Re: What do I do with a director like this?

[Guest guest]

Doesnt it have to be brought up at the ARD?

This director will tell me what they aren't going to do.

What do I say to these things?

She said, "We have been trained to impliment the

Transition Class Program

(3 year job skills training for high school sped), but the

parents just aren't

interested. They just love the safety of their child

being in Mrs. R's CBI

(community based instruction) class. They don't even want

their child to

leave the room for electives. We know that you want

to be mainstreamed

for electives."

Well I want Transition Class Programing too if we are

going to be in CBI. I know

that aren't telling the parents it even exists, and they

don't know to ask.

They put road blocks up to everything. Every eval.

Everything.

Do I need to find that newspaper report that wants to do

an article on

and what he is doing through his waiver program with his

caregivers and at

home to be a successful and productive citizen and mention

that the school

has this TCP, but the school says parents aren't

interested? Then maybe

some parents will read about it and call the school or the

newpaper reporter.

[Guest guest]

While a newspaper article is great and I would do it, I wouldn't mention the

school not doing what you want in the paper. You could just describe his

current placement and say that you have expressed an interest in other placement

at the same school. I did an article on my daughter years ago and parents

called me even if they weren't interested in what we were doing (home ABA). So

you would get some contacts from it probably. The reason I wouldn't call the

school out in the article is that you want to create an working relationship

with the school, not fight, unless fighting is the only resort. But still, save

the fight for ARD meetings, and for after you have more knowledge.

The ARD committee does decide these things but if you are having troble with

evals, and other things then start to educate yourself. Sometimes ARD committee

members on the school side do tend to " decide " even though the parent doesn't

agree. They actually have a right to do so. But they have to have good reason

and they have to tell you the reason. The fact that other students don't want

to leave this teacher is not good reason. It could be budget concerns, which is

still not good reason, but it happens. Remember they are not trying to deny the

best education for your child, they actually aren't required to provide the

best, by law they only have to provide what is " appropriate " for you child. In

other words they may just be doing their jobs. Sad to say but this is what we

have to work with!

My advice (and I went throught this with an advocate myself):

1. Document everthing you say to the school by writing letters, not talking

about it in person. If you feel like it send the letter certified so they will

hopefully feel the importance of it and maybe even respond by mail so that you

have more documentation. State in your letter that as previously discussed

" ... " Give a short, to the point description of what you have discussed with the

school about this request in prior meetings, phone calls etc. Then, be polite

and state what you want. End saying you would appreciate a response, including

Prior Written Notice, as to what action the school intends to take concerning

your request. Look this up in section 300.503 of IDEA which you can find

online. The school has to tell you what action they are going to take, why, and

what evaluations, procedure, report or record they used to decide this. They

also have to give a description of other options and other factors that are

relevant.

2. Purchase these books: 's Law Special Education Law, and 's Law

from Emotions to Advocacy. Get to know the statutes better than your school.

3. Try to maintain a polite relationship at all times, it's business, not

personal, even though it involves your child.

4. After that if you feel like you have hit a brick wall with the school,

consider an advocate. I can suggest a great one if yuou get to that point.

Sorry for the long response, but hope it helps and I hope there are others that

can use this information.

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> This director will tell me what they aren't going to do. What do I say to

these things? She said, " We have been trained to impliment the Transition Class

Program(3 year job skills training for high school sped), but the parents just

aren't interested. They just love the safety of their child being in Mrs. R's

CBI(community based instruction) class. They don't even want their child

toleave the room for electives. We know that you want to be

mainstreamedfor electives. " Well I want Transition Class Programing too if we

are going to be in CBI. I knowthat aren't telling the parents it even exists,

and they don't know to ask. They put road blocks up to everything. Every eval.

Everything. Do I need to find that newspaper report that wants to do an article

on and what he is doing through his waiver program with his caregivers and

athome to be a successful and productive citizen and mention that the schoolhas

this TCP, but the school says parents aren't interested? Then maybesome parents

will read about it and call the school or the newpaper reporter.

>