Guest guest Posted January 14, 2008 Report Share Posted January 14, 2008 Dana, thanks for this very helpful info. nancy grace > > Hi , > > This sounds so rough but there is help out there (and here)! > > I work as a sped teacher and can tell you that it sounds like you need > to ask for an emergency team meeting to reassess the 504. The > district has 30 days to have the meeting. > > When a child isn't able to access the curriculum (which it seems like > for your son) an IEP needs to be developed that will help support the > child. > > As I'm certain you know, the big difference between an IEP and a 504 > is that a 504 allows accommodations but doesn't have actual goals that > teachers have to meet. > > You son needs an IEP with goals specific to his areas of difficulty > (writing) and with the IEP, support can be officially given and > progress measured. > > Very often my parents of 5th grade students will become concerned > about their kids being embarrassed by having a " helper teacher " in > class. And the truth is that sometimes kids are embarrassed, but in > my school, the aides are often there for several kids in one class but > are also trained to be as unobtrusive as possible. Most kids are > jealous of the kids who have aides because those kids do so well! > > When a kid needs tools to succeed and feel better about school (the > tears are just not acceptable, right?), an aide can be a valuable > help, either in class or with a pullout. > > When your son is having trouble with any writing (so true of many > OCDers), the term we use in school is called " dysgraphia, " and it's a > real learning disability that we take seriously. We accommodate it > with a scribe, use of a tape recorder or alternate ways for a kid to > show their knowledge. We do it all the time! > > If your classroom teacher wants to play the " he's just being stubborn " > card, then you can get your son's therapist or psychiatrist or even > pediatrician to write a letter about his diagnosis and dysgraphia in > particular. If the district remains resistant, contact an advocate. > > The school is responsible for listening to your concerns and helping > your boy succeed. Be a squeaky wheel; those are the parents we really > do listen to and respect for advocating for their child! > > And in the meantime, I'd talk to the teacher(s) immediately and show > them information about dysgraphia/OCD and ask for ways you can work > together to help your son. Make it clear to them that you're working > on it this at home as well. > > Feel free to contact me off group if you want to talk! > Dana > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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