IDENTIFICATION OF SPECIAL NEEDS

Special Educational Needs means the need for assistance and services arising from the fact that the mainstream educational and self-educational requirements do not correspond with the opportunities of students with special needs (Reference: Republic of Lithuania Law on Special Education (1998).

The Law on Special Education (1998) also defines that “Persons with Special Educational Needs are children and adults, who because of congenital or acquired impairments have limited opportunities of participating in the educational process and social life”. According to the Law special educational needs might be mild, moderate, profound and severe.

The legislation act regarding assessment, evaluation and the defining of special educational needs of persons (2002, signed by three ministers) reads what kind of categories of impairments are and indicates recommendations related to adaptation of educational methods or curricula and educational plans.

Initial detection of a student’s problem is done by his/her teacher. The teacher informs the parents about the problems and they must sign the agreement, and only after that, an initial assessment of the pupil’s special educational needs is done by specialists (special education teacher, speech therapist, and psychologist). They present their findings and recommendations regarding further modification of the programme to the School Special Needs Education Commission that takes a decision. Certain forms (approved by the Ministry of Education and Science) are filled in.

The period for modification of the teaching methods, special pedagogical/ psychological assistance has to be indicated. If when this period is over, a pupil still cannot cope with teaching requirements and achieve low results, the School Special Needs Education Commission recommends  parents to apply for further assessment to the local pedagogical psychological service. A team of specialists are working at each PPS in almost every municipality. These specialists after a further assessment and evaluation give recommendations to parents and the school  attended by the pupil. It is indicated what kind of special assistance, education plan/programmes have to be done; when it is necessary to repeat the assessment again.
If parents do not agree with the conclusion reached by specialists of the local PPS after a child‘s evaluation is completed, they can apply for additional assessment by specialists of The National Centre of Special Needs Education and Psychology.