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About Ms. Judith Ruffulo
Judy is a highly skilled non-attorney advocate and educational consultant with more than 15 years of experience serving families in Illinois. Her career has focused on educating parents about the rights of their disabled children and advocating for those rights in the schools. She is a trained mediator through the Center for Conflict Resolution, has consulte
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Accreditations
COPAA Member
This advocate/attorney is a member of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA).
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148 Scott Drive, IL, 60118
Get in Contact
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(847) 507-1780
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judyruffulo@gmail.com
Frequently Asked Questions
If your child does not qualify, you can ask your school to evaluate your child for a 504 plan. This article provides more information about the differences between IEPs and 504s.
This happens. The results of the school’s evaluation may be different than your child’s medical diagnosis. It’s also important to remember that school is NOT the final say on your child’s potential. They may offer very little support to your child, underestimate their abilities, or disagree with you on what support your child needs. You will probably need to advocate for the services and support you believe your child needs.
Here are a few alternative options to consider:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT helps by identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. It's useful for those dealing with social anxiety or difficulties. CBT addresses cognitive patterns and provides strategies to manage social challenges.
- Group therapy: Group therapy offers a supportive space where individuals can practice social skills. They can feedback from peers and a therapist. It allows interaction with others who understand and learn from each other.
- Play-based interventions: Play therapy or play-based interventions work well for younger children or those who learn through experiences. Play activities target specific social skills like turn-taking and problem-solving in a safe and engaging setting.
Even if a provider offers parent training, it may look different from one provider to another. For example, an in-home provider might conduct a parent training session directly following a therapy session with your child to help explain what they’ve been working on with your child. At larger organizations, you might have a support group of families who are dealing with similar issues.
There isn’t one set way that an IEP meeting is run, but generally it involves everyone on the IEP team reviewing your child’s goals, progress, and sharing ideas and suggestions on what supports or accommodations may be helpful to accomplish those goals.
It’s required that the school staff go over every section of the IEP with you and explain every part. This is only a draft, because the IEP may change based on what’s discussed in the meeting. You do not have to sign or agree to the IEP at the IEP meeting. If you don’t like the IEP, you may not have to agree to it at all.