Re:In school suspension for 1st grader

[Guest guest]

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> You are so right that teachers and administrators need training!� I

am constantly feeling like I have to teach them and they are supposed

to the experts!� Heck, I'm learning as I go along here because I've

never had experience until last year with IEP's and behavior plans and

such.� My guy is #3 of 4 boys!� They just don't get it.� That's why

you need someone who deals only with special needs and autism, whoever

is the expert in the district or county, to come in and evaluate and

give ideas for how to deal with issues.� That made a load of

difference with my guy!

You're right, no matter what, we will have to continue teaching

everyone who crosses our path with our individuals.

The sad thing about having these wonderful Texas Autism State

conferences going on where many educators, therapists, autism

specialist, etc. attend with a variety of sessions from whatever

topics presenters are discussing.

" Some " do not support on what they had learn from several conferences

or workshops as there are some good ones who will apply with what they

can and will notice some changes where challenging issues have

improved not just for one individual but at least to understand as a

basic guideline needed for those who are more severe, non-verbal with

lots of challenging behavior issues.

Like once upon a time during one of my son's many ARD meetings, when I

was requesting for some type of communication along with having it

incorporated across the day, so that he may express his wants and

needs during his HS years since they were preparing him for the job

world. True colors were shown.

The autism specialist assigned to him was one of the first one to deny

any of the services (PECS, communication device, signing,etc)that the

school district could provide and I have witnessed them out and about

at the Texas State Autism conference and several workshops on autism

and they never supported with any of the information or service which

I knew my son would benefit from.

I noticed this was my wake up call after all these years thought how

well they were nice and caring but of course I realized finally I

could no longer wait for the school districts to teach him where needed.

An OT who denied services, by saying while my son rocked away and we

were discussing about him taking a pencil away from another student to

stim with going on how she " specializes with sensory integration and

my son definitely did not have any sensory issues " , who had also

attended several workshops on autism which I had witnessed.

Gee, some Cracker Jack degree she ended up with which I express her

way and told her among the ARD team, of course in a nice way.

I just did not have time to educate her as my son's time was valuable

and I did not wish her working or consulting whatever she supposedly does.

The entire ARD team were all quiet wishing they kept that OT quiet

since she missed out on our monthly ARD meetings since I had given a

Revocation letter and had a meeting with one of the Secondary School

administrator and he had mentioned something like " If they have the MR

label, why waste the funds on him " . Oh boy, did he get me started.

I did not want to use too much saying here as I had plan B and

actually preferred any saying at the actual ARD meeting and boy did he

shut up and apologize with what I had on hand.

The secondary administrator, told the entire ARD meeting to keep me

happy and the OT was the only one who was excluded who missed out on

receiving this message as they were trying to kiss up. It was pretty

quiet in the room as my son rocked away and all eyes on me, just

waiting to hear what I had to say.

Then a so call person who the Secondary administrator had recommended

for a so call autism specialist/educator who I have seen at the Texas

State Autism conference who I did approve to attend was going on how

he had one of the best placement but I love the challenge with my

questions when inquiring on a nice placement setting for my son during

his HS years. Then he made the mistake of saying like, " Just face it,

he is never going to learn how to talk " .

Once again the ARD team were shocked to see how much ammo I had on

hand and realized how they messed up and how they had all failed my

son and allowed him to fall through the school cracks when I told them

that all I was asking was some form of communication and for this to

drag and see me as an enemy and wasting my son's school years.

They each had apologized and confessed that they really did not know

too much about autism and did not have any research to back up their

input as I requested from each one, " Based on what research or data

did they have? None of them had any data.

I did, like pics, documents, videos, etc.

I had to think like an attorney and a psychologist getting inside

their minds and yes, you name it, my son was receiving whatever I had

requested and actually had a nice placement setting but this time

after all those years battling just for some form of communication,

this time it was his health deteriorating and they were nice to

accommodate around his needs but it was such a no go.

We did not have to go far with TEA or hire an attorney because I

really see it as a Texas Special Education mafia, you name it most are

all connected and really do not know our individuals.

Continue learning what you can and prove anyone wrong on how much your

child can do when taught, document, document & document.

Many who worked with my son even though we held ARD meetings galore,

most of them have become my friends or just wish to remain on my

contact list per their request for whatever resource information since

I had requested on my son's IEP anyone working with my son receive

autism training which the ARD team agree and this also involved the

bus driver at the time, which he really did not mind, he was just one

of the best bus driver who appreciated learning the basic on

understanding autism and remain my son's bus driver throughout his

years during his Vocation Transition Program.

Yes, I did spoil those who got the drift of being there for our

individuals as several other students was such a joy to observe with

whatever challenge addressed in a positive manner.

It actually was not an ugly battle it just took some skills to educate

them whether they liked it or not due to being proactive learning what

I could on this journey, at least this is what worked for my son.

I could never rely on any of the advocates at the time as they never

returned my calls, emails, etc.

You do what you have to, all worth it!

Irma