Q&A: Can The School Require Me To Chaperone My Child On Field Trips?

Question: My son is on an IEP for ADHD and a social / emotional disability.  My son's classroom teacher recently told me that unless my husband or I agree to chaperone my son's field trip he could not attend because he was "too much of a handful."  Is this legal?

Answer: No.  This sounds like disability-based discrimination.  Is the teacher requiring that all students in the class have a parent-chaperone or just your son?  My guess is that your son has been singled out.  If the teacher believes your son needs a 1-on-1  in order to safely attend the class field trip, the school must provide this accommodation.  Having a 1-on-1 is a reasonable accommodation that allows your son to continue to learn in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). 

If you believe the school is discriminating against your child, contact Massachusetts special education lawyer Lillian E. Wong today.

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