HI Everyone,
I just found out that since the beginning of school my son has not recieved ANY ST. It is in his IEP to have it 20 min 2 times a week. I called the spec ed teacher and he told me that the speech therapist had been in the hospital, but that she might not return and that they might have to hire someone else?????They were I guess waiting until she returned??BUt now that it looks like it is taking so long-the spec ed teacher says they need to hire someone else-they dont want to, but they need to???
Is it just me or is thsi TOTALLY wrong-of them not to provide ANY ST and then to top it off-to have not notified me of this????
This was NEVER told to me and all this time I thought he was getting his ST -as per IEP!!!! So my son hasnt been getting speech at all-so we are talking about 2 months here-and I dont know what they are planning on doing abt her not being here!!!
What should be the steps I need to take here? Could someone please tell me in order what I should do. Go straight to complaint procedures or what?
Ive had to result to letters before, but they quickly have resolved our conflicts, but I have never dealt with simply NOT doing something like this. I dont exactly know how to proceed in fixing things...
Love ya,
Tammy
Hi Tammy,
I can shed a little light on this- at least a guess about how it started. In our district speech therapists do not get "subs". This is a highly specialized area, so there is not a big pool of licensed speech therapists willing to come in for just a day here or there. Typically, if the speech therapist is going to be out sick for a little while, or have a day off, it is up to the therapist to make up any missed service time.
I am guessing the health status requiring the hospital stay for the ST was progressive, or it was not clear how long the ST would be out and there was an initial idea to have the ST make up the minutes when upon return.
At this point THEY SHOULD HAVE HIRED A LONG TERM SUB!! I would start by writing a letter and sending it to the special ed case manager, sp ed director, sp ed coordinator, and building principal stating that you are aware that your child has missed 4 hours of speech services so far this year, and you would like an immediate response for them to tell you their plan to remedy this situation. Be clear that you would like services to begin immediately and that you would like additional minutes each week to make up for the missed time.
Tammy,Hi Tammy,
I would talk with the case manager (teacher) and let that person know that you are advocating for your child because you know the CM has done all he/she can. (I know you have a good relationship and it is important to preserve this).
Your letter is good. With all the dates and names it documents everything. I would specify special ed file as opposed to educational file because they are two different things, but this is up to you. Typically the educational file has NO special ed information and this is special ed information.
Please do let us know what they plan to do to take care of this. What a good mom advocating for your child!
J.
Linda your letter does sound very good. You seem to still have some questions about the Cc thing. Cc means that you are giving an exact copy of that same letter to the people it says you are Cc'ing. Make sure that you have made a copy for each of those people. I wouldn't send them with your child in the bookbag. Most of the time, teachers are good about getting things where they need to go. But this is one thing you need to be able to document. "I gave them to so and so on Monday at lunch. She told me she would get them where they needed to go." They type of thing, if you send them with your child, they can say anything happened. Also, some of those people you are Cc'ing probably don't work at the school. You will need to find the address to the board of educaiton or wherever their offices are located. Those are the ones that you shouldn't leave up to the school to deliver. Or you could just go to the board of education and leave the letters there for the sp head head and the psych.
But your letter looks good. You did a great job and I, too, think it's wonderful you are advocating for you child. Do keep us updated! And good luck!
OKay OOps-I didnt get to look at your response in time Wray-I just wrote one letter and requested it be copied by the case manager-LOLOLOL.
But I just heard back from him and he copied it and took it to the principle and then the principle called the district people.I told him I appreciated this....
I guess the principle was pretty torked and let the speech subs or whoever was supposed to be handling this , have it.
I also told the case manager like you suggested Karoysgirl that I understood that he did as much as he could do and that this in no way reflected on him. He seams to take things very personally if I go above him -like he did something wrong-so that worries me at times-as you are right-we really have a good relationship and he is one of the few I trust in this system. So I hope he is understanding why and what I did.
But at any rate-the letter got everyones attention and we will just have to wait and see what happens next I guess....He said I should be hearing from the principle or district or the speech therapists-as they should have been the ones on top of this. They said they will be making up the time with each session until we are caught up.
So I guess we just wait and se-eh?
Thanks everyone for your tips, advice and encouragement. Id be a big ol mess without you alls support{{HUGS}}
Love ya,
Tammy
Just an update-
The principle called tonight and said that he was deeply sorry and highly upset and had told the district that this would be a problemabt a month ago-but apparently they didnt think so.
He read off a letter that the district had written to me and they basically apoligised and aggreed to everything I had written :)YEAH!!!!!!=====SUCCESS!!!!!!
He did have a concern though that this would be just even more time out of the classroom-but we both agreed to try it for a month and see how it goes :)
Thanks everyone{{HUGS}}
Love ya,
Tammy
EXCELLENT!!! Good for you mom, you advocated and it was productive. This should be a model for other parents who might be reluctant to write that letter or make that phone call. There is a way to solve things in a non-threating way. Sometimes, people don't realize the ball has been dropped, and it's as simple of informing them it has. Your system responded just exactly as they have.
You just need to make sure they write the compensatory services into his IEP. They don't actually have to do it unless it's written in. You really don't have to have an IEP meeting to do this. You can let the sp ed teacher and the principal and the speech therapist add it in and sign off on it and then send you a copy. Of course, you can request an IEP meeting to do this if you feel more comfortable being there, but I was just making a suggestion of not having to have a meeting as long as they add it in correctly. You will know if they have or haven't by what they send you. Don't feel like I am saying Don't call a meeting. Whatever you choose to do, just make sure it gets written in the IEP ASAP. Not two weeks from now. You can even tell them they don't have to put in why they are adding more time, you just want to make sure the additional time is written in his IEP. For example, they could write "Bailey's speech services will increase from 2 times per week to 4 times per week for the next 6 weeks." Then date it and sign off on it. No mention that they weren't giving him services and that's the reason for the increase. (of course i used an example of times per week and for the next 6 months. Your's needs to be specific.(
Anyway, way to go Bailey's Mom. YOU DID GREAT!!!
Thanks Wray{{HUGS}}
I had NO idea that it needed to be rewritten into his IEP-sheesh-another thing they forgot to mention-eh?Go figure!!!LOLOLOL REally though-it needs to be in there???I simply assumed again i guess-doh!
Yeah I emailed the principle and told him that I wanted a copy of that letter that the district wrote-but I made no mention of it getting put into the IEP. Ill call the spec ed teacher tomorrow then....one question or problem they might have with it I guess is that I said I would try this plan for a month-so thy might not want to write it in then-eh? But you think I should still press for it in there?Even though how they go abt making the time up could change? I guess I dont really know how to address that issue?
You know one thing that I thought was just CRAZY-is that the priciple told me that there were 60 kids getting speech services(or NOT getting them) I just cant believe I was the ONLY parent, and I was upset with myslef as I didnt press for answers sooner, but I was the only one who complained abt it???? How crazy is that????
Love ya,
Tammy
Most parents could care less and that's how schools get away with what they do sometimes. Nobody calls them on things. That is why it's important for you to stay on top of things. Had you not complained, or brought it to their attention, they never would have fixed the problem because no one was making them fix the problem. But that's a prime example of a reason why school systems can get away with so much. It only takes one observant parent to be as nice as you were about it, but to the point about the problem and what you expected done.
I guess I am playing devil's advocate with the IEP part of it. If he normally gets 2 hours a week and they are increasing it to 3 or 4 hours, they could technically only give him one extra hour and if questioned the stands the door wide open for them to say "well it was never offical". One way to fix the "trial period aspect of it is to have them write "After a month of increased services the team will evaluate the benefit of Bailey missing class for more therapy." You don't HAVE to have it written in, but I would want to be better safe than sorry. Again, you don't have add it. However, I would want something that they are held accountable for.
Wray is technically right, but if I were in your shoes, I'd just monitor the therapy carefully. Ask that the speech therapist sign and date your son's notebook every time she takes him for speech. If there is another problem, THEN get it in the IEP. With the school district, pick your battles. It's definitely worth battling for the speech they owe your son, but I think battling to put it into the IEP at THIS point might leave a bad taste which will color your relationship with the school. At this point, THEY are the ones who committed the offense and are saying they're going to fix it. If they DON'T fix it, they're liars and will have no defense against putting it in the IEP. If they imply, "don't you trust us?" you'll have the evidence to say NO!!!! This is all about keeping the relationship positive.
OH wow!!!Thats terrible Tricia!!!:(And I imagine the parents were never told-until you all as teacher got together. I cant belaive that!!! INcredible
Im so glad Im giving them this letter NOW!!!
Thanks everyone for all your support in this {{HUGs}}
Ill let you know how it goes....
Love ya,
Tammy
Okay- thank you both for responding :)
I understand now what has proabably happend. Yeah, when I talked to the case manager(spec ed teacher) he acted like he didnt really know what was going on-but that they would "probably be hiring one this coming week"....heard nothing and asked my son and he still hasnt been getting it. But teh case manager had the very same concerns that you stated Karolysgirl. But he cant do much-so I guess I need to take it higher-be it principle and spec ed director(whom I cant stand-LOLOLOL)maybee start with the principle and see what he says and then take it higher?
Love ya,
Tammy
No matter what happened and why, and IEP is a LEGAL CONTRACT. If they contracted to give your son 2 20-minute speech sessions per week and they haven't, they are out of compliance with his IEP. IMMEDIATELY write to them and request "compensatory services." You don't have to go to an IEP meeting to do this. It is incumbent on the school district to make up for his lost sessions. I would put this in writing. I would also ask that a notebook be sent back and forth and that the speech therapist sign and date it every day. Check it every day. If your son misses a session in the future because the therapist is not there for some reason, request compensation.If the school can not provide the services that your child needs then they are responsible for paying another agency to provide that service. If your budget allows get your child private ST and bill the school district. It is their responsibility to provide the services listed in his IEP.I am PMing you on this one. Time frame: within 2 days of them receiving your letter. If you have not heard in 2 days, follow up by calling and asking if they received your letter, if they have any questions for you, etc, etc. Then you keep calling each day (like, ok talk to you again tomorrow) until you get a written response.Thanks Karolysgirl:)
Hers a copy of my letter-could you all look at it and suggest anything-If im writting it right with the CC and all. I dont kno weveryones email-so I am sending it with my son on Monday in his spec ed tecahers folder. Is that all right-or you think I should mail it-or hand deliver it??So If I CC it and give it to the spec ed teacher he should give it to the principle and the principle should email everyone on the list? Do I have that right?;)LOLOLOLOL
Date
IEP Commitee
school
address
RE: IEP Committee
Including-Priciple name, Spec Ed Teachers name, Dir name, Psycholgist name, teachers name
Bailey Britton is a second grade student at XXX . He currently has an IEP in place for 9/19/06-07. In this IEP it states that in order to benefit from his Special Education he is to receive Speech and Language Services. The frequency of these services is 20 minutes of therapy two times a week.
It has come to our attention and concern that since the beginning of the school year (August 28-2006) he has not been receiving this service. Bailey has missed 4.6 hours of Speech Therapy thus far.
We are requesting compensatory services, starting immediately. We are requesting additional minutes each week to make up for this missed time. We feel it is incumbent on the school district to make up for these lost sessions.
We are also asking that each session be documented in the tracker that comes home each week with Bailey, making sure that the signature of the Speech Therapist and date received be shown.
An IEP is a Legal Document and I am sure you are concerned with this issue just as much as we are. We appreciate the hard work and effort the TEAM has taken to see that Baileys IEP is being followed. We have found the TEAM is working very hard in helping Bailey achieve his academic as well as behavior goals and we understand some things are beyond anyone’s control, yet we feel this needs to be addressed and taken care of as soon as possible. We look forward to your immediate written response of your plan to remedy this situation. We can be reached at (h)(c)
Please put a copy of this letter into Bailey’s educational file.
Sincerely,
name
Cc: Principle name, Spec Ed Teacher name(case manager), Dir of Spec Ed name, Psychologist name, Teacher name
Thanks everyone for your input {{HUGS}}
Love ya,
Tammy
Thank you all {{HUGS}}
Ive got it all typed up and ready to go on Monday :)
Just for future reference-what is the time frame I should be expecting to hear back from them?
Thanks agn & Love ya,
Tammy
Tammy,
I would write one letter. You can write it to the case manager or the principal, whoever you think is best. Request a written response about how they are going to fix the situation. CC all of the people listed in my earlier post. This way the case manager (who usually has no authority in a situation like this) can get a straight answer from the administrators. It lets the administrators know that the parents are aware of what is happening and they feel pressure to fix it sooner.
Let us know what happens.
OKay-will do guys and again Thanks :)
One question-how do I go abt CC'ing someone? how exactly is this done-sounds stupid I know-but how exactly do I do this-to make sure everyone I want has seen the lettter?
Love ya,
Tammy
Hello. After your signature, I'll use myself as an example:
Sincerely,
Mrs. AndrewsMommy
cc: Mr. Principal of XYZ School, Ms. Special Ed Coordinator of XYZ School, Mrs. Teacher of Andrew, etc.
You can either hand deliver a signed copy to each individual (which is what I do) OR you can mail signed copies in separate envelopes to each different location (use the main location where each person primarily receives mail). For me this is c/o XYZ Elementary School then address and c/o City of XYZ Public Schools, Dept of Special Education Services, ABC Road Annex and address.
Hope this helps. Oh, and at the beginning of the letter I write Dear IEP team including....(I put every single name and title here and copy everyone).
Tammy, what Karolysgirl recommended is absolutely the truth of what happens in school systems when speech therapist are out. Follow her recommendations and they should remedy the situation. Let us know how it goes!!This happened last year at my school. Our OT was going to have to be out for several weeks for surgery. At the same time another OT was going on maternity leave and there aren't exactly lots of OT's looking for work in our area. What the program did (and we as teachers only found this out after the fact) since they couldn't locate a long term sub, they left my OT on a day to day absence listing. By saying that he was only out day-to-day (althought for 8 weeks!!!) they didn't officially have to get a sub. The teachers ended up having to take over and provide the sensory and services that we could (but are not OT's!!!). Things finally changed when we teachers found out and let it "SLIP" to some vocal parents! Made me so angry they would do that to the kids!!!WE HAVE ONLY 2 OT'S HERE AND 4 ST'S THIS FOR THE WHOLE COUNTEY. WE ARE LOOKING AT GEETING THINGS FOR HOME ON CITES WE FIND FOR AITISTIC KIDS. DIFFLEARN.COM. HERE IS 1 WE FIND. GOOD IDEA i WOULD LIKE A DOCUMENT LIKE THAT FOT OUR ST VISITS ALSO.Very good letter. Keep us posted.
Linda
Thank you both for your comments.
This morning I had to go to the school anyway-so I dropped by the office and requested the note from the district. I have NEVER been treated so nice by everyone-LOLOLOL. The principle was the real killer-he was so nice patting me on the back-the whole nine yards. It was actually really nice:)LOLOL-CRAZY!!!!
So I think Im just going to REALLY watch and see that this is followed up on-as things are going so well now. Ive got the paper work that shows they will be supplying this so-I will see how good they are at keeping their agreements.
I still cant believe the respect this has gotten me-and I have you all to thank for this because of your encouragement and advice{{HUGS}}
Love ya,
Tammy