Schools for Special Needs Child in Tampa, FL

[jmskinner]

We just learned that we are being transferred to Tampa, FL this July. Our DS(9) will be starting the 4th grade. He is Severe ADHD and has Sensory Processing Disorder. He is almost Aspergers, but hasn't been officially diagnosed with it. A lot of socialization issues. We have an IEP in place here. Can anyone recommend a school or district we should try to get him into? I saw there was a Hope Prepatory School in Tampa, but couldn't find a lot of info on it as to whether it was any good or not. We don't have to live in Tampa, just close enough for DH to drive to MacDill AFB. We would deeply appreciate anyones input.

 

[JESW]

Not in Florida, but I have a ds13 with asperger's who is a special program for kids with asperger's and learning disabilities that is inside a "normal" middle school. I found out that there are a lot of schools and programs out there for special needs that we don't know about but have to be recommended by the school district - which is what happened for our son. So when I was looking for places they didn't show up but the school had a long list of what was available. Maybe it is the same in Florida? You won't know until you get there? I hope you can find something as I know it made a huge difference for our son.

Now if I could only find him a decent therapist...THOSE are really hard to come by!

Jill

 

[got2luvtink]

Hi jmskinner,

I'm not sure if you're exclusively looking for a school or class that only or specifically works with children with adhd or aspergers. Everyone has their own opinions about what's best for their child(a general education with typical peers, or a "special" school or room where they are taught.) Just know, if you don't already, that a free and appropriate general education in the least restrictive environment is the legal right for all children. If you feel your child needs to be included in a regular classroom, like other kids, it is legally the school's responsibility to provide the services that are outlined in his IEP, and to provide supports for him to be in a regular classroom. (no matter what state you're in.)

If you're interested, I've found a link for inclusion success stories in Florida. The web page is for the Florida Inclusion Network. Just scroll down the page to see the different stories. There was a Conway Elementary School mentioned for grades 3,4, and 5. (not sure how close to Tampa though)

http://http://www.floridainclusionnetwork.com/Research_Centers/CRSRL/Florida_Inclusion_Network/Spotlight_On_Success.aspx

Here is a forum where parents talk about their experience with Conway:
http://http://www.city-data.com/forum/orlando/255087-conway-area-elementary-school.html

If there aren't any schools that are close to Tampa on the site, maybe you can call FIN to see if there are any schools near Tampa that have good inclusive practices.

Also the state department of education might be a way to get more information.

Hope this helps!

 

[Talking Hands]

Be sure to bring a copy of his current IEP with you as a starting point. They have to follow it until a new one can be done by the local school system.

 

[Schmeck]

Be sure to bring a copy of his current IEP with you as a starting point. They have to follow it until a new one can be done by the local school system.

Do you know where that is stated anywhere online, that one district has to honor an IEP from another district, or even another state?

 

[stenickar]

This is from Wrightslaw.com If you go there and put in IEP new school, in the search engine(search wrightslaw.com) you should find more information.


"When children with disabilities move to a new different school district - in the same state or a different state - the new school district must provide services that are comparable to the services in the previous IEP.

There is no provision in the law to wait one day, one week, one month or 90 days to do this.

Congress added this provision to IDEA 04, apparently because they were fed up with administrators who dragged their feet when kids moved - causing harm to the child who is already dealing with issues related to the move and a new school.

Here is what IDEA 2004 says, quoted directly from Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 2nd Edition, pages 102-103:

Transfer Within the Same State

"In the case of a child with a disability who transfers school districts within the same academic year, enrolls in a new school, and who had an IEP that was in effect in the same state, the LEA (school district) shall provide such child with a free appropriate public education, including services comparable to those described in the previously held IEP, in consultation with the parents, until such time as the school district adopts the previous IEP or develops, adopts, and implements a new IEP that is consistent with Federal and State law."

Transfer Outside State

"In the case of a child with a disability who transfers school districts within the same academic year, who enrolls in a new school, and who had an IEP that was in effect in another state, the school district shall provide such child with a free appropriate public education, including services comparable to those described in the previous IEP, in consultation with the child's parents until such time as the district conducts an evaluation, if determined to be necessary, and develops a new IEP, if appropriate, that is consistent with Federal and State law."

The Commentary to Regulation 300.323(f) states that "the Department interprets 'comparable' to have the plain meaning of the word, which is 'similar' or 'equivalent.'"

Transmittal of Records

The IDEA also sates that "the new school shall take steps to promptly obtain the child's records, including the IEP and supporting documents and any other records relating to the provision of special education and related services to the child..."

Hope this helps

 

[jmskinner]

got2luvtink, Thank you for the link, it is a great start. Our current school system went to an all inclusive setting this year. DS has always been mainstreamed, with some outside help.

JESW, one reason I hate to leave this area is the fact we have wonderful therapists at the moment. Not sure which type you mean, DS sees an Occupational Therapist, Language Therapist, and then the child Psychiatrist. Now we are trying to get him set up for Physical Therapy, just in time to move.

Believe me, that IEP will come with me. What makes this hard, is there is, I think, 5 counties in the area we could live in, so several different school districts to consider and then the individual schools.

Thank you to everyone for helping out!

 

[SandrainNC]

Our current school system went to an all inclusive setting this year. DS has always been mainstreamed, with some outside help.

That is great! Wish that were the case here. We were told this will NEVER happen here.

Also, congratulations on moving closer to Disney World!!!!!

Sandra

 

[Momelie]

Hello!

I'm in Tampa, and although I don't know about Hope Preparatory, other than where it is located, I do know that there are several schools in the area that are geared toward all types of disabilities. If you think mainstream is the way to go, I highly recommend the magnet programs - they are much more geared to that, and have a better ratio of staff members than the neighborhood schools, IMO.

One thing I did want to mention, though, that I have personal experience with is that we have All Children's Hospital here, and it has THE BEST set of therapists (OT and PT are the ones I deal with), speech paths, pediatric neuros, psych, etc. They all work as a team, and the entire facilities (I go to the Tampa one, but they have them in Brandon and Plant City, as well as St. Pete where the main one is) are ENTIRELY geared toward children. Everything is done on a child's level - no adult sized seats, except in the waiting rooms, LOL. And waiting rooms are designed for siblings to wait, too (thank goodness!). My DD12 has been going there over 10 years now, and I can't say enough good things about their set up!

Not sure if I can help - but if there's anything I can answer, I'd be happy to try!

Welcome to the area! BTW, Disney is less than an hour up I-4 from Tampa!

 

[wvdislover]

Good luck with your move! Our DD10 has the same issues as your child. Unfortunately, the school system was unable to serve her needs well enough (there are NO services offered to help with Asperger's), so we pulled her out of school and I am now homeschooling her. Not an option for everyone, I know, but it's working for us right now. There are no special needs schools in our state, that I know of. We actually have considered moving somewhere else, so we could find a school for her, but have decided to try this first. It sounds like you're moving to a great area where your needs can be addressed well!

 

[jmskinner]

Good luck with your move! Our DD10 has the same issues as your child. Unfortunately, the school system was unable to serve her needs well enough (there are NO services offered to help with Asperger's), so we pulled her out of school and I am now homeschooling her. Not an option for everyone, I know, but it's working for us right now. There are no special needs schools in our state, that I know of. We actually have considered moving somewhere else, so we could find a school for her, but have decided to try this first. It sounds like you're moving to a great area where your needs can be addressed well!

I'm glad to hear that homeschooling is working for you. We have decided that we would home school if necessary. We currently have our son transferred to another school in the district because the one we are closest to wouldn't work with him. I have said that if the transfer wasn't accepted one year I would home school him rather than send him back to that school. The sad thing is, I have ran into several other people who have taken their child out of that school. We all met while our kids were in OT together.

Momelie, I'm sending you a PM!

Thanks to everyone for your help. I knew I could count on the Diser's!