainstream classes and activities. The presentation emphasizes the importance of open communication, proper training for educators, building transition goals into the IEP for postsecondary planning, and planning for college life.

About the speaker:

Audrey Vernick is the Director of Patient and Family Advocacy at the Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Alliance. She is the parent of a child who had a hemispherectomy for seizures caused by an in-utero stroke. Ms. Vernick holds a level 2 certification in Special Education Advocacy Training from the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates and is certified by The Arc in future planning.

She represents the Alliance in the Rare Epilepsy Network‘s Adult Transition Taskforce and serves on the Youth Advisory Council for HOBSCOTCH (HOme Based Self-management and COgnitive Training CHanges lives), a behavioral program designed to address memory and attention problems for people who have epilepsy. She is also a member of the International League Against Epilepsy’s Social Work & Social Services Section.