Special Education – DoDEA Publications
The following publications have been developed by DoDEA Headquarters to provide school personnel, parents, and community resource personnel with an overview of special education and related services in DoDEA. Resources that are available include, a handbook for parents, and a series of ten (10) brochures on topics related to special education services. Please feel free to download any document you find useful.
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Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) Special Education
DoDDs OCONUS Directory – Special Education and Early Intervention for overseas Military Families
Special Education in DODEA, Overview
Provision of Early Intervention and Special Education Services to Eligible DoD Dependents (DoDI 1342.12), Military version of IDEA that covers both DODDS and DDESS.
DODEA Office of Complaint and Assistance
Insurance
Tricare Military Healthcare System
Tricare Complaints – BCACDirectory, contact Beneficiary Counseling and Assistance Coordinator for Tricare complaints
ECHO, Extended Care Health Option
Army One Source available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year at 1-800-464-8107
Article from Generation Rescue How To Access Therapy Services with Tricare Military Insurance by Jill Tschkof
“Serving in the military is something my husband has always dreamed of doing, his love for his country is amazing. His service is something that my children and I are very proud of but it has not come without sacrifice. Many sacrifices come to mind when I think about where the Air Force has taken us in the past eleven years, but today I want to help you find some support within those sacrifices when raising a child with autism.
When my husband and I were first married and moved to our first assignment location the word “Tricare” didn’t mean too much to me and I couldn’t have told you more than a few things about our insurance or what was covered. Today, I could write a book about my Love/Hate relationship with them. I have a few “suggestions” for those of you who are enrolled in Tricare Standard and are having a hard time with claims/coverage, or referrals. You should keep in mind that I am not an expert and my information comes from my own experiences and endless hours of researching, calling, holding, and sometimes speaking with a representative.
Currently, we have Jaxon enrolled in Tricare Standard; this allows him to see any Speech, Occupational, and Physical Therapist we chose. The therapist does not need to be “in network” BUT having a therapist who bills Tricare directly makes your life A LOT easier! Our current therapist does not deal with insurance companies so I pay in advance for therapy and then I file a Tricare Reimbursement form every month. This process is not fun; it is time consuming, and frustrating. Occasionally I am reimbursed within three weeks (just in time to pay for the next month), but most of the time, like right now, I am still waiting for reimbursement dating back to February. There have been times when all I need to do is resubmit because whoever processed the paperwork overlooked something, and there are times, like right now, when they are requesting a progress report, new invoices, a current script from the medical doctor, and a copy of Jaxon’s IEP. The first time I received this request in the mail I almost panicked, I thought that his services would be cancelled and I would never get back the thousands of dollars I had already spent, but eventually, after sending every single thing they wanted, I got reimbursed.
In my opinion, the key to getting what you need from Tricare is patience, persistence, and a little more patience. I know from experience that getting therapy for your child is possible and covered. Sometimes you just have to keep fighting with them until they realize that you aren’t going to give up (isn’t that what advocating for your child is all about). If you have any questions about your Tricare Standard coverage you should look over your Tricare handbook or call your local Tricare office. However, remember this… you know someone (me) who is enrolled in Tricare Standard and has a child diagnosed with autism and receives Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy twice a week and gets reimbursed for it (our therapist charges $50 per half hour) so keep fighting and email me if you have questions.
Without speech and occupational Therapy Jaxon’s recovery would not be what it is today. We combined biomedical treatment with therapy services to achieve optimal results. It is my opinion that for quite some time to come, Jaxon will require both Speech and Occupational Therapy, and will always need some form of supplementation, (especially with the food industry, environment, and lifestyles the way they are now) but his success is proof that anything is possible if you chose a journey and stick to it.
Just remember these “key” items that Tricare Standard requires in order to cover Therapy services for a child with autism…
*Current IEP
*Prescription from Medical Doctor
*Progress Report from Therapist
*Invoices (for reimbursement) With the Diagnosis Code Matching the Progress Report.
My name is Dr. Jill Tschikof. I am the mother of two, and a military spouse. We have had struggles and successes raising a child with autism while serving in the military and I hope that my future stories will act as a form of guidance for others navigating this same path. You can find my personal blog at www.autismdeal.com, I hope that you will email me if you have any questions.”
Resources
Navy Handbook- Known as the “Peach Book”
Abstract: (U) Over the years many Navy families have used the 1987 edition of “Children with Special Needs: A Navy Parent Handbook.” Parents have referred to it as the “peach book” because of the color of its cover. This new Handbook has been written to update the “peach book” with changes in the laws and regulations governing special education, and with new program and opportunities for Navy families. It is written with the hope that you will find help for your very special family navigating through both the Navy world and the civilian world. Whether your Navy family is one that moves from base to base, or is one that is homesteaded and stays for a long time in a given place, you will find that the more you work to develop a good support system, the better life will be for yourself and your child. The Navy Family Service Center and the Exceptional Family Member Program, in most places, offer classes and groups in which you’ can often find other families facing some of the same challenges you are working on. In addition, when you work as a partner with the people who are providing services to you and your child, you will add to your support group.
Military Child Education Coalition The Military Child Education Coalition is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, world-wide organization that identifies the challenges that face the highly mobile military child, increases awareness of these challenges in military and educational communities and initiates and implements programs to meet the challenges. MCEC’s goal is to level the educational playing field for military children wherever they are located around the world and to serve as a model for all highly mobile children.
Military One Source Everything a military family needs for PCS, deployments, etc.
National Military Family Association Collective voice for military families
Military Families living with Autism
The Department of Defense (DoD) Special Needs Parent Tool Kit contains 110 pages of comprehensive information and tools geared towards helping military families with special needs children navigate the maze of medical and special education services, community support and benefits and entitlements. Each module contains valuable resources and important facts; record keeping tools and sample letters have also been incorporated. The Tool Kit is divided into six colorful modules that can be easily downloaded and printed or saved on to a CD.
Support
Military OneSource
www.militaryoOne source for one community. Rich in resources and knowledge. Powered by the commitment to help you thrive in service and in life.nesource.mil
Specialized Training of Military Families
STOMP, a parent-directed program, exists to empower military parents, individuals with disabilities, and service providers with knowledge, skills, and resources so that they might access services to create a collaborative environment for family and professional partnerships without regard to geographic location.
STOMP ListServ for military families and professionals
The STOMP list serv exists to enable military families worldwide to stay informed, connect and learn from each other, providing them with the necessary knowledge, skills and resources to access services and feel confident in their role as their child’s best advocate. Stomp Facebook
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