I am in IEP HELLp (pleeeease help)

[tinkslite]

Ok. My autistic (high functioning) dd is due for her 3 year IEP rewrite. They have her as LD, as she had quite a late diagnosis (age 13, she is now nearly 16).So this rewrite will include a change in eligibility status. She has been attending a Virtual Charter school (meaning it is a public school, governed by all the usual laws/regs; but it is online in nature and she "attends" via computer @ home). The IEP was due in April, and testing was done in March, they were running a bit behind schedule, and I stated that it was alright as long as it was completed by the final day of school. Well, the final day was 6/9, and no it isn't done.
They scheduled a meeting (conference call actually), and the "team" from school was completely unprepared. We had to reschedule. But I still don't have a date. They had not included the speech pathologist (contracted through the school). Now, I want that team member present. She is one of the only school team members who actually meets with dd on a regular basis IN PERSON. The school is telling me that her schedule is inconvenient for everyone else, and I should just allow her to submit her report to the psych so we can get on with it. They (the teachers) will be unavailable after this week (as summer will have begun)!
I am so frustrated and angry I am not able to think straight.
Does anyone know if I/my daughter are entitled to have that team member present at meeting? Or is the report enough of a compliance with our request? The Speech Pathologist WANTS to take part in the meeting, btw.
To complicate matters, the sped teacher is a friend. It is her supervisor, the psych, and the "classroom" teacher that feel I am being demanding.Not to mention the school nurse! None of whom spent more than an hour with my dd all year. The classroom teacher recieves work via email or snail mail, so no meeting there. DD doesn't do phone real well, so talks were brief. I did alot of the actual instruction, as did sped teacher (the friend) who sees her in other venues, and works with her as needed.

 

[tinkslite]

I recieved an email (sent to all team members, it wasn't intended for me to see) from the school psych (who has been pretty snotty in her attitude re. my request) that all involved team members send emails directly to sped supervisor so as to avoid my seeing them (she did not realize she sent the request to ME)

 

[SueM in MN]

Many schools don’t like it when students don’t follow the path they think they should take.

This website has some helpful links and information about rights and some links to helpful agencies in each state:
www.pacer.org

PACER is based in Minnesota, but is a National Parent Advocacy Group. In the references pages, they have links for agencies in each state.

You/Your daughter do have the right to invite anyone you want to be at the IEP meeting. You can have an advocate, a neutral party or anyone else you want to invite.

The times are to be mutually agreed upon and they DO have to get the report done on schedule.

I’m not clear if you have had contact with the Special Education Director for the school district. If you have not, I would contact that person since time is so short. Have a couple of very specific points that you want to discuss.

 

[tinkslite]

Since the charter is from the state, the local district has no oversight. However, a charter school must comply with all state/federal laws re. special needs, testing, etc. etc.

Not sure who to see next?

Pacer will be helpful.

Your info. was helpful as well
thanks

 

[bookwormde]

Actually the "home district" (your child's) probably does have LEA responsibility, unless the state has formally created an LEA to handle the program your child is under.

Yes if you are making decisions impacting the SLP' area of expertise or in an area where here expertise would had an impact (which with the global nature of our kids social skills deficits is almost every area, then yes you (your child) has every right to have her attend.

As to the letter, you should ask for an immediate meeting with whoever is above the special ed supervisor and take a copy of the email and any other issues you have had (particularly with the author).

If they are unwilling call the state DOE and ask for IDEA compliance officer and set up a meeting. Since you are only an hour away from the state office it should not be too much of an burden to visit there.

When things like this are going on in background, you need to put an end to it (and have the source reprimanded or removed from the special ed process so other parent do not have to put up with this).

If you want to be a stronger advocate you might contact you state's IDEA advisory panel and ask when the next meeting is and in the public comment time speak about what is happening to you and give them a copy of the letter. The state special ed director is almost always present and with lots of advocates in the room the issue will get "handled" state wide.

You would also find out how the IEP team intends to provide the social skills curriculum and generalization that you child needs.

bookwormde

 

[tinkslite]

Today the IEP meeting happened, with the Speech Pathologist in attendance (her input was stellar, btw).
My daughter is now entering HS with a plan in place.
How did it finally happen, you ask? My husband said, "Email the Dean (head of school) immediately, don't be long winded, just tell him what you want."
Daddy's more distant look at the whole situation turned out to be correct, and it was done in rapid pace, after the Dean was made aware!
Her goals are very good, and I am happy that she will be receiving excellent services from the start of the year.

 

[bookwormde]

great to hear. It is foten getting to the "right" higher up who focus on meeting the child's needs that makes all the difference.

It would sill be good to send the errant email to the dean so he can "correct" the process so others do not have the same difficulties

bookwormde

 

[happily single]

Something very similar happened to me. The school (out of district placement) dragged their feet in conducting the testing; then they would ask me to sign new AUthorizations-which I did not even thinking. Fast forward a year later; still no testing. I request meeting, which was made, then cancelled. I was offered another meeting 6 six weeks after the original meeting. No way!!! I filed a Complaint with the State Dept of Education. Viola....Meeting, testing and new placement. Oh, and school and school dept got in BIG trouble with the State!

 

[ilandrazdsw]

I know I am a little late on reading up on the boards, but glad everything went through with a good IEP. DD's school/team was "out of compliance" and you would have had a right to file "due process." Those are 2 phrases that schools/districts HATE to hear...BUT they do get them moving! Hope you'll never have to use them.