Re: Questions - Can the school system do this?

[Guest guest]

Leigh:

I have suggestion for you. You can join the IEP Guide

group in . It's good, full of lots of info.

I'm waiting to see what someone says too, my dd's in

preschool too. Good luck, let us know what happens.

Martha in MA

--- lbrain123 <bygpub@...> wrote:

> Hi,

>

> I need some input on my son's rights with his

> therapy through the

> preschool services with the public school system.

> Hopefully someone

> knows the answers to these questions.

>

> 1) If his speech therapy (he only goes 1 time 30

> minutes a week) is

> canceled because the speech therapist is not

> available (she has a

> school meeting or is on vacation) shouldn't they

> have to provide a

> make-up time or provide a substitue therapist? I

> mean in a regular

> classroom they don't just cancel class if the

> teacher has a meeting

> or is taking the day off. My thought is his IEP

> says 1 time 30

> minutes a week and they need to provide that

> regardless of meetings

> and vacations for the therapist. Any thoughts?

>

> 2) He has his therapy with another child who is not

> working on the

> same things he is. In that case, is he not really

> only getting 10-15

> minutes of speech therapy? That is not in

> accordance with the IEP

> that states 30 minutes. How can a therapist give 30

> minutes each to

> 2 children who are working on different things?

> (Does that make

> sense?)

>

> 3) I requested that I sit in while he has his

> therapy but they are

> really really really REALLY against that. Almost

> downright hostile.

> I told them I can work better with him at home if I

> see what the

> therapist is doing with him (which is true) but they

> are against it.

>

> 4)I am going to have to go on bedrest for a high

> risk pregnancy. Can

> I request home-based services and do they have to

> offer this? Or am

> I required to transport my child to the school or he

> doesn't get

> services?

>

> 5) They told me that since my son will be eligible

> for kindergarten

> next year (he turns 5 before the deadline date),

> that even if I hold

> him back (put him in preschool another year which I

> plan to do) they

> do not have to provide services for him. Is that

> true?

>

> If anyone has any thoughts I would be SO greatful.

> I know I should

> just consider the public school system therapy a

> freebie and not even

> get myself worked up about it, but I can't. I've had

> so many bad

> experiences with them in the past 2 years that it

> just makes me want

> to be a " squeaky wheel " so he gets what he needs. I

> have read

> through my " parent's rights handbook " and it doesn't

> address these

> things.

>

> Thank you for your help!

> Leigh

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Dear leigh,

My son is only 2 1/2 so I have no Idea what the laws

state but this does not sound so right to me.

Especially that your son is in a speech session with

another child who is doing different things than your

son. It also seems like he should be receiving more

than 30 min a session, but I do not know your son or

how you feel about 30 min a session. Do you have any

contact with the SLP? Does she or he not tell you what

you should be doing with him at home techniques etc? I

also think the SLP should be making up for lost time

and if he has not received the 30 min a week and not

making up for it I think that they are breaking the

contract of the IEP. I also do not really know about

them being so adament about you not sitting in on his

therapy. Does the slp send home progress notes on his

therapy session so you know what is going on?

Like I said, I have no expeirence with the School dept

(yet) but I would say that they are not holding up

their end of the contract (IEP) hope I was helpful and

sorry I could not answer with facts as to what they

should be doing.

Sincerely,

EIleen

--- lbrain123 <bygpub@...> wrote:

> Hi,

>

> I need some input on my son's rights with his

> therapy through the

> preschool services with the public school system.

> Hopefully someone

> knows the answers to these questions.

>

> 1) If his speech therapy (he only goes 1 time 30

> minutes a week) is

> canceled because the speech therapist is not

> available (she has a

> school meeting or is on vacation) shouldn't they

> have to provide a

> make-up time or provide a substitue therapist? I

> mean in a regular

> classroom they don't just cancel class if the

> teacher has a meeting

> or is taking the day off. My thought is his IEP

> says 1 time 30

> minutes a week and they need to provide that

> regardless of meetings

> and vacations for the therapist. Any thoughts?

>

> 2) He has his therapy with another child who is not

> working on the

> same things he is. In that case, is he not really

> only getting 10-15

> minutes of speech therapy? That is not in

> accordance with the IEP

> that states 30 minutes. How can a therapist give 30

> minutes each to

> 2 children who are working on different things?

> (Does that make

> sense?)

>

> 3) I requested that I sit in while he has his

> therapy but they are

> really really really REALLY against that. Almost

> downright hostile.

> I told them I can work better with him at home if I

> see what the

> therapist is doing with him (which is true) but they

> are against it.

>

> 4)I am going to have to go on bedrest for a high

> risk pregnancy. Can

> I request home-based services and do they have to

> offer this? Or am

> I required to transport my child to the school or he

> doesn't get

> services?

>

> 5) They told me that since my son will be eligible

> for kindergarten

> next year (he turns 5 before the deadline date),

> that even if I hold

> him back (put him in preschool another year which I

> plan to do) they

> do not have to provide services for him. Is that

> true?

>

> If anyone has any thoughts I would be SO greatful.

> I know I should

> just consider the public school system therapy a

> freebie and not even

> get myself worked up about it, but I can't. I've had

> so many bad

> experiences with them in the past 2 years that it

> just makes me want

> to be a " squeaky wheel " so he gets what he needs. I

> have read

> through my " parent's rights handbook " and it doesn't

> address these

> things.

>

> Thank you for your help!

> Leigh

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Leigh,

> 1) If his speech therapy (he only goes 1 time 30 minutes a week) is

> canceled because the speech therapist is not available (she has a

> school meeting or is on vacation) shouldn't they have to provide a

> make-up time or provide a substitue therapist? I mean in a regular

> classroom they don't just cancel class if the teacher has a meeting

> or is taking the day off. My thought is his IEP says 1 time 30

> minutes a week and they need to provide that regardless of meetings

> and vacations for the therapist. Any thoughts?

If the IEP says 1x per week for 30 minutes, that's what they have to

provide. If a therapists is not available, a makeup must be scheduled in

order to comply with the IEP. Look carefully, at you IEP, often times they

will write in " funny " language for just such situations such as

" approximately " or " at least " .

> 2) He has his therapy with another child who is not working on the

> same things he is. In that case, is he not really only getting 10-15

> minutes of speech therapy? That is not in accordance with the IEP

> that states 30 minutes. How can a therapist give 30 minutes each to

> 2 children who are working on different things? (Does that make

> sense?)

Does the IEP specifically say INDIVIDUAL speech therapy 1x per week for 30

minutes. If it doesn't say individual, he's probably getting what he's

entitled to under the IEP.

>

> 3) I requested that I sit in while he has his therapy but they are

> really really really REALLY against that. Almost downright hostile.

> I told them I can work better with him at home if I see what the

> therapist is doing with him (which is true) but they are against it.

Just a suggestion, but you may want to consider not sitting in unless there

are other important issues you didn't mention. This is a great opportunity

for independance (as well as other things) for your child!

>

> 4)I am going to have to go on bedrest for a high risk pregnancy. Can

> I request home-based services and do they have to offer this? Or am

> I required to transport my child to the school or he doesn't get

> services?

Your child can receive home-based services but only if it's determined as

the most appropriate placement for him. Unfortunately, they are not

responsible for providing services based on family circumstances so changes

are, this one isn't going to work. They are responsible for providing

transportation so the bus can pick him up and drop him off. I know, it

sounds scary but perhaps another terrific opportunity for independance (I

don't know your child's situation so forgive me if I've over stepping here).

> 5) They told me that since my son will be eligible for kindergarten

> next year (he turns 5 before the deadline date), that even if I hold

> him back (put him in preschool another year which I plan to do) they

> do not have to provide services for him. Is that true?

They must provide services as long as he qualifies -- keeping in mind such

services are based on his individual needs and not his age. What do they

have in mind for him next year?

>

> If anyone has any thoughts I would be SO greatful. I know I should

> just consider the public school system therapy a freebie and not even

> get myself worked up about it, but I can't. I've had so many bad

> experiences with them in the past 2 years that it just makes me want

> to be a " squeaky wheel " so he gets what he needs. I have read

> through my " parent's rights handbook " and it doesn't address these

> things.

Leigh, I too had a terible experience with the PS for the first nearly 3

years so I'm with you! Over time I've found that finding a way to work with

them is in the best interest of my child. It's very important to understand

your child's rights though because they go into every IEP assuming you don't

(I'm generalizing here but you get the idea).

Hope this is helpful in someway.

Dana in Michigan

rodgers@...

[Guest guest]

Leigh -- there are others on this list with more experience " working "

with their school system to get necessary services ... but here is

information based on my experience with my school district:

> 1) If his speech therapy (he only goes 1 time 30 minutes a week)

is

> canceled because the speech therapist is not available (she has a

> school meeting or is on vacation) shouldn't they have to provide a

> make-up time or provide a substitue therapist? I mean in a regular

> classroom they don't just cancel class if the teacher has a meeting

> or is taking the day off. My thought is his IEP says 1 time 30

> minutes a week and they need to provide that regardless of meetings

> and vacations for the therapist. Any thoughts?

In our district, I do not believe they " automatically " provide make-

up time or substitute therapists. At least this was the case when

the regular OT wasn't available for a couple of weeks. However, you

can certainly ask for it. In my son's class, the ST is great and

will work to ensure that sessions are not missed (even if it is my

son who is absent).

>

> 2) He has his therapy with another child who is not working on the

> same things he is. In that case, is he not really only getting 10-

15

> minutes of speech therapy? That is not in accordance with the IEP

> that states 30 minutes. How can a therapist give 30 minutes each

to

> 2 children who are working on different things? (Does that make

> sense?)

>

Your IEP would have to specify individual therapy. You can request a

meeting to review the services provided in light of your son's

progress toward IEP goals. I don't know about your district's ST,

but I have faith that our district's therapist would work very hard

with the kids to make sure they got the most out of the sessions.

Even though kids have different problems, sometimes the ST exercises

could be similar. You would have to see how the session was handled

to determine how much work was getting done with your son. Our dev.

ped. (and much expert opinion) clearly feels that individual therapy

is best with apraxic kids. Also, frequent therapy -- so, more than 1

session weekly.

> 3) I requested that I sit in while he has his therapy but they are

> really really really REALLY against that. Almost downright

hostile.

> I told them I can work better with him at home if I see what the

> therapist is doing with him (which is true) but they are against

it.

>

This I don't really understand. At my son's school they welcome

participation. See if you can set up a meeting " after " school with

the therapist, your son and you to have a sample session.

> 4)I am going to have to go on bedrest for a high risk pregnancy.

Can

> I request home-based services and do they have to offer this? Or

am

> I required to transport my child to the school or he doesn't get

> services?

At my son's program bus service is provided. The district told me

that they could not deny a child " appropriate " and " needed " services

if transportation wasn't available. I could see them denying home-

based services because they are obligated by law to provide education

in the " least restrictive environment " . Your son seems to be doing

well in the program, so it is the right environment. However, if you

can't transport him -- it seems like they would be obligated to.

>

> 5) They told me that since my son will be eligible for kindergarten

> next year (he turns 5 before the deadline date), that even if I

hold

> him back (put him in preschool another year which I plan to do)

they

> do not have to provide services for him. Is that true?

>

> If anyone has any thoughts I would be SO greatful. I know I should

> just consider the public school system therapy a freebie and not

even

> get myself worked up about it, but I can't. I've had so many bad

> experiences with them in the past 2 years that it just makes me

want

> to be a " squeaky wheel " so he gets what he needs. I have read

> through my " parent's rights handbook " and it doesn't address these

> things.

>

In our district they will not address the question of not attending

Kindergarten at the eligible age until the IEP session which

addresses services and evaluations for that year is held. I have

been given the impression that another year in the preschool

handicapped program 'might' be an option -- but no promises and no

official discussions until the time is right. I agree with my

district that the need to evaluation my son's progress and readiness

to attend K closer to the time when it is an issue. It goes back to

providing appropriate and necessary services in the least restrictive

environment.

I hope this helps!

Margaret...'s Mom

[Guest guest]

I was going to suggest the same thing.

Here's the link for the IEP group:

IEP_guide/

> > Hi,

> >

> > I need some input on my son's rights with his

> > therapy through the

> > preschool services with the public school system.

> > Hopefully someone

> > knows the answers to these questions.

> >

> > 1) If his speech therapy (he only goes 1 time 30

> > minutes a week) is

> > canceled because the speech therapist is not

> > available (she has a

> > school meeting or is on vacation) shouldn't they

> > have to provide a

> > make-up time or provide a substitue therapist? I

> > mean in a regular

> > classroom they don't just cancel class if the

> > teacher has a meeting

> > or is taking the day off. My thought is his IEP

> > says 1 time 30

> > minutes a week and they need to provide that

> > regardless of meetings

> > and vacations for the therapist. Any thoughts?

> >

> > 2) He has his therapy with another child who is not

> > working on the

> > same things he is. In that case, is he not really

> > only getting 10-15

> > minutes of speech therapy? That is not in

> > accordance with the IEP

> > that states 30 minutes. How can a therapist give 30

> > minutes each to

> > 2 children who are working on different things?

> > (Does that make

> > sense?)

> >

> > 3) I requested that I sit in while he has his

> > therapy but they are

> > really really really REALLY against that. Almost

> > downright hostile.

> > I told them I can work better with him at home if I

> > see what the

> > therapist is doing with him (which is true) but they

> > are against it.

> >

> > 4)I am going to have to go on bedrest for a high

> > risk pregnancy. Can

> > I request home-based services and do they have to

> > offer this? Or am

> > I required to transport my child to the school or he

> > doesn't get

> > services?

> >

> > 5) They told me that since my son will be eligible

> > for kindergarten

> > next year (he turns 5 before the deadline date),

> > that even if I hold

> > him back (put him in preschool another year which I

> > plan to do) they

> > do not have to provide services for him. Is that

> > true?

> >

> > If anyone has any thoughts I would be SO greatful.

> > I know I should

> > just consider the public school system therapy a

> > freebie and not even

> > get myself worked up about it, but I can't. I've had

> > so many bad

> > experiences with them in the past 2 years that it

> > just makes me want

> > to be a " squeaky wheel " so he gets what he needs. I

> > have read

> > through my " parent's rights handbook " and it doesn't

> > address these

> > things.

> >

> > Thank you for your help!

> > Leigh

> >

> >

> >

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>