Anyone with special needs kids ever get an excused absence from school for WDW?

[BeccaGrace]

This is a total reach but I'm just feeling a bit sad and frustrated after an upsetting visit with the neurologist and trying to find any way to get Becca (and us) back to WDW for a much-needed break without getting in trouble with the school district!

First some background...Becca was on Topamax for seizures for a year and had great seizure control on it. The major side effects were overheating (very badly) and loss of speech. After being seizure free for a year her neuro wanted to try weaning to see if she could remain seizure free off the meds. While weaning her teachers and therapists noticed an improvement in her speech and by the end of her wean she was using some short sentences.
Two days later she had a seizure and we had to go back on meds.
Because of the speech improvement her neuro was reluctant to go back to the Topamax because he was hoping we could try a new med that would provide seizure control without affecting her ability to communicate and learn.
So we started Trileptal last week and this weekend she had an allergic reaction.
Long story short the only meds she can tolerate are Topamax and Zonegram and both involve overheating issues, which we've dealt with but have been really hard on her.
This raises two things that are bothering me now...
1) She has to go to summer school this year and the school isn't air conditioned. Her Child Study Team has been wonderful with her accommodations so far so I know we can work through this one (...which is why it's not the subject of my post right now...it's just part of my venting since I have 5 minutes to myself right now and am trying to work through some of my frustrations since it's been a really awful week!)

...and 2)
Finally...the point of my post!
Since she is in summer school from when school lets out in June until the 2nd week of August we had planned that next summer we would go to WDW at the end of August so she (and her sister) wouldn't miss any school. Personally, my mom took me out of school to go on vacation but my dh is very much against unexcused absences and I worry about taking her out with her learning delays.
Of course, now that she will either be on Topamax or Zonegran for the next 2-3 years that shoots down going to WDW at the end of August for temperature reasons. Last year we went the first week of December and it was awesome--she didn't even need the GAC because the temps ended up being almost chilly (see my siggie pic with them at MGM in Eeyore hoodies)! I'd love to take her back in December or January but not Christmas week because of crowd & money issues.
Will her child study team look at me like I have three heads if I ask whether they could excuse the absences since she can't go during summer? I was thinking even Jersey week and she'd only miss 2-3 days (not sure what temps are like then). Has anyone ever been able to get an absence for vacation excused because of a child's special needs? (I think I read someone did--Triplefigs, was it you?)
I just know that dh and I would feel so much better about taking her out if I had her team's blessing but don't even want to consider trying if it is totally off-base to even suggest it.
Any ideas or experiences anyone can share?
And thanks if you made it this far...I'm rather rambly and all over the place this afternoon!
--Sara

 

[julia & nicks mom]

Do you know Triplefigs? Her little boy got permission from her school district to go during non-peak season b/c he does better in low crowds - I am sure if you pm her she will be happy to help you - I will pm her for you!!

 

[fostrmom2mny]

First consider the age/grades of the girls. I took my girls for a 10 day WDW when one was a Sophmore and the other was in the Seventh grade. We took work with us, BUT since both girls are more visual learners, we paid specail attention to the educational things there. Example; we went when WDW was decorated for Christmas. We visited each of the "countries" and the girls had to tell about the different ways that Christmas is celebrated. Epcot would be great for culture/ and social studies type of education. We also stopped in at Epcot's Guest Relations and requested a teacher's packet. They have a packet of information that is for teachers and it has some hands on type info that we brought back to both of the girls Sped. Ed teachers. We took pictures and wraped them to be part of their education time. Animal Kingdom has many educational type things as well. With a child that has communication challenges, she can be exposed to other types of communications.

Our teachers and school was very supportive of us going to WDW. They said that the experience of WDW would give them both memories in the book of life, that they will always be able to draw upon. I'm sure that you will get many posts/ responces to your question. I believe for the most part, everyone will have positive experiances to share, about taking their special needs children to WDW during school time. (She won't be having a true summer vacation anyway) My children only attend summer school for about two hours a day, four times a week. You can more than make up for that by doing some of your own teaching while there.

Gerri

 

[DisneyDreams4P&B]

We take our autistic son out during school for many reasons. There are less crowds and he does better during the spring and fall types of weather. Our son goes to school year round, goes to therapy 6 times a week and basically puts in a longer day than most high schoolers I know (our son is in elementary school). He gets fried, who wouldn't? I tell the school that this is time spent on social skills (much needed) and that it is an important part of his learning. We chronical his behavior, advancements and "firsts" while on vacation. Our neurologist and pediatrician both support this and write letters backing our request. You will notice that we have a trip coming up in October of 2006!

 

[Schmeck]

You're signature states that your beautiful girls are 5 and 3 - take them whenever you want! They are so young! What they gain at WDW will be more than what they will get at school, I'm sure of that! Hope you have a wonderful time!

 

[ilovemickeymost]

Once, I took DD for a mental vacation. Her dad & I were going through a divorce. I saw my very happy child turning into a very serious adult. So off we went & it saved her. Honestly. Now, when she's feeling over stressed, she'll say, "Its time to go back to Disney to be a kid again." Since her diagnosis,we took her out of school to do a week long cruise. This yr she's missed 15 days & I got a letter about policy. Anymore absences & they need drs notes, but they still approved her trip (we leave in 9 days). Here they will only approve for 5 days missed & it has to be educational. Need help look @ Epcot.

 

[triplefigs]

Sara,

We talked to the Head of the IEP team at Rees' school. She never even wavered in excusing him for the week in Sept as he needs low crowds. I'd get the Neurologist to write a letter as well and speak with the team. I would guess they will see the need, especially with a letter and her attending summer school, and excuse it. If not, turn in the doctor's letter to the principal, go and enjoy. Becca is not going to miss anything that vital in a week. You all need the break. Believe me, I so understand.

PM me with any other questions. Hugs to you. BTW, now I'm following your posts today!

 

[joanchris]

1) She has to go to summer school this year and the school isn't air conditioned. Her Child Study Team has been wonderful with her accommodations so far so I know we can work through this one (...which is why it's not the subject of my post right now...it's just part of my venting since I have 5 minutes to myself right now and am trying to work through some of my frustrations since it's been a really awful week!)

I can't speak for the other issue, I haven't had a problem with the school in that respect. However, In case you need help on this one, I'm sure you can document the heat issues with your Neuro, they sell 'portable room air conditioners'.....no need to put it in a window (my dd's school tried to tell us they couldn't ac her preschool/summer school as it would be a security issue...I let it go as it was only one year and I didnt' know about these), if she's just in one room for her summer program (or two and they can buy two units) that will work with just a plug and either a hose to drain out a window, or I think they can have a the bucket type container like a dehumidifier to catch the water from it.
They come in different sizes, I saw them at BJs today (have seen before so they're not new) and noted the price...was thinking of it for our upstairs....was something like $379 for the smaller unit. I imagine a classroom would need a larger one...but still relatively cheap.

The teachers will love you for it!


I told my daughter's aide that she cannot be in a summer program without AC this year, (both due to seizure meds and her disorder itself has problems with temperature regulation and lack of sweating) and I was going to try to outplace her to somewhere with AC and a good program. The aide loves the idea, both for her own comfort but also for my daughter's comfort and learning. Every note from last years summer program said something like "didn't get too much done today....it was too hot" or, "spent 2 hrs in nurses office to stay cool and rest" (nurses office has ac).

Unfortunately she is in a program that changes classrooms every 45 minutes, she'd be in 6 or 7 classes throughout the day, so the portable ac won't work for her

Good luck!!

 

[Nik's Mom]

Our son had excuse absences for our trip last year, but he was in kindergarten. Autistic children do not handle crowds very well, so they allowed the absence. We did volunteer to do some independent study projects, which I created on my own. The teachers and school district were very impressed with the projects.
I say, ask the school district and see what they say.

 

[BeccaGrace]

Thanks everyone
I appreciate all the advice for planning a trip and for the portable A/C idea for the classroom! I have a feeling the mini-fan we had in mind just isn't going to cut it.
We likely won't be planning a trip until '07 so I have some time to raise the subject with her team and this gives me some hope that they might allow it if I raise it the right way. We would definitely do projects while we were away--this year we made an alphabet and noted Disney things we saw that started with each letter and, since Grace's class was doing a transportation project, we made a list of every kind of transportation we took on our trip (Plane, Boat, Monorail, etc.).
I know a trip would be really good for them and for dh and I. We were so relaxed and happy the last trip in a way you can only get at WDW.
And thanks for letting me vent and get out my frustrations...it's just been such a rough few weeks with Becca and Joey (my dh) both having seizures after being fine for a while and our schedules being all thrown off because Joey can't drive again so we are up at 5:00 to take him to work, which has been rough getting used to again for the kids, and I work from home and am usually up until after midnight doing my work...it's just a combination of lack of sleep, a crazy schedule and normal stress that made today so much harder. I swear the meds are sometimes worse than the seizures...Becca is just covered with a horrible red rash from her allergic reaction, was falling everywhere (including one fall where she hit her face and had an awful bloody nose), overheated last week at school while waiting in line and freaked when I tried to move her into the shade because she wasn't with her friends, which made her hysterical, which made her overheat more...needless to say we ended up going home and her sleeping the rest of the day. Ugh, sorry--didn't mean to turn this into a pity party when I'm the one always telling people to be thankful what they have because it can always be worse I think, no matter what issue our kids have, it's just hard to see them suffer and it makes us love and appreciate Disney even more because it's a safe haven where the issues don't matter and they can just be happy kids.
Thanks again...I promise to stop talking now!

 

[bavaria]

Hello! I was one of the posters on the Topamax and Florida heat thread. (I think that you posted over there when we talked about the impact it can have on taste, appetite, speech, etc)

I was actually thinking about that thread recently as I enjoyed a few days at WDW. Specifically, I realized how much more enjoyable my trips have become since I am off Topamax. As your daughter will be on it for some time, being able to take her in cooler periods will most likely be the best way to enjoy WDW.

Best wishes and I hope that it works out!

 

[barrysprot36]

DS2 goes to a special school here in the UK run by the National Autistic Society. They have different holidays to mainstream schools in which my DH is a teacher. We have never had a problem taking DS2 out of school, his teachers look upon his holidays as a life experience DS2 needs to enjoy.

Caron

 

[dzorn]

We will be taking DD age 7 for 4 days for our upcomming trip. She is also autistic and will be in summer school. I did not even ask them to excuse the absences. I told them when we are going and that DD needs a lower crowd time. No one batted at eye.

Denise

 

[SueM in MN]

my DD is 20 now and her absence has been an excused absence every year. When her older DS got to Jr. High, we went over the Spring break, but even her absence was excused before that - we wrote a letter to the teachers with our reseasons why we needed to go during school time.

 

[eternaldisneyfan]

In middle school I was excused for a week for my Make-A-Wish trip

Christamae

 

[michelle9343]

When we lived in NY we took a Disney vaction every year for at least 2 weeks. We called it "Theme Park Therapy". Never had a problem with school. Good luck and have a great trip.

 

[scrappingtwinmom]

My kids are only in kindergarten but I wrote a letter to the principal "telling" her we were going (not asking). I said I had already spoken to their teachers and I got a lovely letter back saying how that was sure to be educational for them, have a good time and check with the teachers for any assignments and excusing the absences. My son has autism and is in both the reg. classroom and special ed rooms and my daughter is typically developing. Her teacher sent a few things to do while were were gone but his did not. I wonder if we can get excused every year?? hmm...

Tami

 

[CheapMom]

What they gain at WDW will be more than what they will get at school, I'm sure of that!

This is also my thinking. I think you should go and have a great time.

 

[jennw26]

Someone on this site, pointed something out to me.

A) Their child improves their skills when they travel with family. I tried this out with my son, and his potty training improved.

B) Your first goal should be to keep your family together. Disney is a wonderful place to bond as a family!