Re: What can schools do when child is out for extended period?

December 12, 2011

All kid's situations are dif., as well as every state and every school

district. That said, my experience with WI is that the school district does

not want to have the child go to another special school or program because

if they recommend it, they have to pay for it. So, I don't know if your

district is planning to pay for her to go to a " special' program or school.

The students I know who have gone to an outside program or school have been

a harm to themselves or others (major acting out behavior towards

teachers). Another student with major medical issues comes when she can and

otherwise, she gets homebound services.When my son was having trouble with

severe depression/anxiety, he got homebound services and then we worked

back in as tolerated. We also have online programming as an option in our

district, which might work for your dd. If not available in your school

district, you may be able to hook up with another online program with

another district (called school choice in WI). I tried to work with the

school counselor because the special ed. person was overextended and

wasn't involved in his school. You can always go to your state's DPI

(Department of Public Instruction) and file a complaint if you feel your

child is not being served. I have found that when you read the state laws

(off of their website) that school districts interpret them in their own

way and that can be frustrating. I listened to a lawyer specializing in

special ed. law and she said that communication between parents and schools

is the most imp. thing to prevent a lawsuit and that IEPs need to be very

exact with no grey areas. Good luck with this. It is a full time job

advocating for your child.

On Mon, Dec 12, 2011 at 7:03 PM, N Brennan wrotpe:

> **

>

> Just wondering if anyone can provide some info on the role of public

> school and child with OCD. My dd has been out of school for almost 3 mos

> due to debilitating sudden onset OCD symptoms and major depression.

> Shes has been on official medical leave from but now school is taking

> about possible having her go to a " special " school. There will be a formal

> meeting this week and Im not sure what to expect. Can they kick her out if

> she doesnt get better fast enough? Both Phych Drs say she not ready to go

> back. Im Also, pursuing the Pandas aspect of OCD and she is now seeing

> specialist who wants us to try steroids burst and not change meds or have

> her begin CBT/ERP. (We were ready to go begin an extensive outpatient

> program before seeing new Dr. since she cannot even get dressed most

> days.)

>

> Can they kick her out or place her somewhere else legally? Is there some

> cut off in which if so many days are missed they have the right to do so?

> Who, what agency should I be talking to? Should I be concerned on a legal

> level? My experience with the special needs coordinator has not always

> been amicable as I have another dd who has an IEP and historically, I've

> had to fight to make them to provide the services she needed/deserved.

>

> Right now it looks as though it may be months till shes better. Could she

> just take the grade next year if needed? I have no idea how long this will

> take and additional pressure from the school is just not what we need

> when we're just trying to find out what the right/best treatment is.

>

> Any direction info would be most appreciated. Thank so much!

>

December 12, 2011

Does your dd currently receive homebound instruction through the district? Is

the school they are looking at sending your dd to a therapeutic school? My dd

was severely ill and missed 3 years of high school. She was on homebound

instruction most of that time (but really couldn't accomplish much) and I wish

they would have suggested sending her to a therapeutic school. She was placed

into a program within her high school for kids with neurobiological illnesses

with a mental health component, but wasn't well enough to attend. In the end, we

were able to get the school district to reimburse a large amount of money for an

intensive inpatient hospitalization treatment program where she spent 60 days.

My dd truly wasn't well enough to do schooling during most of the 3 years. So,

my dd she was not kicked out of school during those years. She was able to stay

an extra year to repeat one of the years she missed but it was a fight in our

district to be able to do so, but we did accomplish it. What grade is your dd

currently in? I hope things improve for your dd soon. Stormy

Sent from my iPad

>

> Can they kick her out or place her somewhere else legally? Is there some cut

off in which if so many days are missed they have the right to do so? Who, what

agency should I be talking to? Should I be concerned on a legal level? My

experience with the special needs coordinator has not always been amicable as I

have another dd who has an IEP and historically, I've had to fight to make them

to provide the services she needed/deserved.

>

> Right now it looks as though it may be months till shes better. Could she just

take the grade next year if needed? I have no idea how long this will take and

additional pressure from the school is just not what we need when we're just

trying to find out what the right/best treatment is.

>

> Any direction info would be most appreciated. Thank so much!

>

December 12, 2011

So sorry- I can understand why you are concerned. Well, she is entitled to a

public education...so if her needs cannot be met where she is, your district

will have to pay for her to go to somewhere that her needs can be. It really is

unfortunate that the person at the school is not being more helpful.

Unfortunately, most of the time parents do have to advocate and educate.

www.worrywisekids.org has a section on knowing your rights...I think I have

another link somewhere too but I have to dig it up. Not sure what state you are

in, but down here in Alabama there is something called ADAP (Alabama

Disabilities Advocacy Program). Special services are a right, not a favor...so

I would start with doing a search for a local Disabilities Advocacy

organization. You are familiar with the IEP process from your other child, so,

you will need to ask in writing for an IEP for this one as well...if she gets

rejected then you can go for the 504 plan which will provide her with

accommodations. I know that it is different, but when my nephew had to miss over

a year of school because he was undergoing treatment for cancer, there were

tutors that the district sent over. He missed over a year of school and

returned without having to repeat a grade and a 504 in place. If the special ed

coordinator is not helpful, is there anyone else at the school who could help

advocate for you? Hang in there.

>

> Just wondering if anyone can provide some info on the role of public school

and child with OCD. My dd has been out of school for almost 3 mos due to

debilitating sudden onset OCD symptoms and major depression. Shes has been

on official medical leave from but now school is taking about possible having

her go to a " special " school. There will be a formal meeting this week and Im

not sure what to expect. Can they kick her out if she doesnt get better fast

enough? Both Phych Drs say she not ready to go back. Im Also, pursuing the

Pandas aspect of OCD and she is now seeing specialist who wants us to try

steroids burst and not change meds or have her begin CBT/ERP. (We were ready to

go begin an extensive outpatient program before seeing new Dr. since she

cannot even get dressed most days.)

>

> Can they kick her out or place her somewhere else legally? Is there some cut

off in which if so many days are missed they have the right to do so? Who, what

agency should I be talking to? Should I be concerned on a legal level? My

experience with the special needs coordinator has not always been amicable as I

have another dd who has an IEP and historically, I've had to fight to make them

to provide the services she needed/deserved.

>

> Right now it looks as though it may be months till shes better. Could she just

take the grade next year if needed? I have no idea how long this will take and

additional pressure from the school is just not what we need when we're just

trying to find out what the right/best treatment is.

>

> Any direction info would be most appreciated. Thank so much!

>

December 12, 2011

They can recommend placement (location) if they feel they can't meet her needs,

and I think place her there. First thought here - just calmly listen to what

they have to say, see what they offer, what this special school can offer, etc.

Volunteer to tour it. But you can say that you and her doctors feel she is not

ready to go back. But you're willing to see this special school now, as if she

can't return yet it may be the best place for her when she's ready..... So this

shows you are expecting her to return at some point and are being agreeable (vs

being seen as not working with the school). I'm sure you're used to this, with

another child with an IEP.

Hasn't she been getting homebound services any? If not, due to severity, then

it seems at this point in the year, she'd be held back anyway? I'm asking here,

if it's the case that she hasn't been able to do any schoolwork. I would think

they could just keep her on homebound if that is what she is currently getting.

Our handbook here in NC discusses homebound under " discipline " and says:

" Discipline and homebound instruction

(a) If a change of placement occurs under the discipline requirements of these

Policies, an LEA shall not assign a student to homebound

instruction without a determination by the student's IEP Team

that the homebound instruction is the least restrictive alternative

environment for that student. If it is determined that the homebound

instruction is the least restrictive alternative environment for the

student, the student's IEP team shall meet to determine the nature of

the homebound educational services to be provided to the student. In addition,

the continued appropriateness of the homebound

instruction shall be evaluated monthly by the designee or designees of the

student's IEP Team.

( " Educational services " means all of the following:

(1) The necessary instructional hours per week in the form and format as

determined by the child's IEP team and consistent with federal and State law.

The instruction shall be deliveredby appropriately qualified teachers to the

extent required by federal and State law, which requires a free appropriate

public education and the opportunity for a sound basic education.

(2) Related services including in the child's IEP.

(3) Behavior intervention services to the extent required above NC 1504-2.1 (d)

and (f).

outside the school setting. "

ALSO found the following:

" Children determined eligible for services under Part B must receive a program

of special education and related services in accordance with an individualized

education program (IEP) developed at a meeting of the child's IEP Team,

including school officials and the child's parents. 34 CFR §§300.320-300.324.

The IEP, which addresses the child's unique educational needs arising from the

child's disability also forms the basis for the child's placement decision. 34

CFR §300.116((2). Part B expresses a preference for placing children with

disabilities in regular classes with nondisabled children if the child with a

disability can be educated satisfactorily in the regular educational environment

with the use of supplementary aids and services. 34 CFR §300.114. Although

experience has demonstrated that many children with disabilities can be educated

satisfactorily in the regular classroom along with children without

disabilities, unless their IEP calls for some other arrangement, IDEA also

recognizes that the regular classroom may not be the appropriate placement for

some disabled children. Therefore, each public agency must make available a

continuum of alternative placements, or a range of placement options, to meet

the needs of children with disabilities for special education and related

services. The options on this continuum include instruction in regular classes,

special classes, special schools, home instruction, and instruction in hospitals

and institutions. 34 CFR §300.115 (a) and ((1). Thus, the group responsible

for making the placement decision, which includes persons knowledgeable about

the child and the child's parent, selects the option on the continuum in which

the child's IEP can be appropriately implemented. 34 CFR §300.116(a)-(. "

HOPE this helps gives you some ideas for discussing your point of view of her

needs in their terms. I agree, the best thing for her right now is to get her

well, on her way to getting well.

There's some OCD school related information in our FILES section that you could

print out, but that is primarily for help when child is attending school.

Haven't read it lately, can't recall if it mentions anywhere about not being

able to attend. It goes with the info you will see on this site:

http://www.ocdeducationstation.org/role-of-school-personnel

There is also a book by Dr. that is recent, you can read more about it

here: http://ocdhandbook.com/ocdbasics/ But again, I think it is also more

regarding those attending school. It DOES have a section for transitioning back

to school after a long absence though.

I think the school is probably taking the steps required by them at this point,

and the goal is to meet her educational needs. I learned to try to think of us

as a *team* and we were working for helping succeed in getting his

education. Also learned " thank you " goes a long way, lol, and asking them what

their thoughts/suggestions are first, did they have any similar experience with

another student/how did they meet the need...and then getting to what *I*

wanted. And sometimes I was just at a loss as to how to accommodate him and I

really wanted them to come up with answers!

Keep us updated, will be interested to hear how the meeting goes. Quick

thoughts tonight, I remember the advocating days! 's 22 now!

>

Can they kick her out or place her somewhere else legally? Is there some cut

off in which if so many days are missed they have the right to do so? Who, what

agency should I be talking to? Should I be concerned on a legal level? My

experience with the special needs coordinator has not always been amicable as I

have another dd who has an IEP and historically, I've had to fight to make them

to provide the services she needed/deserved.

>

> Right now it looks as though it may be months till shes better. Could she just

take the grade next year if needed? I have no idea how long this will take and

additional pressure from the school is just not what we need when we're just

trying to find out what the right/best treatment is.

>

> Any direction info would be most appreciated. Thank so much!

>

December 12, 2011

Here is the other link I mentioned:

http://www.ocdeducationstation.org/role-of-school-personnel/understanding-the-la\

w-as-it-relates-to-students-with-ocd/

> >

> > Just wondering if anyone can provide some info on the role of public school