Sometimes we have families who wish to attend Pepin Academies, but their child does not have an Individual Education Plan (IEP.) They may ask, “My child has been diagnosed with a disability. Why can’t they attend your school?”

There is a difference between the diagnosis of a disability and eligibility for Exceptional Student Education (ESE) services to include an Individual Education Plan (IEP), which is what is required to attend our school.  A diagnosis of a disability is done by a medical professional who considers the symptoms and determines the medical diagnosis based on the guidelines for that disorder or disability. For instance, a parent may seek the advice of a medical professional to determine if their child has Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The child may exhibit symptoms of this disorder and based on medical criteria; the child will be diagnosed with ADHD. This diagnosis may include therapies or prescription of medications, all conducted by a medical professional.

ADHD is a recognized area of disability under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and may be considered for exceptional education services under the Other Health Impaired area of eligibility. However, eligibility for an IEP is not determined merely by a diagnosis. In Florida, the disability must have an educational impact on the child for them to be eligible for special education services. In other words, the child’s disability must create a need for specialized support in their educational setting for eligibility to be considered. The student must demonstrate the need for special education services due to the disability’s impact on their learning. If it is determined the disability is impacting the child’s ability to learn, a team of educational professionals including the child’s parents will meet to determine if the child is eligible for services and what level of exceptional education services would be appropriate to meet the needs of the child. All this would be conducted through the IEP process.

A diagnosis of a disability does not automatically determine a student’s need for a specialized educational setting. At Pepin Academies, we serve students with learning disabilities who are eligible for Exceptional Student Education (ESE) services and can benefit from our therapeutic educational environment. If you have questions about whether your child meets the eligibility criteria for our programs, we encourage you to reach out to us for more information.