Law and Policy Training for the Identification of SLD in Hispanic Children

Abstract

Abstract Objective The purpose of this poster is to present the results of a survey about perceived and real knowledge of federal regulations and policies required to evaluate, and provide services for, Hispanic children with Special Learning Disability (SLD). This work illustrates the relevance of getting education and training in law, policy, and ethics, for neuropsychologists evaluating and treating Hispanic children from diverse cultural backgrounds. Method The participants were 38 psychologists providing services to Hispanic children in Puerto Rico. The data were collected via an online survey distributed through professional email lists. The survey explored the professional's perception of their knowledge of federal laws and regulations and their educational needs in law training regarding special education regulations. The answers were analyzed using descriptive statistics as measures of central tendency (e.g. frequencies and means). Outcomes Around 52% of the responders indicated employment by the Department of Education to determine children’s eligibility for special education services. Thirty-seven percent mentioned not having knowledge of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act’s (IDEA) requirements when conducting evaluations. Around 20% were unsure of the extension of the law pertaining to the regulation of the definition, scope, and evaluation processes for diagnosis and eligibility of special education services for children with SLD. Finally, 79% of the surveyed professionals agreed that they need to be trained in law and policy to improve their practice. Discussion Hispanic children with special education needs are victims of disproportionate and inadequate access to services, while being vulnerable to other related inequities. To achieve cultural and social justice in neuropsychological practices, it is important to discuss the need of underlying educational training in law, policy, and ethics- areas that strictly regulate and determine the access to available resources for these minorities.