Autism / Autism Spectrum Support Group
Autism is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder which manifests itself in markedly abnormal social interaction, communication ability, patterns of interests, and patterns of behavior. Although the specific etiology of autism is unknown, many researchers suspect that autism results from genetically mediated vulnerabilities to environmental triggers.
I'm faced with a horrible decision. From previous posts, you know that my daughter is not getting services that she needs in school (see sensory integration disorder page). The services in the IEP are sometimes not followed because of staffing issues and other children's needs in the school (for example, IEP clearly states she will have a para sit WITH her in music 2 days a week and be pulled out 3 days a week; in the last two weeks it's been broken 3 times due to staffing issues or other children's bad behavior that the para sits with them and they don't even have IEPs). So here are my options. Please vote:
1. Leave her in the school she's in and continue to advocate for her. Knowing full well the school regularly violates the IEP. It is a weekly problem. Also, there is a severe lack of OT and the speech path is quitting at the end of the year. They have not found a replacement for her and it's unclear that they will be able to as she wasn't full time (just 4 days a week).
2. Put her in a private school that has great professional services (ot, speech path, among others), but is very limited on para help for things in the classroom. Also private school is beyond our financial means, so we would have to take out a loan (which we wouldn't have a problem getting, FICO Scores are over 700 for both hubby and me).
3. Lie to a bigger public school 30 minutes away about an in district address. I have applied for transfers to get my daughter there. They have been denied because of her needs costing the district to direct monies at her when she isn't in district. They have both the professional services and para staff. I have worked in this district in the past as a teacher. It would be where the most special ed monies are to get my daughter what she truly needs. From experience, they don't openly offer but if you ask you shall receive. Again, it's available.
Of course, we are trying to sell our home to get into the public school we need legitmately. We've tried to sell in the past. It's been off the market for about 9 months (it had been on the market for about 9 months and we needed to remove it so the school would even service her at all; said if we were trying to move she would get "Basic" services...which meant even less than what she is getting now). Btw, OT is 15 minute consult only once a month (he never has to even see my daughter and never comes to IEP meetings). OT is 90 minutes away and calls the sped teacher once a month to cover himself legally.
So, please vote. Thank you!
1. Leave her in the school she's in and continue to advocate for her. Knowing full well the school regularly violates the IEP. It is a weekly problem. Also, there is a severe lack of OT and the speech path is quitting at the end of the year. They have not found a replacement for her and it's unclear that they will be able to as she wasn't full time (just 4 days a week).
2. Put her in a private school that has great professional services (ot, speech path, among others), but is very limited on para help for things in the classroom. Also private school is beyond our financial means, so we would have to take out a loan (which we wouldn't have a problem getting, FICO Scores are over 700 for both hubby and me).
3. Lie to a bigger public school 30 minutes away about an in district address. I have applied for transfers to get my daughter there. They have been denied because of her needs costing the district to direct monies at her when she isn't in district. They have both the professional services and para staff. I have worked in this district in the past as a teacher. It would be where the most special ed monies are to get my daughter what she truly needs. From experience, they don't openly offer but if you ask you shall receive. Again, it's available.
Of course, we are trying to sell our home to get into the public school we need legitmately. We've tried to sell in the past. It's been off the market for about 9 months (it had been on the market for about 9 months and we needed to remove it so the school would even service her at all; said if we were trying to move she would get "Basic" services...which meant even less than what she is getting now). Btw, OT is 15 minute consult only once a month (he never has to even see my daughter and never comes to IEP meetings). OT is 90 minutes away and calls the sped teacher once a month to cover himself legally.
So, please vote. Thank you!
Have you gone looked to see if there is a advocacy group in your state. I know you aren't in Michigan because we have school of choice here so you don't have to ask permission to move to an out of district school. Here we have Michigan Alliance for Families, see if there is one for your state.
We do have something similar which I am a part of (Families Together); I have a meeting with them before my daughter's annual re-write later this month.
There is another family currently suing the district using a private attorney because they followed due process and the district still violated the laws. Unfortunately, it is not going very well for them. It has been ongoing for quite sometime.
I have informed the state of several violations including her 3 year re-eval not being done (was due in December 2011). It has not helped much and has made several people at the school fearful to even talk to me about my daughter. It's a horrible situation. When they violate the IEP, it's always a para's fault for not understanding something. Sorry, last time I knew they aren't responsible to carry out the IEP (how can they, they don't even have access to it) but to follow what the sped and classroom teacher ask them to do. It makes me so mad when they blame some poor para that isn't even making a living wage ($8.50 an hour with no health care or other benefits).
My fear is if I push anymore than we already have it'll come down on my child. The music teacher is already taking it out on her which is why the IEP states she is in music 2 days a week with a para sitting WITH her and out 3 days a week. The school has violated this 3 times in the last two weeks because of staffing issues (either stick her in music without a para with her or put her in music on a non-music day for her).
Sigh, I'm filling out loan apps right now. The private school is our only valid option I see. I don't forsee lying as a good choice either.
Your school sounds like they bully parents and students into accepting what they want! As far as not giving services because your house is for sale! THAT IS RIDICULOUS!!! Shame on them for even trying that one!!!!
I had the state mandate the Dallas school district for my son 5 years ago, and we did have to buy a house in another school district. You should have the FAPE, and if the district is going to not follow the IEP they need to offer your family FAPE, no matter what, and that may include private education at the taxpayer expense.
Your procedure safeguards has the information of where to contact. You got that, or should have when you had the IEP meeting.
Did you contact the Principal in regards to the refusal of the music teacher? How about the superintendent in charge of special education? It is your right to file a formal complaint, and the sooner you do the better you will have the upper hand in the process of getting FAPE and having the school staff follow the IEP.
http://www.ksde.org/Default.aspx?tabid=3456
here is the complaint form for Kansas. There are phone numbers to ask questions on the main site on the left side there.
Good Luck
Do you read Wrights law?
Make a list of WHAT YOU EXPECT. have specialists support those expectations, and remember if they are not doing the 3 year evals, you request IEE Independent Educational Evaluations at the IEP meeting.
www.webuyuglyhouses.net
They'll even buy "fixer-uppers" but, their offer is a little below market value combined with their assessment of the cost of repairs.
A market value of 100,000 needing no repairs would be offered (est.)90,000. If that same home needed 10,000 in repairs, the (est.) offer may be 80,000, I guess. They even buy from sellers burdened with late loan payments, or facing foreclosure.