Reimbursement for particular training providers in GA
COLUMBUS, Georgia (WTVM) – Parents of children with special needs are eligible for educational reimbursement; However, there is only one day left to apply.
While raising children was challenging for everyone during the pandemic, parents with children with special needs faced various obstacles.
“It was particularly tough, there were some unique challenges,” said Hannah Heck.
Heck, whose son has Down syndrome, says there are a wide range of children with special needs. “Students with special needs within schools are given an individualized learning plan based on their needs and the way education is delivered to them … everything is different.”
The Georgia Department of Education offers parents with special needs reimbursements up to $ 500 for educational expenses.
Michael O’Sullivan, executive director of Georgia Can, a nonprofit advocating for high school students, says parents must meet these requirements to qualify:
“You have a student with an individual curriculum, you were enrolled in a Georgia public school last year that you can prove by receipt or some form of document,” O’Sullivan said.
Parents like Brandy Dawson, who has special needs children but doesn’t qualify because she teaches at home, say the pandemic has been just as tough on their family. “As homeschoolers, we already make more expenses than the average parent.”
Sullivan says they did their best to get the information out to everyone.
“The governor’s office sent out press releases, our Georgia Can organization – we used social media and tried to make town halls.”
But many Columbus parents say they were ignorant of the possibility of reimbursement of expenses related to their children’s education with special needs. They say the state needs to find a better way to inform parents.
“And more publicity about the resources that are out there because they are there, just hidden,” added Dawson.
Sullivan says the claim has been available since May and has already been extended once.
Click here to fill out a refund application.
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