Special Education - A vent

[going2wdw]

Some you have read my updates on my 7yo DD and that I'm trying to transfer her from a special school into public. We've moved to a district that seems to have a good special education program and even a dyslexia program for kids with reading difficulties.

Her school has done some testing and we know she has a reading disability. She definately doesn't process things like other kids but does okay socially. Although she makes the cutoff for 2nd grade her reading skills are about a beginning kindergarten level. We are planning on transferring her into 1st grade.

The public school won't do any testing before she starts school, without testing we have no special education or modifications. There is no way she can do the regular classwork even in 1st grade.

Thanks to your tips I asked her school director if she could write an IEP for her and we could use it as a transfer IEP and get some services set before Sam starts school. The vice principal at the public school tells me they can't do that, must have testing (which they won't do before she starts attending) . Director called TEA Special Education and they say that nothing has changed and we should be able to do a IEP transfer to set up temporary services until testing is complete.

Can I scream now????

On top of all this MIL wants to be included in the ARD's (she's taught special education) but sometimes has the tendency to put people off. Not sure I want her there.

My hat is off to all of you who deal with this all the time. I'm learning real quick that we have to be the experts and know what to ask for. All the legal stuff about the schools having to provide an education is only really there for the people who know enough to insist that it be done. How sad is that.

 

[teri]

Janette, my friend, you have my permission to scream. I CANNOT believe they won't do testing before she attends!!!!! Good grief.

I have an IEP on Thursday and I just got the reports, it looks like they may try to cut services for my daughter. I hate these hassles.

 

[s&k'smom]

Hi, welcome to Special Ed. I've been involved here in Mass with sped since my son turned three. I also work for a non-profit human service agency with the advocates who help families with special ed. Check the special education laws immediately. Unfortunately many systems will try and get out of what they lawfully have to do. I'm not saying this is your case but I've seen it a 100 times. for instance if the school systems thinks you have good knowledge on the law you'd be surprised what can happen. You may also need representation such as an advocate or an attorney who is familiar with special education. Many school systems do extremely well with our kids but every once in a while you run into personnel or a school system that just stinks. It could be a case that your school may not know what they need to do. I hope I don't sound like there is going to be a big problem but check what the law says. You may be surprised at what your child is entitled too. Hook up with parents at your daughter's school too, the information could be invaluable plus it's nice to talk with other parents too. Good luck.

 

[emmy]

Jeanette- go ahead and scream- I'll scream with you! As you know we have been battling our school district for over a year, and finally with an advocate, our neurologist and independent speech pathologist we seem to be moving slightly forward. We brought anyone and everyone to our last IEP meeting, and it does help to go in knowing your rights. Good luck !

 

[momejay]

Screaming right along with you.
I sent my son to school dressed as a candy bar for Halloween. He has a 1:1 aide, yet another older child tried to unwrap him ( to eat the candy) & my son was injured. (just bruised)
You may find some humor in this but, it seems to be one bad thing after another with this school.

 

[SueM in MN]

I don't remember if I posted this before, but here is a link to the Parent Advocacy Centers in each state. These are paid for by your tax money, so they are available to everyone.
Parent Advocacy Centers.

 

[going2wdw]

Thanks for the support!

Momejay how sad that your son would be hurt even with an aide.

I have done some additional research and MIL has talked with the diagnostition. We are going to get her the testing results and IEP from the old school. Still have some things to go through but it looks like we should be able to get at least some services pretty quickly.

 

[ang]

I know how you feel!! I had one battle with for DD now i starting a new battle for my DS...I Just don't understand our school system......I spent the afternoon crying over my son which he has all signs of Dyslexia at the age of 4...I know it to well......I will tell you a little bit....
When my daughter was in 2nd grade I notice she was having problems......they put her in special reading...well by the end of the school year she never improve her test scores came down.....So, I started to do research on the Internet to figure out what was the problem....Well, I have learned I am Dyslexia so is my sweet duaghter.....I notice when she was in 2nd grade strongely acted the way I did... So, I spent my time trying to teach her how to handle things.....Dyslexia rely on the memory. So, I focus on that.....Well, so when she went onto 3rd grade I would not put her in the special reading classs......boy, was they pissss.....so sorry.....but they were.....I told them what was wrong with there program.....They did not like that One bit.......So, my daughter strungle through 3rd grade....and the teacher was no help. All she did bring down my daughter self esteem!! She recieved a D in Reading but was getting a A in spelling.......but she could not aply her spelling to English.......Well by the end of the school year....I wanted her tested.....They wanted her to wait until 4th grade......So I went to my doctor and he gave me the right forms to fill out to make them do now.....Well, they were very upset about that......Well, by the end of the school year....of 3rd grade test scores was not low enough for help....I was told the only way they will help if I quit helping her and let her fail.................Could you believe this.....let your child flunk!! Well, I did more research on the matter ...If you don't know there is organization Called......The International
Dyslexia Assoc. http://interdys.org . The organization hooked me help with a turors in my area....She is doing her tutoring under The Wilson Language Program....My daughter was in it for 3 monthes and improve in her reading........and her English Art....My daughter was on the Honor Roll for the full 4th grade!! I am so proud of her. She works really hard......she does go twice a week. Do drive about 20 to 25 min and pay $35 hour......but it well worth all the money in the world....It is expensive....but is worth cutting back on everything else. We never go out to eat, neither me or my husband to any extra activeties or hobbies......LOL....we live a very boring life, to boring at times......Oh a really good book to read is "The Gift" this would really help you learn what your children is going through...It's a well written book.

But now I on a mission again for my son!! I had him tested 2 weeks ago.....hearing fine.....but his speech and language is low and expression is low, comperhesion is low.......Audio is low..The testing was done at our Children Hospital....but under the school system (the school system has pre school for speech and language only) he does not quilify for help.......They told me today....next year have him tested again because he will be older and be wrost....then maybe they can help.......Now, they (3 women tested)came to the same conclusion as the other speech theoropist at children hosp. did. How I understand it my son was off 1 point to quiltify......now at children hospital it cost $120 for hour session.............I told her noway I can affort that.......I explain my daughter is all ready ind tutoring plus he is going to pre school. There is no more money...........I vented on her.........I told her feel its not right the only a certain class of people get government help..or you have to be rich..........But to day she was a God sent .......God sent me a angel......I am tearing up.......she told me she got my insurance......which my insurance turn me down twice........to pay for the LESSONS!!! I could not believe it!! So he starting next week he goes once a week for his tutoring.....but so far my insurance only agree to pay 10 lessons....but after 8 lessons they improve for more....which is fine by me!!

Sorry so long..............I needed to Vent!!

 

[LiLPrincess]

Scream away, that's what we're here for. We'll all scream together.

I've been around and around with the school system for both of my children. I used to think I was the only one. I thought that maybe I wasn't saying the magic words or should be more assertive.

It does help to know your rights. Read everything you can get your hands on.

 

[nancycels1953]

Just a heads up for all u parents of sp ed kids(daughter's are mildly retarded, and oldest is now 19, but our school district used to use the whole language approach to reading... a disaster for sp ed kids!! They just started doing wilson reading and my daughter is doing GREAT!!! if yr school doesn't offer wilson, it might be worth bringing it up, u can probably pull some research on the web. also u can get wilson certified/trained tutors as well. JMHO and our personal experience, but it worked so well for us, thought others might like to try it!

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for the info, nancy. Do you know of a specific website that you would recommend for information?

 

[emmy]

http://www.wilsonlanguage.com/about.html- this is the site we use for info on the Wilson program. I have also heard very good things about it!I have just started researching reading programs for my 41/2 year old for next years IEP!

 

[going2wdw]

Thanks for all the information and additional screaming! Sometimes it helps to get it all out.

The public school uses the MTA program designed by Scottish Rite Hospital. It is phonics based and I've heard good things about it.

Her current school uses the Jordan program which is a whole word/language program. She seems to be doing okay with it and I asked the teacher that does the reading program if she would benefit from tutoring. My thought was that it would be helpful to have 2 different approaches. He and the director set me straight and said that no it would be very confusing and would not help.

My MIL has been talking to the diagnostition at the school and turned in some of the testing results we have. Sounds like she's talking to the right people so I'm letting her do that. She has several teaching experience and used to teach in the district we are now in so hopefully it will be helpful for her to be involved.

Still waiting on an IEP, talked to her teacher today and they said they will have a progress report and descriptions of the services they are doing but wanted some addtional time on the IEP. They are trying to get as many specific details as they can.

This is Sam's last week at her special school and she is starting to get excited about moving. I'm expecting lots of adjustments, the environment at her school is more typical of pre-schools classroom than classrooms.

Between Thanksgiving and DIS-CON it will be time very soon. Thanks for all the support.

 

[nancycels1953]

i just logged back in.... glad some else posted the wilson reading info!!! i'm not an expert on it
but i am one HAPPY PARENT!!! after years of fighting whole language programs... yikes!!! good
luck all!

 

[janette]

Just wanted to update the status. Everything is going well, she has adapted better than I expected. She enjoys the other kids and doesn't seem to be having problems stressing about what she can't do in class. I've only got her side of it so I'm not sure the teacher agrees but hopefully she is doing well. She is in a special education class for reading and there are only 4 in there. She says that is the only class she has to work in. Most of the time she draws or keeps herself busy in other ways. Hopefully it will continue to go well.

 

[teri]

I am glad she is doing well in her new school, Janette!

 

[emmy]

Sounds good! Glad to hear she is doing well!

 

[s&k'smom]

Great news!