Re: IDEA/School issues

January 18, 2006

-

It sounds like a 20 minute drive will be well worth the love and support your

daughter will get at the other school! I don't know a whole lot about it - but

I do believe you have the right to ask for an independent evaulation, and it is

my understanding that she can not be exited without an eval done by a

psychologist. I would suggest contacting your state education rep for parents -

I know that the speaker at the confrence Kathy Antilla (sp?) who is an IDF

volunteer and Vice Chair (?) of IDF handed stuff out about it, I still have it

if you need me to look up ND. Remember, at the IEP, you have the right to stall

or put things on hold too - you can say " I'm not comfortable with all of this,

I'd like time to think about it, evaulate the proposals, and reschedule at a

later date. "

I'd suggest looking up IDEA and the s Law website, both were very helpful

to me.

Hang in there friend!

Dayna

>

> From: " " <lmschatz@...>

> Date: 2006/01/19 Thu AM 01:20:49 EST

> <shwachmansyndrome >,

> < >

> Subject: IDEA/School issues

>

January 19, 2006

,

Be careful not going to your home school. I work in sp-ed and know that at

any time the school can say they won't sever you. The home school district

gets the money from the state and the money dictates everything. I would

call an IEP meeting and bring a representative with you. You can call an

agency to help you. I called PAVE (Washington PAVE is a parent directed

organization that works with families, individuals with disabilities,

professionals and community members in all walks of life and with all types

of disabilities. Since 1979, PAVE has provided information, training and

support for over 1,000,000 individuals with disabilities, parents and

professionals) I know this is in Washington but I bet if you go on the

internet there might be some group around your house. They know all your

rights and here in Washington I found out that they guided me to my rights

and came with me and told the district what to do. Our district hears the

name and starts jumping through hoops. Good luck to you but do your

research before you do anything.

Lorri

IDEA/School issues

January 19, 2006

Thanks Dayna...Actually I emailed Kathy...and I'm already on board with our

PTI>>.as well as Protection and Advocacy....I would just like her kept on spec

ed until the transfer to the new schools as feel that will be the easiest for

her...

i'm heading into work.

" talk to you later.

Quoting " fladfam@... " <fladfam@...>:

> -

>

> It sounds like a 20 minute drive will be well worth the love and support your

> daughter will get at the other school! I don't know a whole lot about it -

> but I do believe you have the right to ask for an independent evaulation, and

> it is my understanding that she can not be exited without an eval done by a

> psychologist. I would suggest contacting your state education rep for

> parents - I know that the speaker at the confrence Kathy Antilla (sp?) who is

> an IDF volunteer and Vice Chair (?) of IDF handed stuff out about it, I still

> have it if you need me to look up ND. Remember, at the IEP, you have the

> right to stall or put things on hold too - you can say " I'm not comfortable

> with all of this, I'd like time to think about it, evaulate the proposals,

> and reschedule at a later date. "

>

> I'd suggest looking up IDEA and the s Law website, both were very

> helpful to me.

>

> Hang in there friend!

> Dayna

> >

> > From: " " <lmschatz@...>

> > Date: 2006/01/19 Thu AM 01:20:49 EST

> > <shwachmansyndrome >,

> > < >

> > Subject: IDEA/School issues

> >

>

January 19, 2006

,

There are a lot of experts on this site when it comes to school

issues. It is important to listen to all, take a break from it then

come back and set a plan. I for one worked as a Physcial Therapist

Assistant in Sp Ed for 14 years. There are some things to consider.

1) I think you said your child is 6. At age 7 school districts have

to come up with a hard category which is why you can have an IEP now

without a diagnosis. Having said that, it is also easier to qualify

a child for services at the age of 7 because the testing is more

difficult. Keep in mind a child cannot be retested within 6 months

or it isn't valid. No matter what happens have your child tested

near the 7th birthday.

2) You are entitled to an outside second opinion at the school

districts expense.

3) From the school district side of things bringing your husband

will get far more respect and positive notice than bringing an

advocate right off the bat. If they see that you are working

together it some how just makes things easier for all. An advocate

as seen as lawyer like and can sometime bring in an advisarial

attitude. If you choose to bring an advocate make sure you know who

they are and that they come across as working for the best interest

of the child and not focusing on " THIS IS MY RIGHT AND I'M GOING TO

GET IT LIKE IT OR NOT! " You can catch more flies with honey than

vinegar. Does that make sense? There are cases where people need

an advocate and or mediator but it's not the first step.

4) If you can afford an outside opinion, get one. Sometimes even

those therapist will go to meetings in the schools with you.

5) Remember the teacher's evaluation of 100% cutting is based on

something far different than the PT or OT. If they are using the

same shape to judge the cutting like a circle, ask them to change to

a square and see how things go. Try this at home and get your own

opinion.

If there are any questions I can answer, I would be happy to do so.

Good luck.

Kris

January 20, 2006

My son, now 6, was in the special needs preschool of our local district under

" OHI " . The preschool did the same thing. Enrolled him with all kinds of

deficits, only to report 9 months later that he was well enough to go on to

school without an IEP. I BELIEVED THEM! DUMB DUMB DUMB. He barely made it

through kindergarten (the principal now says he never should have passed), he is

failing first grade, and I have been fighting the school for 18 months to get

him back on an IEP, thus far with no success! Don't allow them to take your

child off the IEP. If they insist on marking her at 95-100%, demand in writing

an independant evaluation at their expense (that is if you know she still needs

services). I know now that the preschools inflate their scores to make it look

like they are super successful, and bring glory onto the program, when the data

is most often not true.

You do have the right to dispute. Seeking a parent advocate through your

local MRDD would be less costly than a lawsuit, if it costs you at all!

Been there, done that, fighting the battle too! If you need help, ask...its

too hard to negotiate alone!

<lmschatz@...> wrote:

This is a little off topic for some of you and others may have the

experience that I need....igh, my 6 yo has a Cognitive disorder due

to the fetal stress that she suffered....we had an " expert eval " done

this summer and she listed many recommendations that we felt the school

would have to honor...only to be told that " we should get used to her

not needing services " ....

We have been battling all fall and the school has completed their

eval....I just recieved her report card from preschool, Kindergarten and

PT and OT>...There are some discrepancies between the assessments which

I think supports the need for services as she is doing better in the

preschool setting than the regular classroom....OT state 95% cutting

accuracy, yet she got an S- on cutting in K.......her preschool teacher

said she was 100% In a couple of areas....It seems as if they are trying

to make her seem perfect...

Well, my question for you experts is this....We met with the other

district here which has less " strict " spec ed rules.. They feel with her

medical issues that she would more than likely qualify under Other

Health impaired. We can complete paperwork to open enroll her in this

district next year, but how do we handle the school if they want to stop

services now....I know I have the right to disagree with the school, but

I don't have the money for a lawsuit...but I think it would be better

for her to be in a different school due to the total breakdown of

communication...

Warren and I felt that this other school would make every attempt for

her if she does qualify whereas our current school seems to be looking

for ways to take her off services....

I know my IEP that they are working under is not appropriate...and I

don't know if that matters....if they say the testing proves she doesn't

need services...the scary thing is that this other school feels she will

really start having trouble once there is more writing...IE....next

year....I don't know that I was prepared for this yet...

Our plan is to have the meeting with them sometime next week...We need

to make a decision to open enroll by Jan 31, so now I am under the

gun....

It seems like a no brainer to send her to the other school...but it is a

20 min drive, vs 6 block walk....KWIM??? but they were kind and

compassionate and seem to truly care about the kids.....

If you have had any experience in schools wanting to pull services,

please let me know...

Thanks.

January 23, 2006

Thanks to all who have responded to me.....I truly appreciate the help.

Now that I have read my Parent Prior notice again....it says to review

eval and assessment data and create an IEP...there is a section to mark

to take the child off services...and that isn't marked.

I did hear this weekend that our Superintendent would rather " transfer

kids out, then try to keep them and work with the family.. " If this is

indeed the attitude...I think we will still transfer to the other

district and drive her to school.

I am noticing more and more socially unacceptable behavior...She chews

her fingernails down to the quick.....they are so gross and then last

night, she was sucking on her pj's until they were soaked....I am

calling Gillette Children's to see about getting her in and I think I

may try to get in with our ped yet this week...I am wondering about

maybe some petite mal seizures...or something weird.....If she gets in

trouble she is really heart broken, but tries to laugh off the things

she can't do....

Thanks again for the reply. I expect to hear from Protection and

Advocacy today...

Re: IDEA/School issues

My son, now 6, was in the special needs preschool of our local district

under " OHI " . The preschool did the same thing. Enrolled him with all

kinds of deficits, only to report 9 months later that he was well enough

to go on to school without an IEP. I BELIEVED THEM! DUMB DUMB DUMB.

He barely made it through kindergarten (the principal now says he never

should have passed), he is failing first grade, and I have been fighting

the school for 18 months to get him back on an IEP, thus far with no

success! Don't allow them to take your child off the IEP. If they

insist on marking her at 95-100%, demand in writing an independant

evaluation at their expense (that is if you know she still needs

services). I know now that the preschools inflate their scores to make

it look like they are super successful, and bring glory onto the

program, when the data is most often not true.

You do have the right to dispute. Seeking a parent advocate through

your local MRDD would be less costly than a lawsuit, if it costs you at

all!

Been there, done that, fighting the battle too! If you need help,

ask...its too hard to negotiate alone!