Re: Has anyone here used an attorney w/ success at school?

[Guest guest]

,

I personally have never used a lawyer....but I know of several cases where the families used a very strong Advocate...and won! The advocate was able to get many services for the child. I have an advocate and it helps!

Jan

Janice Rushen

"I will try to be open to all avenues of wisdom and hope"

From: <doyourecycle@...>Subject: ( ) Has anyone here used an attorney w/ success at school?"Aspergers Treatment" <Aspergers Treatment >Date: Sunday, July 26, 2009, 8:01 PM

Specifically, we're you able to get the services your child needed with their help, or did you get your child out of a public school into a private school for autistic children? I would love to hear any success stories and how long your battle took.Thanks,

[Guest guest]

The use of a Lawyer is a “throwdown”.

I recommend engaging a lawyer only if you are seriously contemplating

filing a due process complaint. The best time to retain an attorney is as

you send in your 10 day letter . This presumes that you and the school have

been totally unable to agree and that you intend to place your child into

a private program at public expense.

Very truly yours;

Todd B. Kotler

Attorney and Counselor at Law

PO Box 2041

Massillon, Ohio 44646-2041

330-777-0065 Phone / Fax / Voicemail

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From:

[mailto: ] On

Behalf Of rushen janice

Sent: Monday, July 27, 2009 12:53 AM

Subject: Re: ( ) Has anyone here used an attorney w/

success at school?

,

I personally have never used a lawyer....but I know of

several cases where the families used a very strong Advocate...and won! The

advocate was able to get many services for the child. I have an

advocate and it helps!

Jan

Janice Rushen

" I will try to be open to all avenues of wisdom and

hope "

From: <doyourecycle@...>

Subject: ( ) Has anyone here used an attorney w/ success at

school?

" Aspergers Treatment " <Aspergers Treatment >

Date: Sunday, July 26, 2009, 8:01 PM

Specifically, we're you able to get the services your

child needed with their help, or did you get your child out of a public

school into a private school for autistic children? I would love to hear any

success stories and how long your battle took.

Thanks,

No virus

found in this incoming message.

Checked by AVG - www.avg.com

Version: 8.5.392 / Virus Database: 270.13.31/2265 - Release Date: 07/26/09

17:59:00

[Guest guest]

>

> Specifically, we're you able to get the services your child needed with

> their help, or did you get your child out of a public school into a private

> school for autistic children? I would love to hear any success stories and

> how long your battle took.

I left a list about a year and a half ago that had a couple of attorneys on it

and also a number of parents who had successfully sued their school districts.

I got enough great legal advice that I was able to successfully fight my school

district on my own and learned a lot. Most of the people that successfully sued

were either trying to get private placement (like you are talking about) or were

suing for 504 non-compliance for money damages against individuals, or both.

I think all of them made a point of hiring special education attorneys with

proven track records. So, that is really your first step. Don't waste your

money on an inexperienced attorney. Make sure they win cases. The school

districts hire the best themselves, and you must have the best also if you have

any hopes of winning.

It is definitely do-able if you have the money and you have a good case. It

doesn't take all that long, assuming you've kept your documentation up and don't

have to build a case first.

Using an attorney to get services and stay in the school is less successful.

Not that you won't get the services, but since you are forcing the school

district to do something they don't want to, you will have to keep fighting

them. There were some parents on that list that had to keep hiring attorneys

every step of the way, first to get the IEP, then to get a decent IEP, then to

keep the IEP, etc. Most of those parents ended up giving up. All the attorneys

were more expensive than the price of paying private school themselves.

Personally, my choice was to learn to work with school district myself, not

trying to force their hand, but guiding them so they could figure things out for

themselves and make good decisions. I let them know that I knew the laws and I

wasn't willing to put up with them being broken, but I gave them time and space

to figure out how to fix things their own way. I went out and paid for good

evaluations on my own health insurance so they'd have good input.

My two cents... Good luck!

[Guest guest]

my daughter is now going into 6th grade I have used a special education

lawyer as my advocate since first grade.

First I had one special education lawyer that attended 504 meetings

and helped me advocate for many accomodations.

Our school district has not wanted to provide any services for

my daughter. She did well academically and they didn't care

about the panic and anxiety.

Then in third grade I changed to another firm when I wanted her

under IEP. This firm was a social worker that I can all daily

if I want and talk to. The costs are $200 an hour.

The social worker came to the IEP meetings because

we thought it would be less intimidating. She argued effectively

that our daughter should have social skill classes and used the schools own

reports to effectively make the case in a way I

never could.

After that my dauhgter's school anxiety and school refusal

continued (as it had from kindergarten) but by 4th grade

they were intolerate with her tardies and absences.

I didn't know what to do. I had been doing exactly as our

psychologist had said to do to reduce morning panic.

However the school didn't have all the accommodations

in place. The nueropyschologist had recommended an aide

and that was not in place.

Our lawyer's social worker but me in touch with another

psychologist. He is a well known school refusal expert

and was willing to come to the school IEP meetings.

His presence made a big difference.He advocated for 5th

grade a that she be placed in a small special education math class

even though she was testing well. he advocated that she

be given a weekly pass to be tardy once a weekor leave early.

I met with the lawyer in third grade and then again this

past winter, 5th grade. He was the one with the big picture view.

He predicted that my daughter would not be able to

manage middle school and that I needed to get a psychitriast

involved to manage her anxiety better. And he was going to

meet with our psychologist again (the school refusal expert).

The lawyer predicted exactly what happened.

By March she was severely overwhelmed with school and

refused to go. Luckily I had started the process with a

psychiatrist and she gave the medical OK we needed for home instruction.

Now the case was going to be made for another setting.

The psychologist (expert) met at the school this spring and

advocated for another setting. And it was agreed upon.

Wow. Why was it so hard for us since kindergarten?

Our district it seemed did not want to offer many services.

The lawyer and his social worker helped me immensely with a

school district that was tough as nails and out right

refusing to provide services. I wish we could have moved

rather than endured all this struggle. Some towns in our

state I knew gave services more easily.

I don't think our struggle is over.

My daughter is still overwhelmed and socially anxious and

now we have a long commute each way (1 hour each way).

She may not be able to sustain a full day at this school

either since she fatigues so easily.

But the psychiatrist is one board and very involved and we

have started a low dose of zoloft. I have a behaviorist

involved from Yale that the school accepts as an expert.

The Yale folks helped me get her on medication. And

now they are taking a very slow systematic approach

to the return to school. They do not want her

overwhelmed. This approach seems like it may work.

The law firm will help protect us and keep the school

district from putting her back on home instruction.

Pam

>

> Specifically, we're you able to get the services your child needed with

> their help, or did you get your child out of a public school into a private

> school for autistic children? I would love to hear any success stories and

> how long your battle took.

>

> Thanks,

>

>

[Guest guest]

We've used attorney's with success several times before with school issues. One battle took a whole school year but in retrospect, we should have not been so nice along the way. That is my one regret. We should have filed due process sooner instead of playing their game. Anyway, we wanted an ABA program in place for our ds who made zero progress in their pre-k program. It was a bad year of arguing and meetings but once we got it in place, it stayed in place for many years and he got a wonderful education and advanced a lot. So it was worthwhile in the end. Another time we used a lawyer to file due process without discussion because they felt the situation was that bad and we had plenty of documentation. It took just weeks to resolve that one. Both times, we came to agreements in mediation after we filed due process and we got what we wanted. The second one, they did not implement the agreement appropriately and I should have gotten back with the lawyer and filed a complaint. But the situation had also improved a LOT as well. By the time we needed to file due process for another situation, I did it on my own and was successful in mediation for that too. Seems like my school system was big bark but no bite really.

I've had other people use lawyers here in our school district to get outside placements. Another friend did not use a lawyer and got an outside placement on her own. Friends outside my school - I've had a few use lawyers. One got two outside placements (twins with disabilities) but not without a fight.

I think more than the lawyer is being right and having the documentation to prove that what you are asking for is appropriate and necessary. Then if the school personnel are smart, they will see that you have your ducks in a row and will come to terms with you. If they are not, you will have to push forward and file due process and follow through. Just do not threaten to do anything you aren't willing to do. I think it helps if they realize you are calm, rational and serious. And a paper trail is required. I was always good at saving documentation, which really helped.

Roxanna

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." E. Burke

( ) Has anyone here used an attorney w/ success at school?

Specifically, we're you able to get the services your child needed with their help, or did you get your child out of a public school into a private school for autistic children? I would love to hear any success stories and how long your battle took.

Thanks,

A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps!

[Guest guest]

Feel free to email me directly if you have any questions.

In grade school, I got some services for my son, but not enough. He stopped

getting any services after 6th grade, not because he didn't need them any

longer, but more because the district said it didn't have any services to offer,

and they thought maybe he could get by because he was so smart. Even so, I kept

asking for an IEP, about 2-3 times a year. I called, I sent letters. Nothing

happened. Sometimes my letters were ignored, which I now know is against the

law.

I spent a few years of running around like crazy and not getting much results

from the school district - trying to get an IEP, contacting individual teachers

nearly every month to ask about assignments/beg for accommodations, asking for

help with bullys, taking him to doctors, reading books, hiring tutors, spending

many late nights helping with homework, and so on. I had two evaluations done

out of pocket, but the district did not accept the diagnosis of AS. Eventually

he just stopped going to school and would rarely leave his room. The school

district sent tutors, but they rarely showed up and so my son stopped

cooperating.

So I was not successful from 6th grade until 10th grade, until I had a parent

advocate and then a lawyer. Then things moved pretty quickly.

He stopped going to school in September, started his new school in January. I

had to pay tuition costs until the IEP meeting in March when the school said

they would start picking up the tab. The lawyer was able to argue that the

district failed to provide FAPE (free appropriate public education). Later the

lawyer was able to ask for transportation and so the district is now providing

taxi service to and from school (about 45 minute drive each way).

For our son, the new school has worked beautifully. He has friends. He feels

safe. He is being challenged intellectually. And he has all kinds of

accommodations in place so he can succeed, plus social coaching.

I think we were successful with the school district because my son's condition

had deteriorated so much and it was clear to everyone that doing nothing was no

longer an option.

I want to add that I know of another family in a similar situation who did not

hire a lawyer and so he has spent several years at home working with a tutor

from the school district when he feels like it, but mostly just staying in his

room. The school has not offered the option of private school or options for

home schooling and so that poor boy, who is brilliant, is just biding his time

until he can pass his GED. I was determined to not have this happen to my son.

Was not going to let him hide in his room.

[Guest guest]

I disagree that it is true all the time. I've worked with my school for a long time after having used atty's in the past. One time, the compliance for the agreement was not complete but the parts that were implemented were ok. But the other time we had an agreement and they implemented it better than I even dreamed. I remember at the meeting, I wanted to argue for more documentation being required so they couldn't weasle out of this. But the lawyer said, "Look at the teacher you are getting. She is highly organized, motivated and very detailed." And you know, she was AMAZING. So we didn't push that part. She set up a fabulous program and we had good teachers for several years, each of them worked really hard to run this program. So it was really worthwhile to get a lawyer and stay at this school. And the staff worked great with me after that, without a problem from K through to 5th grade. I think that is a good streak, really. lol.

I think it helped later on too. When we had a problem, we were taken a lot more seriously.

For most people, I think it's a case-by-case basis as to how to handle a situation. You should always start small and work your way up. It depends on the administration, what you need to get from them, what documentation you have proving need, etc.

Roxanna

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." E. Burke

( ) Re: Has anyone here used an attorney w/ success at school?

Using an attorney to get services and stay in the school is less successful. Not that you won't get the services, but since you are forcing the school district to do something they don't want to, you will have to keep fighting them. There were some parents on that list that had to keep hiring attorneys every step of the way, first to get the IEP, then to get a decent IEP, then to keep the IEP, etc. Most of those parents ended up giving up. All the attorneys were more expensive than the price of paying private school themselves.

A bad credit score is 600 below. Checking won't affect your score. See now!

[Guest guest]

Yes I agree it is a case by case basis. Most parents with AS

kids in our town have not hired a lawyer.

We had to because of the severe school anxiety and refusal issues.

Otherwise they were treating her as truant and punishing her.

We had to protect her.

Our attorney fees were about $5000 a year. This year it cost $7000

since we had the big issue with school refusal and home instruction.

The private special needs schools in our area start at $40,000.

Pam

>

>

>

>

>

> I disagree that it is true all the time.? I've worked with my school for a

long time after having used atty's in the past.? One time, the compliance for

the agreement was not complete but the parts that were implemented were ok.? But

the other time we had an agreement and they implemented it better than I even

dreamed.? I remember at the meeting, I wanted to argue for more documentation

being required so they couldn't weasle out of this.? But the lawyer said, " Look

at the teacher you are getting.? She is highly organized, motivated and very

detailed. " ? And you know, she was AMAZING.? So we didn't push that part.? She

set up a fabulous program and we had good teachers for several years, each of

them worked really hard to run this program.? So it was really worthwhile to get

a lawyer and stay at this school.? And the staff worked great with me after

that, without a problem from K through to 5th grade.? I think that is a good

streak, really.? lol.?

>

> I think it helped later on too.? When we had a problem, we were taken a lot

more seriously.?

>

> For most people, I think it's a case-by-case basis as to how to handle a

situation.? You should always start small and work your way up.? It depends on

the administration, what you need to get from them, what documentation you have

proving need, etc.?

>

>

>

>

> ?Roxanna

>

> " The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do

nothing. " E. Burke

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ( ) Re: Has anyone here used an attorney w/ success at

school?

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Using an attorney to get services and stay in the school is less successful.

Not that you won't get the services, but since you are forcing the school

district to do something they don't want to, you will have to keep fighting

them. There were some parents on that list that had to keep hiring attorneys

every step of the way, first to get the IEP, then to get a decent IEP, then to

keep the IEP, etc. Most of those parents ended up giving up. All the attorneys

were more expensive than the price of paying private school themselves.

>

[Guest guest]

this is a good example of when you have to have a lawyer.

Our lawyer said only a small fraction of parents

win law suits against schools (30%). You have to prove

as a parent that you are being reasonable.

Your son is like mine, fragile. They both broke down.

Even though I knew her patterns and predicted a break

down I couldn't prove it. It had to happen.

Such a shame all the suffering they go through to prove

it is not a good setting. But kids that suffer in silence

and are getting fair or better grades don't get school

services or attention.

In our town kids with that act out get resources right away.

A peer in my daughter's class was hitting other

boys at recess and the same district got him an aide.

Wow, he is high functioning like my daughter. His father

told me the school recommended it not him. He said he was

fed up with boys picking on his son and he wasn't too

concerned with his son fighting back. The school cared

though.

Pam

>

> Feel free to email me directly if you have any questions.

>

> In grade school, I got some services for my son, but not enough. He stopped

getting any services after 6th grade, not because he didn't need them any

longer, but more because the district said it didn't have any services to offer,

and they thought maybe he could get by because he was so smart. Even so, I kept

asking for an IEP, about 2-3 times a year. I called, I sent letters. Nothing

happened. Sometimes my letters were ignored, which I now know is against the

law.

>

> I spent a few years of running around like crazy and not getting much results

from the school district - trying to get an IEP, contacting individual teachers

nearly every month to ask about assignments/beg for accommodations, asking for

help with bullys, taking him to doctors, reading books, hiring tutors, spending

many late nights helping with homework, and so on. I had two evaluations done

out of pocket, but the district did not accept the diagnosis of AS. Eventually

he just stopped going to school and would rarely leave his room. The school

district sent tutors, but they rarely showed up and so my son stopped

cooperating.

>

> So I was not successful from 6th grade until 10th grade, until I had a parent

advocate and then a lawyer. Then things moved pretty quickly.

>

> He stopped going to school in September, started his new school in January. I

had to pay tuition costs until the IEP meeting in March when the school said

they would start picking up the tab. The lawyer was able to argue that the

district failed to provide FAPE (free appropriate public education). Later the

lawyer was able to ask for transportation and so the district is now providing

taxi service to and from school (about 45 minute drive each way).

>

> For our son, the new school has worked beautifully. He has friends. He feels

safe. He is being challenged intellectually. And he has all kinds of

accommodations in place so he can succeed, plus social coaching.

>

> I think we were successful with the school district because my son's condition

had deteriorated so much and it was clear to everyone that doing nothing was no

longer an option.

>

> I want to add that I know of another family in a similar situation who did not

hire a lawyer and so he has spent several years at home working with a tutor

from the school district when he feels like it, but mostly just staying in his

room. The school has not offered the option of private school or options for

home schooling and so that poor boy, who is brilliant, is just biding his time

until he can pass his GED. I was determined to not have this happen to my son.

Was not going to let him hide in his room.

>

[Guest guest]

Pam, I have been re-reading my emails pertaining to lawyers and iep's and I came across yours again. I wondered how your daughter has done so far in middle school? Was she able to keep her anxiety levels down with the psychiatrist you found? I don't remember if you are in CT? I can't help but think that so many states are difficult to deal with as so many parents talk about their struggles to get decent services. Do you mind telling me how much you had to spend on the attorney and the social worker to attend your iep meetings? Was it all done hourly? Regards,

On Mon, Jul 27, 2009 at 9:21 AM, susanonderko <susanonderko@...> wrote:

 

my daughter is now going into 6th grade I have used a special education lawyer as my advocate since first grade. First I had one special education lawyer that attended 504 meetingsand helped me advocate for many accomodations.

Our school district has not wanted to provide any services formy daughter. She did well academically and they didn't careabout the panic and anxiety. Then in third grade I changed to another firm when I wanted her

under IEP. This firm was a social worker that I can all dailyif I want and talk to. The costs are $200 an hour.The social worker came to the IEP meetings becausewe thought it would be less intimidating. She argued effectively

that our daughter should have social skill classes and used the schools own reports to effectively make the case in a way I never could.After that my dauhgter's school anxiety and school refusal continued (as it had from kindergarten) but by 4th grade

they were intolerate with her tardies and absences.I didn't know what to do. I had been doing exactly as ourpsychologist had said to do to reduce morning panic.However the school didn't have all the accommodations

in place. The nueropyschologist had recommended an aideand that was not in place. Our lawyer's social worker but me in touch with anotherpsychologist. He is a well known school refusal expertand was willing to come to the school IEP meetings.

His presence made a big difference.He advocated for 5th grade a that she be placed in a small special education math classeven though she was testing well. he advocated that shebe given a weekly pass to be tardy once a weekor leave early.

I met with the lawyer in third grade and then again thispast winter, 5th grade. He was the one with the big picture view.He predicted that my daughter would not be able to manage middle school and that I needed to get a psychitriast

involved to manage her anxiety better. And he was going to meet with our psychologist again (the school refusal expert). The lawyer predicted exactly what happened. By March she was severely overwhelmed with school and

refused to go. Luckily I had started the process with apsychiatrist and she gave the medical OK we needed for home instruction. Now the case was going to be made for another setting.The psychologist (expert) met at the school this spring and

advocated for another setting. And it was agreed upon.Wow. Why was it so hard for us since kindergarten? Our district it seemed did not want to offer many services.The lawyer and his social worker helped me immensely with a

school district that was tough as nails and out right refusing to provide services. I wish we could have movedrather than endured all this struggle. Some towns in ourstate I knew gave services more easily.

I don't think our struggle is over.My daughter is still overwhelmed and socially anxious and now we have a long commute each way (1 hour each way).She may not be able to sustain a full day at this school

either since she fatigues so easily. But the psychiatrist is one board and very involved and wehave started a low dose of zoloft. I have a behavioristinvolved from Yale that the school accepts as an expert.

The Yale folks helped me get her on medication. Andnow they are taking a very slow systematic approachto the return to school. They do not want her overwhelmed. This approach seems like it may work.The law firm will help protect us and keep the school

district from putting her back on home instruction. Pam

>> Specifically, we're you able to get the services your child needed with> their help, or did you get your child out of a public school into a private> school for autistic children? I would love to hear any success stories and

> how long your battle took.> > Thanks,> >

[Guest guest]

My daughter is doing so much better at the special needs school.

The medication (zoloft) helped reduce panic attacks and severe

anxiety but she still perservates on her special interest. She

is no longer so extremely stressed by school. The pace of all interactions and

work is much slower.

We live in NJ.

Lawyer Emerson Dickman NJ wrote a case report on why

my daughter needed to be classified for just over $1000.

The social worker from his office attended the IEP

meeting to decide on classified for $200 hour, total

each meeting cost about $800 for travel, planning ahead of time.

Dr. Eisen was the most helpful after she was classified

he directed the treatment plan for her school anxiety.

He is out of network and charged about $225 hour we

saw him for two years 2-3 times a month. He attended the

IEP meetings (he was at three total). Dr. Eisen is a

school refusal expert in NJ and a professor at Farleigh

Dickeson University. He is unique in how much he got involved with

calling the school and attending IEP meetings.

I have another experience to share with you, my 16 year

old niece has an anxiety disorder that peaked in high school.

Her mother did not get a lawyer but worked with our

child psychiatrist only. They got home instruction set up

and my niece is on zoloft for anxiety. They got an

IEP set up this spring and she is being placed in

special ed classes since they are smaller and perhaps

more supportive. Since my niece flat out refused to go

to school it was easier to get an IEP with the doctors

input that it was an anxiety disorder and not

truancy. If the special ed placement does not work out

and she continues to find school overwhelming

then they need a lawyer to make a case with the

doctor that a smaller supportive setting is needed.

The child psychiatrist is very helpful but again she is

out of network and charges $250 for each 30 min visit

(weekly and then once a month visits).

It seems for my daughter and my niece that medication is

not enough to treat the school issues. There also

has to be small supportive settings and also reduced

work load. I did all I could to get my daughter services

to avoid a emotional breakdown (therapy, IEP set up)

but the pace of public school was just too much for

her, in spite of being very smart.

hope this all helps,

Pam

gersSupport , <doyourecycle@...> wrote:

>

> Pam, I have been re-reading my emails pertaining to lawyers and iep's and I

> came across yours again. I wondered how your daughter has done so far in

> middle school? Was she able to keep her anxiety levels down with the

> psychiatrist you found? I don't remember if you are in CT? I can't help but

> think that so many states are difficult to deal with as so many parents talk

> about their struggles to get decent services. Do you mind telling me how

> much you had to spend on the attorney and the social worker to attend your

> iep meetings? Was it all done hourly? Regards,

>

> On Mon, Jul 27, 2009 at 9:21 AM, susanonderko <susanonderko@...>wrote:

>

> >

> >

> > my daughter is now going into 6th grade I have used a special

> > education lawyer as my advocate since first grade.

> > First I had one special education lawyer that attended 504 meetings

> > and helped me advocate for many accomodations.

> >

> > Our school district has not wanted to provide any services for

> > my daughter. She did well academically and they didn't care

> > about the panic and anxiety.

> >

> > Then in third grade I changed to another firm when I wanted her

> > under IEP. This firm was a social worker that I can all daily

> > if I want and talk to. The costs are $200 an hour.

> >

> > The social worker came to the IEP meetings because

> > we thought it would be less intimidating. She argued effectively

> > that our daughter should have social skill classes and used the schools own

> > reports to effectively make the case in a way I

> > never could.

> >

> > After that my dauhgter's school anxiety and school refusal

> > continued (as it had from kindergarten) but by 4th grade

> > they were intolerate with her tardies and absences.

> >

> > I didn't know what to do. I had been doing exactly as our

> > psychologist had said to do to reduce morning panic.

> > However the school didn't have all the accommodations

> > in place. The nueropyschologist had recommended an aide

> > and that was not in place.

> >

> > Our lawyer's social worker but me in touch with another

> > psychologist. He is a well known school refusal expert

> > and was willing to come to the school IEP meetings.

> >

> > His presence made a big difference.He advocated for 5th

> > grade a that she be placed in a small special education math class

> > even though she was testing well. he advocated that she

> > be given a weekly pass to be tardy once a weekor leave early.

> >

> > I met with the lawyer in third grade and then again this

> > past winter, 5th grade. He was the one with the big picture view.

> > He predicted that my daughter would not be able to

> > manage middle school and that I needed to get a psychitriast

> > involved to manage her anxiety better. And he was going to

> > meet with our psychologist again (the school refusal expert).

> >

> > The lawyer predicted exactly what happened.

> > By March she was severely overwhelmed with school and

> > refused to go. Luckily I had started the process with a

> > psychiatrist and she gave the medical OK we needed for home instruction.

> >

> > Now the case was going to be made for another setting.

> >

> > The psychologist (expert) met at the school this spring and

> > advocated for another setting. And it was agreed upon.

> >

> > Wow. Why was it so hard for us since kindergarten?

> > Our district it seemed did not want to offer many services.

> >

> > The lawyer and his social worker helped me immensely with a

> > school district that was tough as nails and out right

> > refusing to provide services. I wish we could have moved

> > rather than endured all this struggle. Some towns in our

> > state I knew gave services more easily.

> >

> > I don't think our struggle is over.

> >

> > My daughter is still overwhelmed and socially anxious and

> > now we have a long commute each way (1 hour each way).

> > She may not be able to sustain a full day at this school

> > either since she fatigues so easily.

> >

> > But the psychiatrist is one board and very involved and we

> > have started a low dose of zoloft. I have a behaviorist

> > involved from Yale that the school accepts as an expert.

> > The Yale folks helped me get her on medication. And

> > now they are taking a very slow systematic approach

> > to the return to school. They do not want her

> > overwhelmed. This approach seems like it may work.

> >

> > The law firm will help protect us and keep the school

> > district from putting her back on home instruction.

> >

> > Pam

> >

> >

> >

> > >

> > > Specifically, we're you able to get the services your child needed with

> > > their help, or did you get your child out of a public school into a

> > private

> > > school for autistic children? I would love to hear any success stories

> > and

> > > how long your battle took.

> > >

> > > Thanks,

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

>