H.S.
As a parent, your friend, has RIGHTS. She needs to contact the child's special ed teacher or the school diagnostician (she prob recently met them when they had an ARD meeting in which they told her that her child was mentally retarted.) They may have already done some testing on him or at least they should have since they have determined that he has MR (mental retardation.) She needs to ask for a copy of those testings and ask for someone to go over it with her and explain it to her. If testing hasn't already been done, she needs to request screenings and assessment to see if her child qualifies for those services. Most likely, they will work with her and the school should provide these services to her under FAPE (Free AND Appropriate Public Education.) She has RIGHTS and she needs to be pushy and ask ask ask away for anything that she feels her son needs. Hope that helps! I taught in a special education classroom up until last year when I decided to stay home with my children.
