IEP accommodations--anyone know? UPDATE

[torinsmom]

My DS16 has dysgraphia, which is a writing disability. In his IEP, one of the accommodations is using a word processor to do his written work. Every year in his IEP meeting, we talk about having something in his classes for him to use to do his work. Every year there is an excuse. Monday, we had our meeting and the history teacher is insisting that DS have a way to type his work out. I mentioned him using an Alphasmart, which he used in middle school. So, DS comes home today and said the IEP coach told him the Alphasmarts do not work well and suggested he should bring his laptop to school every day. I am sooo not okay with this. For one, his laptop could get stolen or broken. In addition, he could be using it for things other than work(music, games, etc). Isn't the school required to provide him with something to use, instead of me having to provide it?(Edited to bold what I was asking for, since some people insist I am asking for someone to buy my child a brand new laptop.)

UPDATE: The IEP coach emailed and said thinking about it more closely, he wouldn't send a personal laptop to school for his kid either. He called this afternoon and is going to make sure all DS' teachers have a computer available for him to use in the classroom That is all he needs, and it sounds like it will be easy to arrange.

 

[SandiH]

My DS16 has dysgraphia, which is a writing disability. In his IEP, one of the accommodations is using a word processor to do his written work. Every year in his IEP meeting, we talk about having something in his classes for him to use to do his work. Every year there is an excuse. Monday, we had our meeting and the history teacher is insisting that DS have a way to type his work out. I mentioned him using an Alphasmart, which he used in middle school. So, DS comes home today and said the IEP coach told him the Alphasmarts do not work well and suggested he should bring his laptop to school every day. I am sooo not okay with this. For one, his laptop could get stolen or broken. In addition, he could be using it for things other than work(music, games, etc). Isn't the school required to provide him with something to use, instead of me having to provide it?

What was agreed upon at the IEP meeting? What is written in the IEP? If he had it in his IEP at middle school, it seems odd that he wouldn't have it in his IEP at high school. Does he work with an OT? Is there an assistive technology person at your school district? They should be providing something for him to use.

 

[golfgal]

Please don't take this the wrong way but do you REALLY think that the school should buy your son a laptop? I understand he needs assistance but isn't the school allowing him to use a laptop vs writing out his assignments enough of an accommodation? Maybe there is a desktop at the school that they could put into the classroom for him? I would NEVER expect the school to provide an expensive piece of equipment for my child like that.

 

[torinsmom]

For every class, it has "word processor/computer" as an accommodation.

They mentioned his bringing his laptop in the meeting and I said I did not think it would be a good solution. They said they would look into it. Then the IEP coach told him today he should bring his laptop.

I found this online:

IDEA Appendix A says, "The Act requires the IEP team to determine, and the public agency to provide, the accommodations, modifications, supports, and supplementary aids and services, needed by each child with a disability to successfully be involved in and progress in the general curriculum achieve the goals of the IEP, and successfully demonstrate his or her competencies in State and district-wide assessments."

So, I emailed his coach and told him I was not comfortable with DS taking his computer to school, because of various reasons. I mentioned the statement in the IDEA act above and I am hoping that will be enough to him to see I know my son's rights. I think I am just too nice at these meetings.

 

[torinsmom]

Please don't take this the wrong way but do you REALLY think that the school should buy your son a laptop? I understand he needs assistance but isn't the school allowing him to use a laptop vs writing out his assignments enough of an accommodation? Maybe there is a desktop at the school that they could put into the classroom for him? I would NEVER expect the school to provide an expensive piece of equipment for my child like that.

I really don't care how they provide him with a word processor. I am not asking them to buy something new. They have laptops and, I'm sure, desktops at school that he could use. I don't even care if it is a computer; a basic word processor would work. The school just needs to make sure they are in the class for him to use. He does not need it for home, but it is my understanding that if a child did not have a word processor at home, and had an IEP with that accommodation, the school would provide one for home. It would be the school's property, of course.

And no, allowing him to use a computer is not enough to help him be successful. Just like a school has to provide extended time on a test for a child with a disability, they are required to provide assistive technology for children who need it to be successful. Parents can actually sue the school if the accommodations are not followed. I have never pushed it, but I will go over the IEP coach's head if I have to for this one.

If I send his laptop to school and it is damaged or stolen, who is responsible? You guessed it, me. I am not taking that risk.

 

[tw1nsmom]

The school needs to provide the laptop. If another student takes or breaks your sons personal laptop you would be responsible. Under IDEA, if the CSE team determines that your Ds needs a laptop to function in the school environment, they have to provide one. You would have to negotiate about whether or not he could bring the school laptop home. If they won't let him bring it home (many IEP's are written so that the child can bring the equipment to and from school), he would need some kind of file saving device that is compatible with his home computer so that he could continue projects at home that were started at school. It is likely that the district already owns several laptops and could assign one to your DS.

 

[ugadog99]

Isn't the school required to provide him with something to use, instead of me having to provide it?

Teacher here: Yep, the school must provide the technology since it is written in his IEP. You are obviously going to have to push it. Don't let up, though. It can and HAS to be done.

 

[3smithboys]

I have used an Alphasmart before and IMO there is no way a MS or HS student can do any quality work on them. They are frustrating, and he will be spending more time trying to work around the Alphasmart's limitations than actually working on it.

Yes, the school is required to provided him with necessary equipment to meet his needs. If that means that he needs to have a laptop provided while he is at school, then he has to be provided with one so he can function while at school.

 

[torinsmom]

Teacher here: Yep, the school must provide the technology since it is written in his IEP. You are obviously going to have to push it. Don't let up, though. It can and HAS to be done.

So, do you think I am wrong to push it? A PP made it sound like I am trying to get something my son doesn't deserve. I am not asking for a new laptop for my son to bring home and play games on!

I bought him an Alphasmart in 4th grade and it lasted a year before another child broke it. He has struggled through middle school and high school, not doing assignments at school because he would have to hand write it. When he does that, no doubt a teacher will write on the paper "Cannot read!", not even realizing that that is not what a child with a writing disability needs to hear. So he would do the classwork and homework at home, where he could type it. Noone realizes how much you need to be able to write in EVERY subject until you have a child with this type of deficit.

 

[torinsmom]

The school needs to provide the laptop. If another student takes or breaks your sons personal laptop you would be responsible. Under IDEA, if the CSE team determines that your Ds needs a laptop to function in the school environment, they have to provide one. You would have to negotiate about whether or not he could bring the school laptop home. If they won't let him bring it home (many IEP's are written so that the child can bring the equipment to and from school), he would need some kind of file saving device that is compatible with his home computer so that he could continue projects at home that were started at school. It is likely that the district already owns several laptops and could assign one to your DS.

Good point! I am assuming a jump drive would work. He has one of those for English anyway. He has opened things here that he saved at school, so that's not a problem. We don't need to bring the laptop home, and I would not want him to have that responsibility. He needs it in three classes(the other two have computers for everyone). He is really mad at me that I won't let him take his laptop. No doubt he wants to play games on it. I told him when he pays for a laptop, he can take it to school.

 

[kirstenb1]

OP you're not wrong to push it, and don't let anyone make you feel like you are. Remember, he's entitled to FAPE, like every other child attending public school in America. Unfortunately, you have to push to get this, but you are his biggest advocate. Just keep pushing!

 

[bdoyledimou]

My son (12) has a word processor notation in his IEP, and the school dragged thier feet about it so much we ended up buying him one of the Acer netbooks.

It works, it's the size of a paper back, and it won't get broken, because no one else touches it.

He's used it for 2 years now.. still going strong..

 

[golfgal]

So, do you think I am wrong to push it? A PP made it sound like I am trying to get something my son doesn't deserve. I am not asking for a new laptop for my son to bring home and play games on!

I bought him an Alphasmart in 4th grade and it lasted a year before another child broke it. He has struggled through middle school and high school, not doing assignments at school because he would have to hand write it. When he does that, no doubt a teacher will write on the paper "Cannot read!", not even realizing that that is not what a child with a writing disability needs to hear. So he would do the classwork and homework at home, where he could type it. Noone realizes how much you need to be able to write in EVERY subject until you have a child with this type of deficit.

I am NOT saying that he doesn't deserve to be able to USE a laptop, I just don't think that the school should have to PAY for one for him. You would still be responsible for paying for any damage done to that computer even if the school provided the thing.

I know full well what it is like to have a kid that gets papers back "cannot read" because my DS15 has HORRIBLE handwriting but doesn't qualify for an IEP. Even if he did I would provide the computer and NEVER expect the school to pay for one for him.

 

[torinsmom]

Will do! I think spending 5 years working with the people who were running his IEP made me less likely to speak up, and I have stayed like that even though he is at a different school than me. Last year, his IEP meeting was me and the IEP coach. He said everyone else could sign off later. I know that's not legal, but I didn't speak up. I am done with being complacent. I figure I can be polite and advocate at the same time.

 

[MaggieMoo'sMom]

Push it! Make sure your child gets what he needs. The school is going to get by with as little as possible, sad that I am a teacher saying this... The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Squeak on for your child!!!

 

[torinsmom]

I am NOT saying that he doesn't deserve to be able to USE a laptop, I just don't think that the school should have to PAY for one for him. You would still be responsible for paying for any damage done to that computer even if the school provided the thing.

I know full well what it is like to have a kid that gets papers back "cannot read" because my DS15 has HORRIBLE handwriting but doesn't qualify for an IEP. Even if he did I would provide the computer and NEVER expect the school to pay for one for him.

Does your son's school not have laptops or other computers? They don't have to buy one. DS' high school has laptop carts that the teachers check out. They use them in English sometimes. Believe me, they have one he could use. Yes, if DS damages the computer at school, he is responsible, but he has never damaged anything at school. His laptop would be more likely to get damaged in transit. On top of that, he would leave it in his History or English class, which means it could be stolen. Even if it was stolen on school property when he is doing exactly what he was asked to do(leave it in the classroom), he would be out a laptop.

This is not just horrible handwriting; this is a neurological disability that no amount of practice or OT can fix. Perhaps you should look up dysgraphia and see if your son fits the criteria. My son's was diagnosed by an OT and a doctor, and had a 504 plan until his other learning disabilities were discovered. Now he has a full IEP. Believe me, I would rather my child have no learning disabilities.

 

[MushyMushy]

Good luck with that! When my son was diagnosed with the same LD, this was a fight that went on throughout middle school. The kicker? My husband's work was willing to donate a couple of laptops to the school so that my son could use one for his accommodation and the school refused the donation. They said something to the effect that it wouldn't be fair to the other kids. The work my son could do orally or on a computer was an incredible improvement over anything he could hand write. I can't tell you how many times we had to fight a teacher who would accuse him of cheating when he'd turn in typewritten work.

Fight your hardest and get an advocate if you need one. I wish I had done that instead of letting the school drag their feet until he got to the high school.

 

[LisaR]

So, do you think I am wrong to push it? A PP made it sound like I am trying to get something my son doesn't deserve. I am not asking for a new laptop for my son to bring home and play games on!

I bought him an Alphasmart in 4th grade and it lasted a year before another child broke it. He has struggled through middle school and high school, not doing assignments at school because he would have to hand write it. When he does that, no doubt a teacher will write on the paper "Cannot read!", not even realizing that that is not what a child with a writing disability needs to hear. So he would do the classwork and homework at home, where he could type it. Noone realizes how much you need to be able to write in EVERY subject until you have a child with this type of deficit.

I am sorry but I just don't understand this logic. Maybe I am not reading it correctly. From this one sentence, it sounds like your son has spent YEARS struggling because of this issue. If this is the case, why? You needed to go to bat for your son years ago. If this is an ongoing issue that the school isn't going to resolve, just buy him a cheap laptop. You can pick up used ones on Craigslist for dirt cheap that are only capable of using Word since they are old, slow and/or broken. Heck, I have three lying around my house that would really only function for that purpose. He only has a few years left of school. This really shouldn't still be going on.

 

[torinsmom]

I am NOT saying that he doesn't deserve to be able to USE a laptop, I just don't think that the school should have to PAY for one for him. You would still be responsible for paying for any damage done to that computer even if the school provided the thing.

I know full well what it is like to have a kid that gets papers back "cannot read" because my DS15 has HORRIBLE handwriting but doesn't qualify for an IEP. Even if he did I would provide the computer and NEVER expect the school to pay for one for him.

Does your son's school not have laptops or other computers? They don't have to buy one. DS' high school has laptop carts that the teachers check out. They use them in English sometimes. Believe me, they have one he could use. Yes, if DS damages the computer at school, he is responsible, but he has never damaged anything at school. His laptop would be more likely to get damaged in transit. On top of that, he would leave it in his History or English class, which means it could be stolen. Even if it was stolen on school property when he is doing exactly what he was asked to do(leave it in the classroom), he would be out a laptop.

This is not just horrible handwriting; this is a neurological disability that no amount of practice or OT can fix. Perhaps you should look up dysgraphia and see if your son fits the criteria. My son's was diagnosed by an OT and a doctor, and had a 504 plan until his other learning disabilities were discovered. Now he has a full IEP. Believe me, I would rather my child have no learning disabilities.

 

[Hannathy]

I am NOT saying that he doesn't deserve to be able to USE a laptop, I just don't think that the school should have to PAY for one for him. You would still be responsible for paying for any damage done to that computer even if the school provided the thing.

I know full well what it is like to have a kid that gets papers back "cannot read" because my DS15 has HORRIBLE handwriting but doesn't qualify for an IEP. Even if he did I would provide the computer and NEVER expect the school to pay for one for him.

I agree with you. I think these accommodations have gone to far. to me the accommodation is allowing him to bring his lap top where other kids aren't allowed to do that. I don't think it should mean paying for that accommodation anymore than it should mean paying for special glasses or hearing aids.