Guest guest Posted September 10, 2002 Report Share Posted September 10, 2002 Craig & Fonda, I'm shocked and horrified that a school would abandoned 2 - 7th grade boys in the teachers lounge for any period of time. In my day, the teachers lounge was off limits to any student, yet accommodating your sons with the use of " A Bathroom " is far from legal. There are many gray areas in the ADA rules, especially if you have an old copy. I know, I fought this problem working for the Department of Defense, and people will do anything to get by the cheapest they can by the way the rules are written. Your sons have Civil Rights, and this sounds like an area that the Civil Rights Commission needs to look into in your state. Open a can of worms, it not only benefits your sons, but others needing help in your school district. Anyone else out there on the list that could inject something, please do, as I'm not a lawyer, I'm Medically Retired from the Government, but I remember the problems with ADA rulings in the 90's and if anyone else can jump in here it sure will help Craig and Fonda. One person of personal interest is Ruth Ricker, she's a regular in the list and has information on Department of Education Rules set forth by the US Government. I highly recommend you get ahold of Ruth if you can. Don't let these jerks at your son's school whitewash their efforts at going out of their way for you, and don't even let them insinuate that you are trouble makers for caring for your son's future, and the future of the school district. Good luck, hope others help out with information for you also. Rob Tille ____________________________________________________________ IEP HELP!!!!! > We have twin boys age 12, with Diastrophic dwarfism. They are in the > 7th grade. Our school does not know what the words " equal access " . Our > boys have one restroom with Accomodation, But they are unable to open > the door. When they can get a staff to open the door. Some times > forgets them and the are stuck in restroom for up to 20 mins. And have > goting yelled at for using other restrooms. That have no door to get > in to. But other restrooms have NO Accomodation, And they will not > make any Accomodation to them. Oh did I for get to say the restroom > they are using is the stff restroom. This is just one of meny things > we have to deal with.. > > What we rely need is for someone that is a LP to join us with our next > IEP. > > Need help Craig & Fonda > Sault Ste. Marie MI > > > > === > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 11, 2002 Report Share Posted September 11, 2002 Dear Craig and Fonda -- The *first* person I would contact if I were you is Doyle , the LPA district director for Michigan. He should be able to send you in the right direction. His phone number is (502) 636-1194, and his e-mail address is deharr01@... Good luck! Dan Kennedy Editor, LPA Online Little People of America, Inc. <http://www.lpaonline.org> >We have twin boys age 12, with Diastrophic dwarfism. They are in the >7th grade. Our school does not know what the words " equal access " . Our >boys have one restroom with Accomodation, But they are unable to open >the door. When they can get a staff to open the door. Some times >forgets them and the are stuck in restroom for up to 20 mins. And have >goting yelled at for using other restrooms. That have no door to get >in to. But other restrooms have NO Accomodation, And they will not >make any Accomodation to them. Oh did I for get to say the restroom >they are using is the stff restroom. This is just one of meny things >we have to deal with.. > >What we rely need is for someone that is a LP to join us with our next >IEP. > >Need help Craig & Fonda >Sault Ste. Marie MI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 11, 2002 Report Share Posted September 11, 2002 Have you considered contacting your local ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union)chapter? If you were to even " mention " the ACLU to the local school officials, I would think that might make them jump to your wishes a little quicker . Just a suggestion. Kate --- Tille <ntille@...> wrote: > Craig & Fonda, > > I'm shocked and horrified that a school would > abandoned 2 - 7th grade > boys in the teachers lounge for any period of time. > In my day, the teachers > lounge was off limits to any student, yet > accommodating your sons with the > use of " A Bathroom " is far from legal. There are > many gray areas in the ADA > rules, especially if you have an old copy. I know, I > fought this problem > working for the Department of Defense, and people > will do anything to get by > the cheapest they can by the way the rules are > written. Your sons have Civil > Rights, and this sounds like an area that the Civil > Rights Commission needs > to look into in your state. Open a can of worms, it > not only benefits your > sons, but others needing help in your school > district. > Anyone else out there on the list that could > inject something, please > do, as I'm not a lawyer, I'm Medically Retired from > the Government, but I > remember the problems with ADA rulings in the 90's > and if anyone else can > jump in here it sure will help Craig and Fonda. > One person of personal interest is Ruth Ricker, > she's a regular in the > list and has information on Department of Education > Rules set forth by the > US Government. I highly recommend you get ahold of > Ruth if you can. > Don't let these jerks at your son's school > whitewash their efforts at > going out of their way for you, and don't even let > them insinuate that you > are trouble makers for caring for your son's future, > and the future of the > school district. Good luck, hope others help out > with information for you > also. > > Rob Tille > > ____________________________________________________________ > > IEP HELP!!!!! > > > > We have twin boys age 12, with Diastrophic > dwarfism. They are in the > > 7th grade. Our school does not know what the words > " equal access " . Our > > boys have one restroom with Accomodation, But they > are unable to open > > the door. When they can get a staff to open the > door. Some times > > forgets them and the are stuck in restroom for up > to 20 mins. And have > > goting yelled at for using other restrooms. That > have no door to get > > in to. But other restrooms have NO Accomodation, > And they will not > > make any Accomodation to them. Oh did I for get to > say the restroom > > they are using is the stff restroom. This is just > one of meny things > > we have to deal with.. > > > > What we rely need is for someone that is a LP to > join us with our next > > IEP. > > > > Need help Craig & Fonda > > Sault Ste. Marie MI > > > > > > > > === > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 11, 2002 Report Share Posted September 11, 2002 Our heart goes out to you, and believe me, our daughter Mandy had a very similar experience when she was younger, and it did create a fear of being locked in, or having trouble opening doors. When she was in third grade we made an IEP that Mandy would have someone go to the restroom with her, so she could have help with door opening, etc. That particular teacher had it in her mind that Mandy did not need her foot stool, did not need help in anyway, including the restroom, and help with her food tray during lunch. Although this was all written in the IEP, the teacher ignored everything, and Mandy went on her own. She found herself locked in the restroom, and a another teacher found her on the restroom floor, and she was not able to open the door because Mandy was in seizures against the door. When everything came down, Mandy had been gone for 65 minutes, and the teacher did not even go to check on her!!!!! Mandy also developed back problems with hanging her legs over the chair without the stool, and several spinal problems developed. The teacher never apologized, although the Principal begged her, and later apologized for her! The teacher felt Mandy wanted attention, and nothing more. She said " it didn't make any difference what size Mandy was, that if she was in school, she could do things for herself. " We actually took a doctor with us to her IEP, and also several letters from others. Make sure your IEP is written very plainly, nothing left out, and everyone signs it that day!!! Warmly, The Hoggan Clan in Utah hogganclan on Ebay http://AuctionLink.to/hogganclan hogganclan on Freebooters.com http://www.freebooters.com/cgi-bin/auctions/vsoa pl?usernum=113 & seller=hogganclan CELLAR OF TREASURES: Where friends & family R treasures 2! http://cellaroftreasures.imlds.com/ -- IEP HELP!!!!! We have twin boys age 12, with Diastrophic dwarfism. They are in the 7th grade. Our school does not know what the words " equal access " . Our boys have one restroom with Accomodation, But they are unable to open the door. When they can get a staff to open the door. Some times forgets them and the are stuck in restroom for up to 20 mins. And have goting yelled at for using other restrooms. That have no door to get in to. But other restrooms have NO Accomodation, And they will not make any Accomodation to them. Oh did I for get to say the restroom they are using is the stff restroom. This is just one of meny things we have to deal with.. What we rely need is for someone that is a LP to join us with our next IEP. Need help Craig & Fonda Sault Ste. Marie MI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 11, 2002 Report Share Posted September 11, 2002 What Ruth suggested about getting an advocate is very important... and most important, educate yourself. There are organizations out there that teach classes in what you and your children's rights are. An advocate can help educate you as well, and are invaluable to have at an IEP, so they can translate the school's double-talk. ( I learned that my former school district, Los Angeles Unified, which was HUGE, used to say " That's not our policy " even if it was the law. People who didn't know better didn't know they could point to the law and win what was needed...) There are certain terms that will often spur the school to action. One of these is " Out of compliance " . When the school does not follow the directions of an IEP, they are out of compliance, and basically breaking the law... I have gotten very fast results when pointing that out after nothing had been done for some time... Also, make sure to put requests in writing. There is a timeline for when most things must be done, and if you have your request in writing, you can prove how long it has taken. Excuse me if I sound jaded...I had to fight for so much for my daughter in LAUSD... now I'm in heaven, she just started Middle School in Culver City, which has its own school district and they are bending over backwards to make things easy for her.... what a difference!!! Feel free to write me directly, if you wish. Good luck! We have twin boys age 12, with Diastrophic dwarfism. They are in the 7th grade. Our school does not know what the words " equal access " . Our boys have one restroom with Accomodation, But they are unable to open the door. When they can get a staff to open the door. Some times forgets them and the are stuck in restroom for up to 20 mins. And have goting yelled at for using other restrooms. That have no door to get in to. But other restrooms have NO Accomodation, And they will not make any Accomodation to them. Oh did I for get to say the restroom they are using is the stff restroom. This is just one of meny things we have to deal with.. What we rely need is for someone that is a LP to join us with our next IEP. Need help Craig & Fonda Sault Ste. Marie MI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 12, 2002 Report Share Posted September 12, 2002 Another source to checkis the 's EDLAW website. Its a cross section of pertinent info and sources. Check with your state department of education as well. In our case movign our daughter to a small parochial school proved to be the best thign for her all the way around but not all have that option. I was also able to get a lot of support and info from our local League of the Blidn about what the school can and cant do. Your child may not have a vision problem but it wont hurt to check . The schools HAVE to be accountable. Apryl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 12, 2002 Report Share Posted September 12, 2002 I foudn the school officials didnt want to play nice. I tried to work the education route and gave them information from the experts on dwarfism and was told I was an ignorant non professional who didnt know what I was talking about. Sometimes ignorance is NOT educable, unfortunately. Apryl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 12, 2002 Report Share Posted September 12, 2002 On another list, a lady posted some very good ideas for the beginning of every school year when your child has an IEP, even if you're at the same school. She said to have a " staffing " - basically a meeting where every single person that will work with your child will come and hear from YOU how to work with your child - that includes every aide, every therapist, absolutely every one... She said write up a piece of paper and make a copy for everyone that tells what works with your child - what equipment is necessary, what equipment she/he uses, how she/he best learns, how best to " help out " , etc. Have this piece of paper, but don't give it to the team until after you've told them everything on the paper. THEN, pass it out a copy to everyone so they can read it on his or her own. After that, if anything comes up, you can fall back on that piece of paper that you wrote and refer to them to whatever is pertinent and they can't say, " Oh, we didn't know that! " This parent found out the teachers don't read the files, they don't investigate anything about the kids. Sometimes, they don't want to " prejudice " themselves before working with the kids, sometimes they are too busy…This suggestion came from Oregon, where, there is a requirement that the school cooperate with a " staffing " meeting if it is requested by the parent. Her other suggestion was to find time to volunteer at the school. When you can get to know the staff on a more personal level, for her, it made the staff's reaction to her disabled child much more accommodating. IMHO, trying a more educational means of dealing with these challenges can be more productive in the long run. Most of the professional teachers are good, caring people. Lord knows they must care; they aren't in that classroom for glamour, money or fame! Of course, if they don't play nice, it is time for mama bear to go into protect those cubs mode! Good Luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 13, 2002 Report Share Posted September 13, 2002 Unfortunately, it can be true... the attitudes vary from district to district and school to school. An understanding principal can make a world of difference, because they will pull strings that could prevent you from having to fight. Los Angeles Unifed was actually trying to legislate a measurable lessening of " hostile environment " in their decree plan! A worthy idea, but I don't know how enforceable or even measurable that is. > > I foudn the school officials didnt want to play nice. I tried to work the > education route and gave them information from the experts on dwarfism and > was told I was an ignorant non professional who didnt know what I was > talking > about. Sometimes ignorance is NOT educable, unfortunately. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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