Advocate?

[Guest guest]

Hello, everyone. I'm requesting help on behalf of a parent who is not on this

list. My best friend's childcare provider has a little girl on the spectrum.

Last year, she was in a special self-contained Pre-K program with a teacher and

a paraprofessional. This year, she is in a General Ed class with no para. She

gets pulled out during the day, and the teacher comes to get her and picks up

all of the kids that get pulled out before they actually go to the class where

they receive services. The mother learned at Open House that the teacher did

not even know that the little girl was autistic. The mother has been getting

" reports " about her daughter's behavior everyday, and the Asst. Principal made

the comment that perhaps this was not the best placement for her daughter.

Immediately, I told my friend that the mother needs to speak with the Sped

Director, because, before they say that this is not the best placement, the

school needs to show that they have done everything they can to make

accomodations and meet what is outlined in the IEP. Given that the teacher did

not even know the girl was autistic makes it very likely that, except for being

pulled out (which, due to the fact that they are walking the kids all over the

school to pick everyone up, probably means she's also not getting all of her

contact hours), the IEP is not being followed. The mother does not speak English

very well, and I think she needs an advocate with her when she does meet with

the SpEd Dir and anyone/everyone else at the school. However, I don't know who I

can direct her to. I can recommend CARD, but this is pretty time-sensitive, and

she would have to have the intake interview before someone at CARD would be able

to assist her. Does anyone on this list have the name of an experienced

advocate? I would offer to go with her, but I'm not so sure I'm the most

qualified person and I, fortunately, have not experienced this at my son's

school.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. You can contact me directly at:

glad1@....

Thanks in advance,

Gladys