Re: emotionally disturbed label

[Guest guest]

Boy do I agree. I got an email from the resource teacher that the Computer

Applications teacher assured him that my son understood the directions and steps

of the assignment and was just playing " stupid. "

I responded that often my son does use the " I don't know " or " I don't

understand " as avoidance behavior. He will often repeat those phrases over and

over to keep from actually doing the work or to keep from listening to the

explanation of how or what to do. But then I gave an example from that night

where his literalness (is that a word?) had been a problem. He had a list of

science assignments that he needed to make up. He told me that he did not

understand what the assignment meant. So I asked him to explain more. So he

said he did not understand what the teacher had written down because he could

not find it on the page. So, I turned to the page and it said, " Section 1

Assessment " - the teacher had written down " Section 1 Review. " Even thought the

page was the same, there were 5 questions and it said Section 1, the words

Review and Assessment threw him. What is written by the teacher is what is

supposed to be on the page. The teacher responded that he had worked with him

enough to be aware that he is literal and it can not understand things, but it

he did not " cry wolf " so often then he would be believed more when he said that

he did not understand.

Why can't they get it? I am a sped teacher for 30+ years and a parent of

special needs kids for 26. I still get it.

Donna

---- Roxanna <madideas@...> wrote:

> Don't you hate it when people who have the background in sped or training in

sped, do not " get it. " ?!??! We have had that happen so often. The other day

with my 20 yo ds, at the meeting we had discussing his sped needs, they brought

him in and sped teacher had him recite the information she gave him on taking a

test he needed to take. She had insisted that she told him all about it, which

I didn't doubt! lol. But he would never have come and told us about it. He's

never had the " follow through " ability. So there we sat while she had him

recite everything, then she smiles with a " see! I told you I told him what to

do!! " and then lectures him about how he needs to speak up for himself, learn to

advocate for himself, blah blah blah...Well, I just sat there thinking, " If he

could do those things, we wouldn't be here. " The person was really nice and

meant well, but there is some disconnect between knowing what a communication

disability means vs. understanding what it looks like in real life. Or else

it's an age thing maybe? Once they get to high school or beyond, they no longer

are allowed to have those problems...

>

>

> Roxanna

>

> " Suppose you were an idiot.

> And suppose you were a member of Congress.

> But I repeat myself. "

> ~ Mark Twain

> ( ) Re: " emotionally disturbed " label

>

> Texas does what it does even if it isn't legal. You're supposed to be able

to go to the TEA for help but there are people working for them who also work

for the public schools and so there's a problem with them being biased toward

districts. I know it sounds crazy, but if they can find away to get around the

law and not have anyone figure it out they'll do it. They have expensive lawyers

to whom they pay a great deal of money and they would rather fight a parent than

to provide anything. Then when the kid graduates they are happy to put them into

the criminal justice system. I have a friend whose son is bipolar with psychotic

episodes. He's about 12 years old. When he was 10 he was arrested at school and

he has a police record until he is 18.

>

> Miriam

> > >

> > > The label cannot exclude services. They might be doing that at your

school but it is not legal to do that. Services have to be based on need and not

on the label.

> >

> > Of course it can and it does. You would not provide braille readers for a

deaf child. Having a dx for deafness (and not blind and deaf) will exclude a

student from getting braille readers. There is the same reasoning with ED and BD

on some issues. For example, why would you provide a student with extra time for

homework if s/he is simply willfully not doing it? This is the damage having an

ED/BD label rather than AS could do--just as a very simple example. In Texas,

things like this are actually written into the state rules, not in that

language, of course, but you get the idea. Yes, if a BD/ED student has slow

processing speed and working memory problems, they should be given extra time

regardless of the dx, but will anybody stop to figure that out?

> >

> > Ruth

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -

> >

> >

> >

> > No virus found in this incoming message.

> > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com

> > Version: 8.5.287 / Virus Database: 270.12.4/2081 - Release Date: 04/26/09

09:44:00

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

>

>

> No virus found in this incoming message.

> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com

> Version: 8.5.287 / Virus Database: 270.12.6/2084 - Release Date: 04/28/09

06:15:00

[Guest guest]

Boy do I agree. I got an email from the resource teacher that the Computer

Applications teacher assured him that my son understood the directions and steps

of the assignment and was just playing " stupid. "

I responded that often my son does use the " I don't know " or " I don't

understand " as avoidance behavior. He will often repeat those phrases over and

over to keep from actually doing the work or to keep from listening to the

explanation of how or what to do. But then I gave an example from that night

where his literalness (is that a word?) had been a problem. He had a list of

science assignments that he needed to make up. He told me that he did not

understand what the assignment meant. So I asked him to explain more. So he

said he did not understand what the teacher had written down because he could

not find it on the page. So, I turned to the page and it said, " Section 1

Assessment " - the teacher had written down " Section 1 Review. " Even thought the

page was the same, there were 5 questions and it said Section 1, the words

Review and Assessment threw him. What is written by the teacher is what is

supposed to be on the page. The teacher responded that he had worked with him

enough to be aware that he is literal and it can not understand things, but it

he did not " cry wolf " so often then he would be believed more when he said that

he did not understand.

Why can't they get it? I am a sped teacher for 30+ years and a parent of

special needs kids for 26. I still get it.

Donna

---- Roxanna <madideas@...> wrote:

> Don't you hate it when people who have the background in sped or training in

sped, do not " get it. " ?!??! We have had that happen so often. The other day

with my 20 yo ds, at the meeting we had discussing his sped needs, they brought

him in and sped teacher had him recite the information she gave him on taking a

test he needed to take. She had insisted that she told him all about it, which

I didn't doubt! lol. But he would never have come and told us about it. He's

never had the " follow through " ability. So there we sat while she had him

recite everything, then she smiles with a " see! I told you I told him what to

do!! " and then lectures him about how he needs to speak up for himself, learn to

advocate for himself, blah blah blah...Well, I just sat there thinking, " If he

could do those things, we wouldn't be here. " The person was really nice and

meant well, but there is some disconnect between knowing what a communication

disability means vs. understanding what it looks like in real life. Or else

it's an age thing maybe? Once they get to high school or beyond, they no longer

are allowed to have those problems...

>

>

> Roxanna

>

> " Suppose you were an idiot.

> And suppose you were a member of Congress.

> But I repeat myself. "

> ~ Mark Twain

> ( ) Re: " emotionally disturbed " label

>

> Texas does what it does even if it isn't legal. You're supposed to be able

to go to the TEA for help but there are people working for them who also work

for the public schools and so there's a problem with them being biased toward

districts. I know it sounds crazy, but if they can find away to get around the

law and not have anyone figure it out they'll do it. They have expensive lawyers

to whom they pay a great deal of money and they would rather fight a parent than

to provide anything. Then when the kid graduates they are happy to put them into

the criminal justice system. I have a friend whose son is bipolar with psychotic

episodes. He's about 12 years old. When he was 10 he was arrested at school and

he has a police record until he is 18.

>

> Miriam

> > >

> > > The label cannot exclude services. They might be doing that at your

school but it is not legal to do that. Services have to be based on need and not

on the label.

> >

> > Of course it can and it does. You would not provide braille readers for a

deaf child. Having a dx for deafness (and not blind and deaf) will exclude a

student from getting braille readers. There is the same reasoning with ED and BD

on some issues. For example, why would you provide a student with extra time for

homework if s/he is simply willfully not doing it? This is the damage having an

ED/BD label rather than AS could do--just as a very simple example. In Texas,

things like this are actually written into the state rules, not in that

language, of course, but you get the idea. Yes, if a BD/ED student has slow

processing speed and working memory problems, they should be given extra time

regardless of the dx, but will anybody stop to figure that out?

> >

> > Ruth

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -

> >

> >

> >

> > No virus found in this incoming message.

> > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com

> > Version: 8.5.287 / Virus Database: 270.12.4/2081 - Release Date: 04/26/09

09:44:00

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

>

>

> No virus found in this incoming message.

> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com

> Version: 8.5.287 / Virus Database: 270.12.6/2084 - Release Date: 04/28/09

06:15:00

[Guest guest]

Bless you, Donna.  I bet you do “get itâ€.  Seeing it up close

and personal helps reinforce it, I am sure. 

From:

[mailto: ] On

Behalf Of donnalmoore@...

Sent: April 28, 2009 08:03 PM

Cc: Roxanna

Subject: Re: ( ) Re: " emotionally disturbed "

label

Boy do I agree. I got an email from the resource teacher that the Computer

Applications teacher assured him that my son understood the directions and

steps of the assignment and was just playing " stupid. "

I responded that often my son does use the " I don't know " or " I

don't understand " as avoidance behavior. He will often repeat those

phrases over and over to keep from actually doing the work or to keep from

listening to the explanation of how or what to do. But then I gave an example

from that night where his literalness (is that a word?) had been a problem. He had

a list of science assignments that he needed to make up. He told me that he did

not understand what the assignment meant. So I asked him to explain more. So he

said he did not understand what the teacher had written down because he could

not find it on the page. So, I turned to the page and it said, " Section 1

Assessment " - the teacher had written down " Section 1 Review. "

Even thought the page was the same, there were 5 questions and it said Section

1, the words Review and Assessment threw him. What is written by the teacher is

what is supposed to be on the page. The teacher responded that he had worked

with him enough to be aware that he is literal and it can not understand

things, but it he did not " cry wolf " so often then he would be

believed more when he said that he did not understand.

Why can't they get it? I am a sped teacher for 30+ years and a parent of

special needs kids for 26. I still get it.

Donna

---- Roxanna <madideas@...>

wrote:

> Don't you hate it when people who have the background in sped or training

in sped, do not " get it. " ?!??! We have had that happen so often. The

other day with my 20 yo ds, at the meeting we had discussing his sped needs,

they brought him in and sped teacher had him recite the information she gave

him on taking a test he needed to take. She had insisted that she told him all

about it, which I didn't doubt! lol. But he would never have come and told us

about it. He's never had the " follow through " ability. So there we

sat while she had him recite everything, then she smiles with a " see! I

told you I told him what to do!! " and then lectures him about how he needs

to speak up for himself, learn to advocate for himself, blah blah blah...Well,

I just sat there thinking, " If he could do those things, we wouldn't be

here. " The person was really nice and meant well, but there is some

disconnect between knowing what a communication disability means vs.

understanding what it looks like in real life. Or else it's an age thing maybe?

Once they get to high school or beyond, they no longer are allowed to have

those problems...

>

>

> Roxanna

>

> " Suppose you were an idiot.

> And suppose you were a member of Congress.

> But I repeat myself. "

> ~ Mark Twain

> ( ) Re: " emotionally disturbed " label

>

> Texas does what it does even if it isn't legal. You're supposed to be able

to go to the TEA for help but there are people working for them who also work

for the public schools and so there's a problem with them being biased toward

districts. I know it sounds crazy, but if they can find away to get around the

law and not have anyone figure it out they'll do it. They have expensive

lawyers to whom they pay a great deal of money and they would rather fight a

parent than to provide anything. Then when the kid graduates they are happy to

put them into the criminal justice system. I have a friend whose son is bipolar

with psychotic episodes. He's about 12 years old. When he was 10 he was

arrested at school and he has a police record until he is 18.

>

> Miriam

> > >

> > > The label cannot exclude services. They might be doing that at

your school but it is not legal to do that. Services have to be based on need

and not on the label.

> >

> > Of course it can and it does. You would not provide braille readers

for a deaf child. Having a dx for deafness (and not blind and deaf) will

exclude a student from getting braille readers. There is the same reasoning

with ED and BD on some issues. For example, why would you provide a student

with extra time for homework if s/he is simply willfully not doing it? This is

the damage having an ED/BD label rather than AS could do--just as a very simple

example. In Texas, things like this are actually written into the state rules,

not in that language, of course, but you get the idea. Yes, if a BD/ED student

has slow processing speed and working memory problems, they should be given

extra time regardless of the dx, but will anybody stop to figure that out?

> >

> > Ruth

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -

> >

> >

> >

> > No virus found in this incoming message.

> > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com

> > Version: 8.5.287 / Virus Database: 270.12.4/2081 - Release Date:

04/26/09 09:44:00

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ----------------------------------------------------------

>

>

>

> No virus found in this incoming message.

> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com

> Version: 8.5.287 / Virus Database: 270.12.6/2084 - Release Date: 04/28/09

06:15:00

[Guest guest]

I think that I am also somewhat evil because I always pray that those teachers

who do not understand and have really made school and life and emotional health

for my children will one day get just a taste of living with and loving a child

just like mine!

Donna

---- Elgamal <cindyelgamal@...> wrote:

> Bless you, Donna. I bet you do “get itâ€. Seeing it up close and personal

helps reinforce it, I am sure.

>

>

>

> From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of donnalmoore@...

> Sent: April 28, 2009 08:03 PM

>

> Cc: Roxanna

> Subject: Re: ( ) Re: " emotionally disturbed " label

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Boy do I agree. I got an email from the resource teacher that the Computer

Applications teacher assured him that my son understood the directions and steps

of the assignment and was just playing " stupid. "

> I responded that often my son does use the " I don't know " or " I don't

understand " as avoidance behavior. He will often repeat those phrases over and

over to keep from actually doing the work or to keep from listening to the

explanation of how or what to do. But then I gave an example from that night

where his literalness (is that a word?) had been a problem. He had a list of

science assignments that he needed to make up. He told me that he did not

understand what the assignment meant. So I asked him to explain more. So he said

he did not understand what the teacher had written down because he could not

find it on the page. So, I turned to the page and it said, " Section 1

Assessment " - the teacher had written down " Section 1 Review. " Even thought the

page was the same, there were 5 questions and it said Section 1, the words

Review and Assessment threw him. What is written by the teacher is what is

supposed to be on the page. The teacher responded that he had worked with him

enough to be aware that he is literal and it can not understand things, but it

he did not " cry wolf " so often then he would be believed more when he said that

he did not understand.

> Why can't they get it? I am a sped teacher for 30+ years and a parent of

special needs kids for 26. I still get it.

>

> Donna

> ---- Roxanna <madideas@... <mailto:madideas%40zoominternet.net> >

wrote:

> > Don't you hate it when people who have the background in sped or training in

sped, do not " get it. " ?!??! We have had that happen so often. The other day

with my 20 yo ds, at the meeting we had discussing his sped needs, they brought

him in and sped teacher had him recite the information she gave him on taking a

test he needed to take. She had insisted that she told him all about it, which I

didn't doubt! lol. But he would never have come and told us about it. He's never

had the " follow through " ability. So there we sat while she had him recite

everything, then she smiles with a " see! I told you I told him what to do!! " and

then lectures him about how he needs to speak up for himself, learn to advocate

for himself, blah blah blah...Well, I just sat there thinking, " If he could do

those things, we wouldn't be here. " The person was really nice and meant well,

but there is some disconnect between knowing what a communication disability

means vs. understanding what it looks like in real life. Or else it's an age

thing maybe? Once they get to high school or beyond, they no longer are allowed

to have those problems...

> >

> >

> > Roxanna

> >

> > " Suppose you were an idiot.

> > And suppose you were a member of Congress.

> > But I repeat myself. "

> > ~ Mark Twain

> > ( ) Re: " emotionally disturbed " label

> >

> > Texas does what it does even if it isn't legal. You're supposed to be able

to go to the TEA for help but there are people working for them who also work

for the public schools and so there's a problem with them being biased toward

districts. I know it sounds crazy, but if they can find away to get around the

law and not have anyone figure it out they'll do it. They have expensive lawyers

to whom they pay a great deal of money and they would rather fight a parent than

to provide anything. Then when the kid graduates they are happy to put them into

the criminal justice system. I have a friend whose son is bipolar with psychotic

episodes. He's about 12 years old. When he was 10 he was arrested at school and

he has a police record until he is 18.

> >

> > Miriam

> > > >

> > > > The label cannot exclude services. They might be doing that at your

school but it is not legal to do that. Services have to be based on need and not

on the label.

> > >

> > > Of course it can and it does. You would not provide braille readers for a

deaf child. Having a dx for deafness (and not blind and deaf) will exclude a

student from getting braille readers. There is the same reasoning with ED and BD

on some issues. For example, why would you provide a student with extra time for

homework if s/he is simply willfully not doing it? This is the damage having an

ED/BD label rather than AS could do--just as a very simple example. In Texas,

things like this are actually written into the state rules, not in that

language, of course, but you get the idea. Yes, if a BD/ED student has slow

processing speed and working memory problems, they should be given extra time

regardless of the dx, but will anybody stop to figure that out?

> > >

> > > Ruth

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > No virus found in this incoming message.

> > > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com

> > > Version: 8.5.287 / Virus Database: 270.12.4/2081 - Release Date: 04/26/09

09:44:00

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > ----------------------------------------------------------

> >

> >

> >

> > No virus found in this incoming message.

> > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com

> > Version: 8.5.287 / Virus Database: 270.12.6/2084 - Release Date: 04/28/09

06:15:00

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

You are sooooo baaaadddddd!!!   But, I love it and know just

what you mean.

I have many times said the good Lord looked at me after 14 years

and two biological kids and said, “Bam, here is one that will teach you some

patience!â€Â  I finally had to learn to be more patient.  I also learned to not

be so critical of parents who I had previously thought were raising bratty

kids.

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of donnalmoore@...

Sent: April 28, 2009 08:47 PM

Cc: Elgamal

Subject: RE: ( ) Re: " emotionally disturbed "

label

I think that I am also somewhat evil because I always pray that those

teachers who do not understand and have really made school and life and

emotional health for my children will one day get just a taste of living with

and loving a child just like mine!

Donna

---- Elgamal <cindyelgamal@...>

wrote:

> Bless you, Donna. I bet you do “get itâ€. Seeing it up close and personal

helps reinforce it, I am sure.

>

>

>

> From:

[mailto: ]

On Behalf Of donnalmoore@...

> Sent: April 28, 2009 08:03 PM

>

> Cc: Roxanna

> Subject: Re: ( ) Re: " emotionally disturbed "

label

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Boy do I agree. I got an email from the resource teacher that the Computer

Applications teacher assured him that my son understood the directions and

steps of the assignment and was just playing " stupid. "

> I responded that often my son does use the " I don't know " or

" I don't understand " as avoidance behavior. He will often repeat

those phrases over and over to keep from actually doing the work or to keep

from listening to the explanation of how or what to do. But then I gave an

example from that night where his literalness (is that a word?) had been a

problem. He had a list of science assignments that he needed to make up. He

told me that he did not understand what the assignment meant. So I asked him to

explain more. So he said he did not understand what the teacher had written

down because he could not find it on the page. So, I turned to the page and it

said, " Section 1 Assessment " - the teacher had written down

" Section 1 Review. " Even thought the page was the same, there were 5

questions and it said Section 1, the words Review and Assessment threw him.

What is written by the teacher is what is supposed to be on the page. The

teacher responded that he had worked with him enough to be aware that he is

literal and it can not understand things, but it he did not " cry

wolf " so often then he would be believed more when he said that he did not

understand.

> Why can't they get it? I am a sped teacher for 30+ years and a parent of

special needs kids for 26. I still get it.

>

> Donna

> ---- Roxanna <madideas@...

<mailto:madideas%40zoominternet.net> > wrote:

> > Don't you hate it when people who have the background in sped or

training in sped, do not " get it. " ?!??! We have had that happen so

often. The other day with my 20 yo ds, at the meeting we had discussing his

sped needs, they brought him in and sped teacher had him recite the information

she gave him on taking a test he needed to take. She had insisted that she told

him all about it, which I didn't doubt! lol. But he would never have come and

told us about it. He's never had the " follow through " ability. So

there we sat while she had him recite everything, then she smiles with a

" see! I told you I told him what to do!! " and then lectures him about

how he needs to speak up for himself, learn to advocate for himself, blah blah

blah...Well, I just sat there thinking, " If he could do those things, we

wouldn't be here. " The person was really nice and meant well, but there is

some disconnect between knowing what a communication disability means vs.

understanding what it looks like in real life. Or else it's an age thing maybe?

Once they get to high school or beyond, they no longer are allowed to have

those problems...

> >

> >

> > Roxanna

> >

> > " Suppose you were an idiot.

> > And suppose you were a member of Congress.

> > But I repeat myself. "

> > ~ Mark Twain

> > ( ) Re: " emotionally disturbed "

label

> >

> > Texas does what it does even if it isn't legal. You're supposed to be

able to go to the TEA for help but there are people working for them who also

work for the public schools and so there's a problem with them being biased

toward districts. I know it sounds crazy, but if they can find away to get

around the law and not have anyone figure it out they'll do it. They have

expensive lawyers to whom they pay a great deal of money and they would rather

fight a parent than to provide anything. Then when the kid graduates they are

happy to put them into the criminal justice system. I have a friend whose son

is bipolar with psychotic episodes. He's about 12 years old. When he was 10 he

was arrested at school and he has a police record until he is 18.

> >

> > Miriam

> > > >

> > > > The label cannot exclude services. They might be doing that

at your school but it is not legal to do that. Services have to be based on

need and not on the label.

> > >

> > > Of course it can and it does. You would not provide braille

readers for a deaf child. Having a dx for deafness (and not blind and deaf)

will exclude a student from getting braille readers. There is the same

reasoning with ED and BD on some issues. For example, why would you provide a

student with extra time for homework if s/he is simply willfully not doing it?

This is the damage having an ED/BD label rather than AS could do--just as a

very simple example. In Texas, things like this are actually written into the

state rules, not in that language, of course, but you get the idea. Yes, if a

BD/ED student has slow processing speed and working memory problems, they

should be given extra time regardless of the dx, but will anybody stop to

figure that out?

> > >

> > > Ruth

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > No virus found in this incoming message.

> > > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com

> > > Version: 8.5.287 / Virus Database: 270.12.4/2081 - Release Date:

04/26/09 09:44:00

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > ----------------------------------------------------------

> >

> >

> >

> > No virus found in this incoming message.

> > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com

> > Version: 8.5.287 / Virus Database: 270.12.6/2084 - Release Date:

04/28/09 06:15:00

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I can still get mad thinking about this guy.  I heard later that

he had left the school district.  As far as I am concerned, he had no business

being in education.

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of Roxanna

Sent: April 28, 2009 06:26 PM

Subject: Re: ( ) Re: " emotionally disturbed "

label

Don't you hate it

when people who have the background in sped or training in sped, do not

" get it. " ?!??! We have had that happen so often.

The other day with my 20 yo ds, at the meeting we had discussing his sped

needs, they brought him in and sped teacher had him recite the information she

gave him on taking a test he needed to take. She had insisted that she

told him all about it, which I didn't doubt! lol. But he would

never have come and told us about it. He's never had the " follow

through " ability. So there we sat while she had him recite

everything, then she smiles with a " see! I told you I told him

what to do!! " and then lectures him about how he needs to speak up

for himself, learn to advocate for himself, blah blah blah...Well, I just sat

there thinking, " If he could do those things, we wouldn't be

here. " The person was really nice and meant well, but there is some

disconnect between knowing what a communication disability means vs.

understanding what it looks like in real life. Or else it's an age thing

maybe? Once they get to high school or beyond, they no longer are allowed

to have those problems...

Roxanna

" Suppose

you were an idiot.

And suppose you were a member of Congress.

But I repeat myself. "

~ Mark Twain

-----

Original Message -----

From: Elgamal

Sent: Tuesday, April 28,

2009 5:03 PM

Subject: RE:

( ) Re: " emotionally disturbed " label

I also live in Texas and have to agree

with you, . I know there are people on this list who have had

major issues with schools in Texas but I think it is “school, or district,

specific” not an all Texas thing. We live in a suburb of Houston in Ft.

Bend Independent School District and, while not perfect, I do feel that overall

the experiences we had in elementary and middle school were fairly good.

Where we ran into issues was in high school and specifically with an assistant

principal who didn’t seem to have a clue (and his background was in special

ed!!). The school we were in was also at the very edge of the district

and had gang issues. It was also huge. We did move Tyler to a

private high school after a year of horrible issues but, again, I say it was

more a specific school issue and not a district or Texas issue. In

hindsight, I think we could have fought for and gotten some of the things Tyler

needed but I was so tired of fighting with this particular person and my son

was so emotionally battered that we just moved him.

To specifically respond to the ED label discussion: we did not have an

Aspergers diagnosis until Tyler was 15. At one point in either elementary

or middle school they added in the ED label but they never used this label to

deny him services – they always (or at least in elementary and middle school)

based his services and supports on his needs. If a school is using this

label to deny services it is not legal and not a thing that all Texas schools

do.

From: [mailto: ]

On Behalf Of MacAllister

Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2009 7:55 AM

Subject: Re: ( ) Re: " emotionally disturbed "

label

Texas

has an estimated population of over 24 million people. There are

approximately 1,265 school districts (and many, many more campuses) in

the State of Texas and almost 600,000 staff. I know some people

on this list have had problems with certain school districts in Texas before,

but it annoys me to no end when " Texas " gets blamed for the

bad experiences. I'm not saying my son has just sailed through school

with no problems from the staff because that is not the case. But of

the 8 years my son has been in school, we've had good experiences in 5 of

them in terms of supports. Doesn't mean there hasn't been problems

b/c there has, but the majority of special education staff I've worked

with have been good. I've got some good stories of some bad ones, but that's

the case anywhere you go. I just don't want families on this

listserv who live in Texas to think they are screwed because that doesn't have

to be the case.

Sorry,

just had to share.

" Over-optimism

is waiting for you ship to come in when you haven't sent one out. "

From: Miriam

<callis4773@...>

Sent: Monday, April 27, 2009 8:12:48 PM

Subject: ( ) Re: " emotionally disturbed " label

Texas does what it does even if it isn't legal. You're supposed to be able

to go to the TEA for help but there are people working for them who also work

for the public schools and so there's a problem with them being biased toward

districts. I know it sounds crazy, but if they can find away to get around the

law and not have anyone figure it out they'll do it. They have expensive

lawyers to whom they pay a great deal of money and they would rather fight a

parent than to provide anything. Then when the kid graduates they are happy to

put them into the criminal justice system. I have a friend whose son is bipolar

with psychotic episodes. He's about 12 years old. When he was 10 he was

arrested at school and he has a police record until he is 18.

Miriam

> >

> > The label cannot exclude services. They might be doing that at your

school but it is not legal to do that. Services have to be based on need and

not on the label.

>

> Of course it can and it does. You would not provide braille readers for a

deaf child. Having a dx for deafness (and not blind and deaf) will exclude a

student from getting braille readers. There is the same reasoning with ED and

BD on some issues. For example, why would you provide a student with extra time

for homework if s/he is simply willfully not doing it? This is the damage

having an ED/BD label rather than AS could do--just as a very simple example.

In Texas, things like this are actually written into the state rules, not in

that language, of course, but you get the idea. Yes, if a BD/ED student has

slow processing speed and working memory problems, they should be given extra

time regardless of the dx, but will anybody stop to figure that out?

>

> Ruth

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -

>

>

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06:15:00

[Guest guest]

It's probably something that happens a lot in a variety of schools. In Texas I

think there might be more options in bigger schools because if you don't do well

with one school or one person there's always somewhere else you can go. I know

in Plano it's possible to pay $50 to get transferred to a school outside of your

neighborhood. If that is what is chosen that parents have to provide

transportation. we were fortunate that the school presented us with the

opportunity to go to another school and that it was their idea. they wanted us

to do it so they provided transportation. It wasn't all bad. We suffered 5

months of hell, but I know others in Plano who have suffered years and years of

it, tossed out of schools, parents transferring their asperger kids from school

to school and unable to find what they need.

I have to say that persistence and tenacity tempered with an underlying

willingness to compromise, to be positive as much as possible, seems to have

gotten me further, faster than maybe some other folks I knew. But part of why

we struggled for a shorter time was that we had the asperger diagnosis from a

public school in another state with an excellent IEP. The IEP was pretty much

shredded by the first school but the second one put it back together again. We

were eventually able to get what we needed but a lot of people in Plano

eventually homeschool their special needs kids because the fights can be so

overwhelming. Then going from elementary to middle school you pretty much have

to fight the same battles again. We left just before was due to start

middle school and given the rave reviews New Hampshire has gotten from people in

Texas like our developmental pediatrician, I was happy to leave before middle

school. I was still terrified, though.

The worst thing that happened in Texas was when was in the first school

they decided he needed the " behavior school " called special programs. I later

found out about some abuse charges that happened at the school. It didn't

surprise me. was, by law, supposed to stay there for 10 days because he

pushed a chair into his teachers legs. They considered this violence and he was

in with kids who brought drugs and weapons to school. It was kind of a lock

down place with security cameras and locked classrooms. I went in to pick up

one day and heard teachers SCREAMING at the kids. I took out after 2

days and waited for the truant officers. They never came. I called 's

" home campus " , the school that sent him to special programs, and told them,

" Special programs is abusive and I'm not sending him back. " Two horrible things

happened there. The first, I got a very snide note about refusing to do

PE. They called him a " complainer " . He had said his foot was hurting. NOBODY

CHECKED HIS FEET! He had a huge plantar ward in the ball of his foot. Not sure

if you've ever had one, but I caught the wart virus from around that time

and I can tell you it was excruciating at times. If they'd checked maybe they'd

have been a bit kinder. I was upset about that. My husband wanted to leave him

there, it wasn't enough. Then we found out that when forgot to raise his

hand and got up to go to the bathroom he was restrained on the floor. We're

talking 45 pound 7 year old. Was that really necessary. FINALLY my husband

agreed. I didn't send him back. Shortly after that the home campus hired a

" crisis intervention " teacher and he was back in the first school again. His

crisis intervention teacher was wonderful but completely hamstrung by the

principal and special ed team leader who both felt I was the problem. The

crisis intervention teacher knew what she was doing but I wasn't allowed to talk

to her. We loved her to bits.

is a VERY loving kid. He really is. When he left this horrible school he

wanted a " group hug " with the special team leader. For ALEX I will do anything.

Even hug this horrible person. I think needed it somehow. He had had

terrible times with this person but he still wanted to hug her. It was so clear

that WANTED to follow the rules but didn't have the support to make it

happen. He didn't understand what was expected, was scared and sad and

confused. But we were SO lucky because the next school was just FANTASTIC even

though we didn't get OT or ST beyond 3rd grade. was happy and learning.

I just wish ALL schools and all staff could GET IT. It sucks that people have

to fight so hard to get what they are supposed to get no matter what state they

are in. There are good and bad schools, skilled and clueless people everywhere.

If the public schools could have a policy to always try to work WITH parents and

kids rather than fight them...

I have a friend in TX who is an advocate. She went to some sort of conference

that was meant for educators. Lawyers hired by the schools gave seminars on how

to keep people from getting services. I'll have to get her to tell me the story

again so I can get my facts just right. She was mortified to say the least.

But it was a good thing to know.

I'll see if I can find what my friend wrote about this so I can post it.

Miriam

>

If a school is using

> this label to deny services it is not legal and not a thing that all Texas

> schools do.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

_