Does anyone homeschool their child with a learning disability

[minnieandmickey]

I'm not sure if this belongs here but, I got a call from my daughters teacher today and she told me she was concerned that she was over her head in her class. My daughter was moved into her class a couple of weeks ago because she was too advance for the current special ed (SDC) class she was in so they moved her to a SDC class that was more advance. This decision was made after an hour of listening to everyone telling me that the curriculum would be right for her and they felt she was ready. Now she's in over her head, the lower SDC class is to low and this one is too high so she is falling in between the two classes. I'm at my wits ends and am thinking maybe I should just home school her, but I don't want to do that because school is the only social outlet she has right now. Does anyone else feel like the schools treat these kids like they are expendable? I am not talking about the teachers they are great, but why should my child be transferred from one school to another, a "normal" child wouldn't be required to do this! By the way the lower end SDC class only has so many slots open, and since my daughter left that class the class is full (on a continual basis), so that is not an alternative, even though I don't want her in there, my daughter has a learning disbility , these children have learning and emotional disabilities and function on a considerable lower function than my daughter. Sorry for this being so long, and thanks for letting me vent, this is so frustrating, can anyone give me some advice I really need some.

 

[teri]

You need to call an IEP meeting. Call the director of special ed and tell her that things are not working and you want a remedy now, or you are thinking about pulling her out to homeschool. If she needs extra assistance in that environment to succeed, then they need to make sure she gets it. And if the teacher feels like this isn't working, then it isn't working -- we all know that teacher attitude is EVERYTHING.

I personally don't want to homeschool my kids - to me it is last resort, if the schools fail. I really like that division between school time and home time. I like having my kids come home to a clean slate, no emotional struggles carried over from therapy and teaching plans that went on through the day. They really struggle at school! I get to be the mom - the kids get to relax at home.

 

[SueM in MN]

This is a fine place to post this question. In fact, it's even been posted before, so don't worry.
I agree with all of teri's advice.
It sounds like your DD was not a good fit in the other class anyway, if that class was too low functioning for her needs. If the new class is moving too fast for her, they need to come up with ways to slow her world down a little. Kids are in Special Education BECAUSE they have special needs. Expecting the whole class to be in the same educational "place" at the same time is not realistic, whether it is special ed or not. They need to make the program fit her, not make her fit the program.
Sounds like you could use an advocate. ThePACER Center in Minnesota is one of the national models for Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights. I know you don't live in MN, but this website is one of the best and a lot of the information is federal, rather than being specific to MN. Each state has a similar program (your taxes at work). Some states programs are more developed than others, but they all have the same basic aims and know the ins and outs in their area.
I see you live in California, Here's a link to Parent Alliance Centers in California. Just keep scrolling down until you find the place that's closest to you. The link on the PACER site that I normally use wouldn't load this morning. I'm not sure if these are the same places the other link brings up. This might be more parenting education, but I am sure that any of the places on the list can refer you to other programs that would more meet your needs.
Good luck and don't give up.

 

[bianca]

I have tried homeschooling my youngest daughter (who is newly adopted by us). This did not work out for us at all. Although I still homeschool the older two children, the youngest is exactly where she needs to be ..... public school. They can offer her special services that I can not provide while teaching two other children. The biggest advantage is one that was cited in an earlier post, and that is that she has a "soft place to land" at the end of the day. After the struggles of the school day, home is a very welcome place and her behavior is much better at home now that she is not home-schooled. We try very hard to keep her school life, psychiatric life and home life very separate ..... as much as possible.

 

[nancycels]

have 2 daughters who are mentally retarded(sorry for folks this offends but it clarifies
things)... considered home schooling them at one point, but found after investigating
it that the benefits they got by being in the school environment far outweighed the
problems. Did i beat my head against the wall w/meetings, phone calls, letters etc?
Oh yes!! Not only does school know my home phone#, they know what days i work,
my # there, my cell phone etc.,not only that, the head of sp ed knows me! much as i
wish i'd never had to fight those fights, it was necessary. they can make
accomodations for your daughter in class, they can provide her w/an aid, give her text
books on tape, books to take home, provide projects instead of tests, provide someone
to read tests/assignments to her, etc. my daughters have graduated now, but it was
a long haul. They benefited from not just the classroom interactions but the social
interaction of afterschool activities, like track and theater etc. Sometimes a child is
even better off in a regular ed class for a few classes and only in sp ed part of the day.
I don't know your child's special situation, only you do, but in general, I feel that
being part of the larger school body is of great benefit, especially because these are
the people who will eventually be hiring your child for work, the networking that can
go on even at this age can be invaluable. School will treat your child as expendible
only if you do, so its important to MAKE EFFECTIVE NOISE and insist on new IEP
meetings whenever your child's needs are not being met. If necessary get an
advocate to go w/you...this sometimes makes them consider serious repercussions of
non-compliance with the law and least restrictive class for your child. Best of luck!