I need to vent. Budget related.

[daughtersrus]

My youngest DD is disabled. She attends a school out of our district. About twice a month the bus picks her up early and takes her to "Best Buddies" at our local high school. DD's IEP states that she has a 1:1 aid for the bus and for school. Yesterday when she got off the bus, she was missing one of her hearing aides. I took her inside and got her out of her wheelchair. It wasn't in her coat, diaper, chair...So the calls began.

First I called the transportation dept for our school district. The lady that answered just happened to be the assistant director of special services for transportation. I've dealt with her in the past when DD's prosthesis for her eye was lost on the bus. At that time, we set up a check list that the aids on the bus are supposed to do every time she gets on and off the bus. Apparently it wasn't done buy the bus staff that picked her up from her school nor was it done by the bus staff that picked her up from the high school and brought her home. This really makes me mad because DD is on the bus over an hour each way. I'm not sure if they're even watching her like they should be on the bus.

The teacher at Best Buddies said that DD only had one aid in her ear when she got there. No one (even the hearing itinerant working with DD there) bothered to look for the other one or even write in the note that she came without one.

Both buses were searched and the aid was not there. I called DD's school also and they said that she had both in when she left but looked just in case. It wasn't there.

About 15 minutes later I get a call from the transportation lady. The teacher at Best Buddies called and said that they found the aid in the parking lot. They had been outside flying kites and didn't know how it got there. She said that it was a little scratched but would have the hearing itinerant teacher bring it in and check to make sure it was working. The teacher called me and said that it was not working. She said that she would drop it off at my house on her way home. When she got here, the aid was more than scratched. It was crushed. It looks like it was ran over by a car or something pretty heavy.

I called our district office to talk to the SpEd director but they all leave by 4:00. I left a messages. Of course there's no school today so it won't be until next week before I can speak with someone.

When DD's prosthesis went missing, it was also a long weekend. That took a long time to get resolved. In the end, the district ended up paying. I hope that they will do the same with this but you never know.

In the meantime, DD had an appointment with an audiologist today to get impressions taken for swim molds. I'm going to bring the aid in today and have her send the paperwork to the school district. But while all of this is going on, DD will be without a hearing aid. Her hearing loss is pretty severe. I just don't have an extra $2,000 to buy the aid and wait to get the money from the district.

I just get so tired of dealing with school issues like this. We had to sue them to get them to pay for DD's medical bills when the aid broke DD's femur, we had to threaten to sue to get them to pay to replace the prosthesis for her eye and now this.

Thanks for letting me vent!

 

[Gr8t Fan]

(((HUGS)))! I hope you get everything worked out without too much hassle.

 

[spaceacewannabe]

I'm so sorry to hear that, but unless a school employee took the hearing aid out, I really don't think this is the school's responsibility. Very unfortunate, but not really their fault, either.

 

[ancestry]

So sorry you are going through this.

Is there any type of insurance plan you can purchase for the hearing aid that will cover against accidental loss or damage?

 

[mombrontrent]

I'm so sorry to hear that, but unless a school employee took the hearing aid out, I really don't think this is the school's responsibility. Very unfortunate, but not really their fault, either.

It was their fault that they did not follow procedure and check before getting on and off the bus. If they did then they would have known before the bus left that it was missing and therefore it might have been found earlier before it got "scratched" or crushed as you say. I am sorry you hear about these issues with the school, I know it must be extremely frusterating. I have a son with son school issues and the schools are always a nightmare. Gook luck, I hope they offer to replace it without you having to harrass them into it

 

[wtccheermom]

I just get so tired of dealing with school issues like this. We had to sue them to get them to pay for DD's medical bills when the aid broke DD's femur, we had to threaten to sue to get them to pay to replace the prosthesis for her eye and now this.

Thanks for letting me vent!

Good Luck!!! I can only imagine how frustrated you must be. I do have to ask how on earth did the aid break her femur?

 

[Cynt]

Sounds like it may be time to consider moving to a different school district.

 

[ccgirl]

OMG! I am so sorry you have been thru so much. It's awful you have to fight so hard to get people to do what's right! I really hope they pay and don't make you jump threw hoops!

 

[Hannathy]

I'm so sorry to hear that, but unless a school employee took the hearing aid out, I really don't think this is the school's responsibility. Very unfortunate, but not really their fault, either.

I agree with this. They could have checked when they got into the building and went right out and found it and it could have been crushed already. Why is that the schools fault. If my DD drops her glasses and a car runs over them the school doesn't pay.

Won't your homeowners pay for this?

As a taxpayer I don't think I should have to pay for this at all.

 

[Tink-aholic]

I agree with this. They could have checked when they got into the building and went right out and found it and it could have been crushed already. Why is that the schools fault. If my DD drops her glasses and a car runs over them the school doesn't pay.

Won't your homeowners pay for this?

As a taxpayer I don't think I should have to pay for this at all.

Be careful. OP's daughter has an IEP that says that she must have a 1:1. That means that she must have an attendant with her at all times who is responsible for only OP's daughter. That is what that person gets paid to do, including checking to make sure that all of her equipment/prosthesis isn't dropped or missing. That is the law, period. OP's daughter qualifies for the services so that she can receive the same education as everyone else. If you would rather not pay for these services for a disabled child to be educated, you are free to move to another country.

 

[m&m's mom]

Be careful. OP's daughter has an IEP that says that she must have a 1:1. That means that she must have an attendant with her at all times who is responsible for only OP's daughter. That is what that person gets paid to do, including checking to make sure that all of her equipment/prosthesis isn't dropped or missing. That is the law, period. OP's daughter qualifies for the services so that she can receive the same education as everyone else. If you would rather not pay for these services for a disabled child to be educated, you are free to move to another country.

How in the world can it be the law for the aide to keep up with the childs personal (albeit medical) property?
You seem awfully defensive to me. Seems like everyone is asking perfectly reasonable questions/statements.

ETA- My DD had an IEP and she wore glasses but it would never have occurred to me to hold anyone else responsible for accidents or lost glasses- which we had plenty of.

 

[Hannathy]

How in the world can it be the law for the aide to keep up with the childs personal (albeit medical) property?
You seem awfully defensive to me. Seems like everyone is asking perfectly reasonable questions/statements.

ETA- My DD had an IEP and she wore glasses but it would never have occurred to me to hold anyone else responsible for accidents or lost glasses- which we had plenty of.

Thank you

I never said she shouldn't have an education. I still feel it is not the educational aids responsibility for personal property accidents. The only way the school should be responsible is if the aid took it off and stomped on it. Otherwise it is an accident and YOU should have your own insurance on valuable personal objects just as any child should.

 

[polyqueen]

I usually just read the posts on these boards and very rarely post. However, the previous poster who very clearly stated that it IS the aide's responsibility per the IEP is absolutely correct. Every IEP is written for a specific child and his/her needs whether they are learning, physical or emotional. And yes, the law is the law. I'm gathering that the OP's daughter has an extensive IEP if a 1:1 aide is necessary--we would probably all be better people if we were a little more compassionate to this family's daily situation.

 

[crisi]

I usually just read the posts on these boards and very rarely post. However, the previous poster who very clearly stated that it IS the aide's responsibility per the IEP is absolutely correct. Every IEP is written for a specific child and his/her needs whether they are learning, physical or emotional. And yes, the law is the law. I'm gathering that the OP's daughter has an extensive IEP if a 1:1 aide is necessary--we would probably all be better people if we were a little more compassionate to this family's daily situation.

We've gone way overboard. My kids have 44 kids to a classroom. We don't have librarians in our schools. We have no band, no art. There is no gifted/talented enrichment other than what is done volunteer. There is no money to replace textbooks - my son cannot take his math book home with him - he shares it with the five other math sections. He can check one out from the teacher - if one is available - she has TEN spares - for about 250 students.

We simply cannot afford 1:1 aides and paying for people's hearing aides. The law has got to change.

 

[Hannathy]

we would probably all be better people if we were a little more compassionate to this family's daily situation.

What does compassion have to do with this situation at all? School districts and tax payers do not have the money to pay for things they should not pay for that people should have private insurance for and accidental damage to personal property.

Unless the aid purposefully removed it and put it on the street to get run over or stomped on it, it is an accident.

 

[RitaE]

Well there are a couple of different issues here.
One. For the girl to go through that amount of time without any of the staff noticing that the hearing aid was missing is troublesome. It is a definite red flag that her needs are not being monitored by the people who are being paid to monitor them. Note - this isn't a "busy teacher" was a class of other children to watch. The aid is there solely for this one child.

Two. Who should pay for the device? That's a question that we could all have an opinion about and really I'm not sure. Generally if the devices are lost/damaged through negligence of the staff, the school is liable. I really don't know enough here to make that determination but given that they aren't following the IEP procedures I'm inclined to believe that they do have some responsibility.

I hope it works out for you OP.

 

[NOLA_Tink]

How in the world can it be the law for the aide to keep up with the childs personal (albeit medical) property?
You seem awfully defensive to me. Seems like everyone is asking perfectly reasonable questions/statements.

ETA- My DD had an IEP and she wore glasses but it would never have occurred to me to hold anyone else responsible for accidents or lost glasses- which we had plenty of.

Several students have IEPs (for disabillites and for gifted/talented accommodations) & many also wear glasses. That doesn't really compare to the original poster's concern because most students do not have an IEP that legally requires a child-specific aid to change diapers, feed the student, and attend to other medical issues to assure that the child is getting the best possible education that he/she deserves.

Daughtersrus, I'm sorry to hear that this has happened to you & your daughter. Knowing that your child is depedent on a child-specic aid & fearing that he/she may be neglecting your daughter is a very scary thing. I hope that your school board personnel openly listens to you without discrimination (due to the past law suits).

 

[Hannathy]

We've gone way overboard. My kids have 44 kids to a classroom. We don't have librarians in our schools. We have no band, no art. There is no gifted/talented enrichment other than what is done volunteer. There is no money to replace textbooks - my son cannot take his math book home with him - he shares it with the five other math sections. He can check one out from the teacher - if one is available - she has TEN spares - for about 250 students.

We simply cannot afford 1:1 aides and paying for people's hearing aides. The law has got to change.

I 100% agree.

 

[merekc]

I'll be honest I don't know who is responsible even having had a kid with an IEP and necessary medical equipment.

But I don't think you can compare a student on an IEP who also happens to wear glasses with a student who sounds IMO to have extensive disabilities and more than likely a very detailed IEP for that student's special educational needs.

I will say we don't know enough about what the school has commited to through the IEP and other policies to say who is responsible.

My personal example is that my school requires kids with hearing aids to have the nurse check the aids DAILY. As a parent, I don't NEED the nurse checking the aids since they are checked at home. I've told them in our family it is unnecessary, but it is their policy based on their interpretation of some state law. Other surrounding districts do not require the school to check the aids. IMO if the aids get broken while the nurse is doing her check (based on their policy) then I do think they are at fault.

So again, without knowing OPs IEP and school policies it is difficult to determine fault on the Dis.

Also for those asking about insurance, I am not aware of any homeowners insurance that covers hearing aids. It is a special policy from a special company of about $450 a year. If you file a claim, you get to restart your policy. So if 1 month into your year, you file a claim, you pay another $450. So many claims within so many years and they will not insure you at all. Scary stuff for moms of kids with hearing aids at $2000 PER EAR.

I feel for the OP. Hearing aids are a costly necessity.

 

[lisajl]

Be careful. OP's daughter has an IEP that says that she must have a 1:1. That means that she must have an attendant with her at all times who is responsible for only OP's daughter. That is what that person gets paid to do, including checking to make sure that all of her equipment/prosthesis isn't dropped or missing. That is the law, period. OP's daughter qualifies for the services so that she can receive the same education as everyone else. If you would rather not pay for these services for a disabled child to be educated, you are free to move to another country.

What she said!