A VICTORY OVER LAKELAND SCHOOL CORPORATION

[Guest guest]

> Below is a message I recieved from Amy Sutton, mom to Ben (6 DS) that she

> asked me to forward in a seperate e-mail. To read the article

highlighting

> the decision in their due process hearing, go to http://www.kpcnews.com.

>

> Thanks so much!

>

> D. J. Brumbaugh

>

> ---- Original Message -----

> From: " Al " <algriffin99@...>

>

>

> > GREAT NEWS- Our family has prevailed against our local

> > school system and our son will be educated according

> > to IDEA!!! Please pass the following summary to

> > anyone in the media who would cover our story so that

> > other families can know their is hope in obtaining a

> > quality education for children with disabilities!!!!!!

> >

> >

> > For the past year and a half, I have been involved in

> > a battle with Lakeland School Corporation in northern

> > LaGrange (where I taught for ten years) to help my son

> > who has Down syndrome receive the education that

> > federal and state laws entitle him to have. Lakeland

> > is a 15-20 years behind the current best practices in

> > teaching children with disabilities. I have been

> > researching, attending conferences, and observing at

> > progressive schools trying to persuade the school to

> > allow my son to be educated in a regular classroom

> > with his non-disabled peers with adaptations and

> > modifications to the curriculum that would allow him

> > to succeed. The school unfortunately would not work

> > with me and we were pushed into a corner. The result

> > was a due process hearing against the school held on

> > Oct. 16, 17, and 18 which was open to the public and

> > heavily publicized in our local paper, The

> > Kendallville News Sun. (To see the articles, go to-

> > http://committed.to/bensrighttoeducation . The

> > hearing officers decision was completely in our favor!

> > We won all six of our issues and the school system

> > will now be monitored by the IN Department of

> > Education monthly to see that my son is receiving the

> > education he deserves! The story made the front page

> > of the Kendallville News Sun this morning, Saturday

> > Dec. 9, under the title Child to stay in class- State

> > will monitor Lakeland's efforts.

> >

> > Please share this with anyone who will spread the good

> > news. I will fax the hearing officer's orders and

> > decision to anyone who provides me with a fax number.

> > I will answer any calls about what we have endured and

> > what we have won!

> >

> > To contact me---

> > Amy Sutton ('s mom)

> > 219-463-3773 phone number

> > 219-463-2772 fax number

> > algriffin99@... email address

> >

> > May all of our children with disabilities be so

> > blessed! Amen!

> >

> > __________________________________________________

> >