Schools Can Help Children With Special Educational Needs, Including Children Affected by Domestic Violence

In order to learn and develop, all children need to feel safe and be safe at school. This is especially true for children with special educational needs who have had to change schools while suffering from the effects of domestic violence. For these children, it is critical that disruptions caused by their change of school and by the effects of domestic violence be minimized as much as possible. This can happen if their special educational needs are identified quickly and addressed speedily and efficiently. Strategies for accomplishing are key factors in minimizing these disruptions.

The Massachusetts legal services' Domestic Violence and School Safety Workgroup has written a checklist for school personnel to assist them devising strategies for helping children with special educational needs who are changing schools and have suffered the effects of domestic violence.