The University of South Alabama College of Education and the USA College of Medicine's division of developmental-behavioral pediatrics will host a forum for parents entitled "Understanding the Special Education Process and the IEP: Parent Advocacy Training" on Oct. 22, 2007 at 6:30 - 8 p.m. in the University Commons Building Room 3212.

Drs. Abbie Baxter and Dennis Campbell, early childhood special education faculty at USA, along with Dr. Hanes Swingle, associate professor of pediatrics at USA, will provide an overview of existing educational programs available to children with special needs as well as outline special challenges these children face.

IEP is an individualized education program which is mandated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The IEP is designed to meet the education needs of each child with disabilities. It describes how the child learns, how the child demonstrates that learning, and what the school and staff will do to help the child learn better.