A Guide to Your Rights

• An Overview and Introduction
• Health Insurance
• Patient Safety
• Private Benefits:
  Motor Vehicle Insurance
• Private Benefits: Disability Insurance
• Private Benefits: Workers Compensation
• Public Benefits:
  Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania
• Public Benefits:
  Crime Victims Compensation Fund
• Public Benefits:
  Federal Government
• Public Benefits: Attendant Care
• Disabled Children
• Rehabilitation Hospitals
  & Facilities
• Vocational Rehabilitation Services
• Civil Litigation: Claims For Damages
• Resources
• Support Groups
• Entitlements And Benefits
• Acknowledgements

 

Disabled Children

As indicated elsewhere, both state and federal programs provide specific benefits for children with disabilities. Where a catastrophically injured individual is a child, these additional benefits may be of significant help to the child or his/her family. In addition to health care and disability programs, children with significant disabilities have rights under the federal Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This Act requires states to provide a variety of services to children with disabilities as part of an “appropriate public education”. Services available include early intervention programs for children less than school age. Once a disabled child reaches school age, services such as transportation, certain types of therapies, equipment and special education programs are or should be made available pursuant to an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP). Because the services are part of an “appropriate public education,” they are free to the child and his/her family. However, problems can arise during the development or implementation of the program for a specific child, and sometimes it is helpful if the child has an advocate. Sometimes, litigation is necessary to ensure that a child’s rights to an appropriate education are enforced.

The following are important sources of information, and also places to look for support and expertise in this area.

Education Law Center

1315 Walnut Street

4th Floor Philadelphia

PA 19107

215-238-6970

215-772-3125 (fax)

215 789-2498 (TTD)

www.elc-pa.org

 

Legal Clinic for the Disabled

1513 Race Street Philadelphia,

PA 19102

215-587-3350 215-587-3166

(fax) 215-587-3352 (TTY)

http://www.legalclinicforthedisabled.org/