education progress

[Guest guest]

Boy, what a difference an attorney makes. I met with our P & A Attorney this

week before an informal mediation with our school and their Attorney.

He started by apologizing for not realizing how far out of control the

situation with was before now. In our conversation, he admitted

that he had never heard of CHARGE. Did that surprise me??? Then he asked

who on her IEP team was an " expert " on CHARGE. My response was of course me

and I admitted that I didn't now enough to be called an expert. In his

opinion the school was not educated enough to write an appropriate program

for if they don't understand what has.

After he reviewed her file provided by the school, he was really concerned.

The observations of that were used to determine her placement didn't

even mention that she and hearing or visual impairments. They didn't even

mention that she had CHARGE.

Our meeting with the school ended up that there will be extensive evaluations

completed for behavior, speech, vision, hearing, assentive technology,

comprehension. He also asked them to address potential for education if

possible. Then he wants to find someone familiar with CHARGE to review it to

see if they think additional testing or clarifications need to be made. Only

then, will an IEP be written and possible placement discussed.

He pointed out that they have been writing the same goals year after year

even when they are documenting that the goal has been met. He didn't ask for

explanation but he wanted them to be aware that he noticed her IEP's have

been lacking.

As for the discrimination? I agreed not to make an issue out of this right

now. He made the school aware that there is sufficient documentation to make

this an issue that they can't afford. If it does not stop immediately, it

can and probably will become an issue. And it was left at that.

We want the behavior to be evaluated in both schools. So that should take

place in the next 3 weeks. If it has to be in 4 weeks from now, then I will

give the ok to have her in both schools for an additional week. If they drag

out getting that eval scheduled, they will loose out on the opportunity to

evaluate her in both settings. The BEST news is..... With the concern that

is displaying behaviors that we had under control as well as new very

inappropriate behaviors, I get to bring her back to her home district when

the 45 day trial out period has ended where she will remain until this is

resolved.

I don't have resolution yet but I feel some steps are being made to help us

understand a little more about and her educational needs. This is

more cooperation than we have had in years and that is a start.

Casey, I have taken over your " mom from hell " title in our district. I hope

you don't mind.

Sheryl, mom to Mitch 13 and 13 CHARGE