A bit of a vent- unexpected expense. Update

[manning]

When you're paid to do a job, you do the job.

 

[mefordis]

My youngest DD is severely disabled. She is dependent on adults for all of her care and is in a wheelchair. She has a 1:1 para for the school bus and one at school. Our school district provides transportation and the staff to/from school. All of the students on the bus with the exception of my DD have autism. Before Christmas I was told by the driver that another student punched DD as he walked passed her. Luckily DD was not injured because she had a puffy winter coat on.

I called the transportation dept for our school district to review the video tape on the bus. We discussed a plan (1:1 would stand by DD when any of the students were getting on/off the bus to protect her).

Friday I get a call from our distinct office student service administrator. She said that another student ripped DD's glasses off her face and broke them. She assured me that DD was not injured. They refuse to allow us to review the video because doing so will violate the privacy rights of the other students. They said that the para was by DD but turned around to look outside when the student walked past DD.

I spent most of Friday going back and forth with the district. Replacement cost for DD's glasses is almost $500. Insurance will not pay because we just got them and only have coverage every 2 years.

The most frustrating part is that they don't seem to see this as a serious safety concern. They know that DD is blind in one eye and if anything were to happen to her good eye should be permanently blind. I've gone through a million senerios in my head ...what is they grabbed her wrist and broke it, what if she gets poked in the eye, what is she gets hit...

After my insistence they finally agreed to assign a different 1:1 for the bus.

DD's ophthalmologist is livid! Without us asking, she insists on writing a detailed letter to our superintendent and school board to explain how serious this is. She even came into her office Saturday to find a frame that DD's lenses will fit in while they order a new frame for her.

I guess that I'm just frustrated that this added expense is put on us. To make matters worse, DD was just diagnosed with glaucoma the day before and we have a ton of expenses coming in for the hospital and doctors for the exam they had to do under sedation.

I'm not going to give up trying to get the school district to pay for the glasses. They have a video showing that the 1:1 was not doing her job to watch and protect DD.

If I were the parent of the child who broke your dd's glasses, I'd want to know my child did that so I could pay you for them, as well as apologize.

 

[undertheradar]

If I were the parent of the child who broke your dd's glasses, I'd want to know my child did that so I could pay you for them, as well as apologize.

Since the district has informed the OP that allowing her to watch the bus video or identifying the offending student to her would violate privacy laws, the other parents probably have no idea what has taken place.

 

[hambirg]

I understand what people are arguing about the para and what their responsibility was. I would like to stress that even if the para wasn't looking out the window, or whatever they said happened. She still may not have been able to prevent this. I'm going to assume the district replaced her with a bigger male para. . .I don't know if that's true, but with my experience working with both of these populations, I feel pretty confident that's what happened.

Whether these paras are restraint trained or not, a 1:1 para is not allowed to be responsible for any other student than the one they are assigned, and that would include anything that could be considered restraining, grabbing, holding, pushing off the other student. They can of course act as a barrier or cover the OP's daughter. They can also yell for help. But it would be the other para on the bus's duty to deal with the severely autistic boy.

So I can understand why the OP would argue that the para failed in their duty, but I'm just saying, from a practical standpoint, this could have happened regardless. If the safety of OP's daughter is the ultimate goal, this is not an appropriate setting for her. Severely autistic students can have outbursts. They can be big and strong. It's difficult for anyone to control these situations, especially within the small confines of a bus.

If it were me, I would argue until I was blue in the face that this is not an appropriate situation. The district can't guarantee the daughter's safety in this situation. I also hate dealing with transportation. The folks that make those decisions really have no knowledge of the population they are making decisions for. Also, IMHO there is no way in h*ll OP's daughter should be on that bus unless she is the last one on and the first one off. And even then, the situation makes me very uncomfortable.

 

[lisalis]

I feel for your situation, although I wonder if the school is not as callous as you might think. They are given a set amount of money for each student based on how heavily weighted their need is. The special education departments are usually running in the red. IEPs are written based on need and not always budget friendly, so I can see why they are resistant to separate transportation in addition to a full time aide before, during, & after school, which probably takes most if not all of the money allotted to the school for her. Extra expense in one place comes from another since there's not unlimited funding. I would hate to be in charge of the spec ed budget. I know I battled our director of special ed. for services I felt a child needed to succeed. He was a former spec ed teacher & principal who cared greatly for the students, but he also had a budget to meet. That being said, your daughter's safety is a high priority & either they need to tighten up the plan or reduce services somewhere else in the budget to provide safe separate transport.

If there is a plan for first off the bus, there should be consequences for the bus driver not doing his job as well- not sure if that's run by a separate company. I hope that all parties can work together to keep your daughter safe.

 

[daughtersrus]

Since the district has informed the OP that allowing her to watch the bus video or identifying the offending student to her would violate privacy laws, the other parents probably have no idea what has taken place.

I was told by our district that the parents were notified. They just don't know which student on the bus it was.

 

[manning]

I was told by our district that the parents were notified. They just don't know which student on the bus it was.

Wait a minute. They don't know which student it was but they were able to notify the parents? Talk about the smell of dead fish.

 

[undertheradar]

I do have to ask, why don't you make your own transportation arrangements?

 

[Gracie09]

I do have to ask, why don't you make your own transportation arrangements?

Because if the school district can't provide a free appropriate education in one of their schools they are responsible for providing it elsewhere including transportation. It's part of the law.

 

[RitaE]

I do have to ask, why don't you make your own transportation arrangements?

Why exactly do you have to ask that?

Manning: I'm guessing that the Autistic student is a member of another Home District and the OP's District was informed of the event and the actions taken but not given his/her name because that particular student is not under their responsibility.

 

[undertheradar]

Why exactly do you have to ask that?

Manning: I'm guessing that the Autistic student is a member of another Home District and the OP's District was informed of the event and the actions taken but not given his/her name because that particular student is not under their responsibility.

Why? Because the taxpayer is funding the private school, the transportation to and from the private school, AND the para on the bus. If it isn't good enough, perhaps the OP can fund the transportation to and from school. And yes, the taxpayers are funding the OP's daughter's schooling, transport and para on the transport. At the same time, we keep telling school districts to do more with less. So yes, I do question how we keep providing more money for the minority while we keep cutting funding for the majority. Not PC I know, realistic? Yes.

 

[Gracie09]

Why? Because the taxpayer is funding the private school, the transportation to and from the private school, AND the para on the bus. If it isn't good enough, perhaps the OP can fund the transportation to and from school. And yes, the taxpayers are funding the OP's daughter's schooling, transport and para on the transport. At the same time, we keep telling school districts to do more with less. So yes, I do question how we keep providing more money for the minority while we keep cutting funding for the majority. Not PC I know, realistic? Yes.

Because the federal government and the USSC has said every child is entitled to a free appropriate education. If that education cannot be provided in district it must be provided at no cost out of district. Most schools price out both and usually the out of district placement is less expensive than providing the same quantity, and more importantly, quality of services.
Your child gets a safe school. Taught in an appropriate manner. Gets appropriate transportation to and from school at tax payer cost. The OP's DD deserves no more and no less.

 

[mrsklamc]

Why? Because the taxpayer is funding the private school, the transportation to and from the private school, AND the para on the bus. If it isn't good enough, perhaps the OP can fund the transportation to and from school. And yes, the taxpayers are funding the OP's daughter's schooling, transport and para on the transport. At the same time, we keep telling school districts to do more with less. So yes, I do question how we keep providing more money for the minority while we keep cutting funding for the majority. Not PC I know, realistic? Yes.

If you don't like what the federal government says students are entitled to, take it up with your congressperson. Political discussions are not allowed here.

 

[undertheradar]

Because the federal government and the USSC has said every child is entitled to a free appropriate education. If that education cannot be provided in district it must be provided at no cost out of district. Most schools price out both and usually the out of district placement is less expensive than providing the same quantity, and more importantly, quality of services.
Your child gets a safe school. Taught in an appropriate manner. Gets appropriate transportation to and from school at tax payer cost. The OP's DD deserves no more and no less.

So you can assure everyone else that each and every child gets a safe school?

 

[undertheradar]

Because the federal government and the USSC has said every child is entitled to a free appropriate education. If that education cannot be provided in district it must be provided at no cost out of district. Most schools price out both and usually the out of district placement is less expensive than providing the same quantity, and more importantly, quality of services.
Your child gets a safe school. Taught in an appropriate manner. Gets appropriate transportation to and from school at tax payer cost. The OP's DD deserves no more and no less.

What is the cost of a child walking to and from school?

 

[daughtersrus]

Wait a minute. They don't know which student it was but they were able to notify the parents? Talk about the smell of dead fish.

The parents know about the incident. They just don't know that it was my DD. The school district did not identify her to them just like they did not tell us which student took DD's glasses off.

Why exactly do you have to ask that?

Manning: I'm guessing that the Autistic student is a member of another Home District and the OP's District was informed of the event and the actions taken but not given his/her name because that particular student is not under their responsibility.

All of the students on the bus reside in the same school district as we do. The buses are owned by our district and the drivers and paras are all employes of our school district.

Why? Because the taxpayer is funding the private school, the transportation to and from the private school, AND the para on the bus. If it isn't good enough, perhaps the OP can fund the transportation to and from school. And yes, the taxpayers are funding the OP's daughter's schooling, transport and para on the transport. At the same time, we keep telling school districts to do more with less. So yes, I do question how we keep providing more money for the minority while we keep cutting funding for the majority. Not PC I know, realistic? Yes.

These websites might help you understand special ed law.

http://idea.ed.gov/explore/home

http://www.wrightslaw.com/idea/law.htm


By the way, we are taxpayers as well.

Our school district gave our superintendent a $103,000 raise last year. That's a little more than a 50% increase. Talk about taxpayers providing money to a minority. Teachers got 2%.

I'm not sure why any of this matters. The law is that the taxpayers, myself included, have to provide a FAPE for all students, including my DD and other IEP kids. You might actually be surprised how many students have an IEP or 504.

Because the federal government and the USSC has said every child is entitled to a free appropriate education. If that education cannot be provided in district it must be provided at no cost out of district. Most schools price out both and usually the out of district placement is less expensive than providing the same quantity, and more importantly, quality of services.
Your child gets a safe school. Taught in an appropriate manner. Gets appropriate transportation to and from school at tax payer cost. The OP's DD deserves no more and no less.

 

[mrsklamc]

What is the cost of a child walking to and from school?

Free. Which is why you don't get reimbursed for it. Pretty nice that your kids are capable of walking. Not all kids are, and no amount of money is going to purchase that privilege for them. OP is doing what ANY parent would do, which is the best they can for their child. Did she make the laws about what her child is entitled to? No. Is she the appropriate person to take it up with if you don't like what those laws are? No.

Again, political discussions are not allowed on the DIS, if you don't like what OPs daughter is allowed under federal law, take it up with your representatives.

 

[kirstenb1]

OP, just wanted to say, keep your chin up. Don't let one person, and I do mean one person on this thread bug you. Those of us with special needs kids do understand the daily vigilance with appropriate education/placement, battles with insurance, the need to have a thick skin when dealing with those who have no idea what it's like day in and out to have a special needs child.

I just planned our family's vacation the other day, and wished I could get autism to take a one week holiday each year. Very off topic, I know. You know so very well, that special needs are 24/7/365.

Anyway, you're right, you know you're right, and I'm very heartened by the show of support on this thread. I get the feeling that several posters don't even have special needs kids, yet they know at any moment, anyone could, including themselves. A big shout out to the overall empathy!!

 

[Gracie09]

What is the cost of a child walking to and from school?

Well in our town it costs the crossing guards and police officers who are posted at every possible street crossing. But other towns around us provide door to door transportation for all students.

Oh and the cost of the school personnel to direct traffic around the schools for those who drive their kids. It's not unusual to see several school administrators and teachers outside to keep things moving

 

[Gracie09]

So you can assure everyone else that each and every child gets a safe school?

So sorry your child's school isn't safe. Maybe you should devote some energy to that.

But no not every school is a safe as it should be but every child deserves the opportunity to attend a safe school, including disabled students. Often large cities, where some schools may not be as safe as they should be, allow students to apply or test into other schools that may be safer or academically superior to the one they are assigned to. People also have an option for private schools, either by paying tuition or scholarship. An option disabled students often don't have because private schools don't have to provide accommodations for disabilities and without them disabled students may not be able to learn.