Great info to help negotiate your IEP

[Guest guest]

I recently discovered something very interesting that might be helpful

when negotiating the IEP for your child.

Our daughter receives after school ABA services and I am having a

disagreement with our town about the number of hours provided and the

rate paid to the service provider. I feel the rate is too low and the

reason I care about it is that we pay the service provider in advance so

she doesn't have to wait a month or more for her checks.

When I asked for information from our town about the rates paid to

other service providers and their qualifications, they ignored my

request.

When I searched " freedom of information " in Google I found this terrific

web site:

http://www.sunshinereview.org/index.php/List_of_who_can_make_public_reco\

rd_requests_by_state

<http://www.sunshinereview.org/index.php/List_of_who_can_make_public_rec\

ord_requests_by_state%20%20%20>

It turns out that in New Jersey we have something called The Open

Public Records Act. This act mandates that our local board of education

is obligated to release most of their records within 7 days of a

written request (with some exceptions including anything with


personal identifying information). Most states have similar

mandates.

Once I requested the information under The Open Public Records Act, it


was amazing how quickly they responded.

Yesterday I received time sheets for every student showing the number

of after school hours they receive and the hourly rate and resumes for

all of the service providers.

There is a huge range of the number of hours provided (10 hours to 100+

a month) and rate per hour paid to these providers ($15 to $90 per

hour).

I just made a second request for information about physical,

occupational and speech therapy services received by every student in

town.

If you are in negotiations for your child's IEP, I encourage you to

make a freedom of information act request. I can understand if you are

reluctant to ask for this type of 
information because of concerns

that it might put you in an adversarial relationship with your board of

education and the potential for negative consequences.

If you feel that way, perhaps you know someone in your area, even in

another town, who doesn't have kids and therefore has nothing to lose.

Ask them to request the information as it seems like anyone can request

public records.

The board of education holds all of the cards and they clearly have the

upper hand. They have lawyers on retainer, they do this every day and

have no emotional stake in these matters. You are entitled to receive

this type of information and it may help your case.

I'll let you know what happens as we continue in our negotiations and

let me know what you find out in your state.

Jon

Drive4.org <http://www.drive4rebecca.org/>

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