Re: ARD committee members and PWN

[Guest guest]

At my son's ARD meeting a brief discussion ensued because my husband arrived

late. They said you have to be in attendance for the entire meeting to vote

(but bent the rules for my husband after all). So perhaps you can tell them it

is your understanding that participants need to be in attendance during the

entire meeting and they are able to vote.

Maggie

willsonpam wrote:

I have two questions for the group. At my son's last ARD/IEP

meeting all the required school personnel were in attendance as well

as two of my relatives. Because of printer failure, the school was

not able to print a copy of the ARD/IEP. The next week I received a

copy with the school personnel signatures (all agreeing). I signed

disagree. The relatives that were at the meeting were not allowed

to sign agree or disagree. I maintain that since they were at the

meeting they were part of the ARD committee and should be allowed to

sign and indicate they disagree. The school maintains that they are

not part of the ARD committee.

Also, during the meeting I requested several changes to 's

BIP. The school refused. I asked for PWN. The school's PWN states

that an option considered was changing BIP to include suggestions

from parent. The reason the school rejected was " does not

need changes at this time. "

I wrote the school back and requested the PWN detail the five items

the parents wanted be listed separately, and that the reason the

school rejected each of them needed to include citation of research

based, peer reviewed data to support each denial, a description of

each evaluation procedure, assessment, record, or report the school

district used in deciding to refuse each of the five requests, and

how the evaluation, assessment, record or report supports the

school's decision in each request. I also stated that the school's

phrase " does not need changes at this time " probably

wouldn't hold up to legal scrutiny as being a legally defensible

response.

The school response today is " A prior written notice is not required

for the request you have made. This type of notice is required only

when the school proposes or refuses to: identify your child as a

student who needs special education; evaluate your child; place your

child in a special education program; change your child's placement;

or change the free appropriate public education provided to your

child. " I am maintaining that they refused to change the FAPE to my

child to one that would benefit him educationally and behaviorally

and as such my request is valid.

I would appreciate opinions/responses from the group. If you would

like to respond privately, my email is willson@...

Thanks in advance, Pam

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

Everyone....

It is against the law for ARD committees to VOTE on anything!!!!

Voting is not allowed per federal law!!! The group must come to

a " consensus " agreement. But if they ever actually hold a " vote " and

ask people to raise their hands, that is against the law!!! ARG!!!

nna

Maggie Everts wrote:

>

> At my son's ARD meeting a brief discussion ensued because my

husband arrived late. They said you have to be in attendance for

the entire meeting to vote (but bent the rules for my husband after

all). So perhaps you can tell them it is your understanding that

participants need to be in attendance during the entire meeting and

they are able to vote.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Interesting - In our ARD/IEP meeting this summer, there was no one to type

up the minutes of the meeting so I just signed in the proper place with the

understanding a copy of everything would be sent to me. It was sent but I

now realize that I should have read it before I signed it - I have more than

a few questions about the IEP.

Next time I will understand there is no hurry to sign something I have not

read and agree with - Live and learn. )

Just want to publicly thank everyone who posts on this group. It is very

helpful to know there are many others who have experience and are willing to

help those of us who are beginning the process.

Debbie

Debbie Andrick >>^..^<<

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[Guest guest]

Hi nna,

Could you explain this concept a bit more? The school always holds a

" staffing " (without me of course) prior to the ARD to decide what they will

offer in the way of services, so they have " their consensus " . What I don't

understand is how an IEP can be totally inappropriate and yet the District

claims that the agreed/disagree only means that if you " agree " you are

stating that the report was put together by qualified personnel. This was a

big issue for me because none of the people from the District even know my

child, yet they all signed " agree " . Can you shed some light on what the

responsibilities are regarding agree vs. disagree? What does it actually

mean?

_____

From: Texas-Autism-Advocacy

[mailto:Texas-Autism-Advocacy ] On Behalf Of nna Bond

Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2006 9:40 AM

To: Texas-Autism-Advocacy

Subject: Re: ARD committee members and PWN

Everyone....

It is against the law for ARD committees to VOTE on anything!!!!

Voting is not allowed per federal law!!! The group must come to

a " consensus " agreement. But if they ever actually hold a " vote " and

ask people to raise their hands, that is against the law!!! ARG!!!

nna

Maggie Everts wrote:

>

> At my son's ARD meeting a brief discussion ensued because my

husband arrived late. They said you have to be in attendance for

the entire meeting to vote (but bent the rules for my husband after

all). So perhaps you can tell them it is your understanding that

participants need to be in attendance during the entire meeting and

they are able to vote.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Oooooooooh no, no, no, no, no. If you agree, you are essentially signing

a contract with the school that your child's IEPs are what is written

and this is what his educational program will be.

It sounds like it would be very helpful for you to get a copy of From

Emotions to Advocacy from www.wrightslaw.com. You may even want to spend

some time on the website researching those questions yourself.

S.

Re: ARD committee members and PWN

Everyone....

It is against the law for ARD committees to VOTE on anything!!!!

Voting is not allowed per federal law!!! The group must come to

a " consensus " agreement. But if they ever actually hold a " vote " and

ask people to raise their hands, that is against the law!!! ARG!!!

nna

Maggie Everts wrote:

>

> At my son's ARD meeting a brief discussion ensued because my

husband arrived late. They said you have to be in attendance for

the entire meeting to vote (but bent the rules for my husband after

all). So perhaps you can tell them it is your understanding that

participants need to be in attendance during the entire meeting and

they are able to vote.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Advocacy issues regarding autism treatment in Texas said " A SE

coordinator was telling me that their " agreement " did not

mean the same. I thought she was demented, so that is why I am asking. "

,

Your SE coordinator IS demented!

Agreement means that everyone agrees with EVERYTHING that is written in the

document. It does NOT mean that they agree that people who are certified

wrote it. (arg! - that may be one of the stupidest things I have ever

heard).

If you do not agree with EVERYTHING in the IEP, SIGN DISAGREE!!! The sky

will not fall...you will simply meet again in 10 school days to introduce

other options and work out a compromise/agreement.

And...a consensus includes THE PARENT, always, and, when possible, THE

STUDENT.

nna

[Guest guest]

Hi nna,

There was no way I was going to agree to that piece of cr*p.

Let me ask you this: how can any school official that does not know your

child " agree " ? It goes without saying that they cannot possible know if the

IEP is appropriate if they have not even met the child. It seems to me

those without direct knowledge of your child should abstain, yet I've never

seen that happen.

_____

From: Texas-Autism-Advocacy

[mailto:Texas-Autism-Advocacy ] On Behalf Of nna Bond

Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2006 9:44 AM

To: Texas Autism Advocacy

Subject: Re: ARD committee members and PWN

Advocacy issues regarding autism treatment in Texas said " A SE

coordinator was telling me that their " agreement " did not

mean the same. I thought she was demented, so that is why I am asking. "

,

Your SE coordinator IS demented!

Agreement means that everyone agrees with EVERYTHING that is written in the

document. It does NOT mean that they agree that people who are certified

wrote it. (arg! - that may be one of the stupidest things I have ever

heard).

If you do not agree with EVERYTHING in the IEP, SIGN DISAGREE!!! The sky

will not fall...you will simply meet again in 10 school days to introduce

other options and work out a compromise/agreement.

And...a consensus includes THE PARENT, always, and, when possible, THE

STUDENT.

nna