I'm at my wits end!!!!!
Does anyone know what a parents' rights are with respect to a CONSTANT change in EA's for your child with ASD?
My son is in an integrated 5th grade class at school. He's been attending the SAME school since junior kindergarten at age 4. I have ALWAYS been VERY open with the school and even called meetings with them regarding any results of the MANY, MANY analysis & testing he has had done. I even provided them with copies of ALL findings through the years. It took 7 years for my son to FINALLY get a dx!!!!
In the 4th grade last year Tweeker had to endure going through 4 EA's, AND the school did not notify me!
This school year I called for a meeting (at the VERY beginning of school) with his teacher, the ERT, the pricipal and his EA. I expressed my disappointment and concerns regarding last years' EA issues and asked for a "heads up" should there be ANY changes or issues to be concerned about going forward. I also explained what the repercussions were at home for last years' lack of communication. They all seemed to understand the urgency of communication (or so I thought) after our meeting. I provided them with a communication book (this book goes to school EVERY day & comes home EVERY day) so that the teacher, EA, ERT or principal can let me know of any issues, concerns or even if he had a good day & vice versa). So I felt that NOTHING could go wrong after this meeting and that we would have a very open line of communication.....PS. they all know that my son has PDD NOS, Legg Calve Perthes disease & a mild developmental disorder. Tweeker's EA this year had surgery back in November & was out for 6 weeks (she at least gave me a heads up & I tried to prepare my son for this). Anyway, since her supposed return in mid December, she had been "out sick" more than she has been working at school; therefore, my son has had to endure 4 DIFFERENT SUPPLY EA"S SINCE THEN!!!!
I JUST FOUND OUT YESTERDAY!!!!!! I was in a meeting with the ERT regarding his IEP just yesterday when his teacher popped in. She said "oh your son seems to be doing well with the supply EA today". I asked "how long has this EA been working with him"? She responded with "oh, this is her 2nd day" & " he was with 2 others last week, but he seems to be doing better with this one!"... It took EVERYTHING IN ME NOT TO EXPLODE!!!!! I calmly asked the teacher why she didn't let me know about the change in EA's.....even via the communication book. She responded with "oh, I thought he was having some great days so I didn't think there was anything pressing to communicate" PLEASE.....ANYONE.....WHAT CAN I DO?????? There isn't anything you can do. As long as he is provided with one, that's all the school system has to do. Having the right to an aid doesn't mean having the right to the same one all the time nor does it mean having the right to pick or choose. Not that this sounds like this is what you are trying to do. Now, on the other hand, there is nothing wrong with you wanting to know when there is a change, especially when things happened like they did last year. If you did not get the communication notebook written into the IEP, do so now. If it's written in the IEP they have to use it, if not, they don't have to use it. Specifiy in the IEP that this be one of the things you are notified about. It shouldn't be the teachers choice on what she wants to report and what she doesn't. That's great if he's having good days at school, she can say that while saying there is a sub for the aid. There is no reason why she can't notify you of this when you have requested to be notified of this. She probably doesn't want to notify you since she knows you have a problem with this. And really there is nothing written that she has to. But out of common courtesy, there's no reason why she shouldn't. So i'd get stuff like this written into the IEP. Thank you Ray, I will have that added to his IEP right away. My son does NOT handle these kinds of changes very well at all. While I understand that we have to get our children used to changes from time to time, I don't believe, given the circumstances, that they shouldn't give consideration to my request! My son is mutilating himself over this!!!!! momof1, EA's (in Canada) are Educational Assistants. I could only WISH that he had his OWN EA!!!! There are 3 other "identified (dx'd)" kids in his class. This means that he has to "share" the help of his aide with 3 other kids!!!! Exactly, that's why out of commen courtsey and SENSE they should let you know when things like this kind of change has happened. If possible it would be nice to let you know before hand, like the surgery or if she aid knows that she will not be there the next day the day before. Obviously, there are going to be times she isn't there and you might not find out until after the fact. That's just the real world, but still, there is no reason why the teacher can't let you know through the communication book. Be as nice as possible and like you stated before, let them know you have always been pretty happy. But between you and me, they just made things much harder on themselves because they didn't do it with just a simple request. Now it's on your terms, as you want it in the IEP and that's something that have to do or they could be held liable. So even though you are having to go to the trouble of getting it on the IEP, at least you know they have to do it now.
My son has an aide/para with him all throughout the school day. So far he has the same one all year. They are usually very good about letting me know if she is going to be out sick or on vaction so that I can prepare ds ahaed of time.
I haven't had any problem with them not telling me ahead of time about any changes. I would be upset if they didn't tell me. Ds would have a meltdown if there were so many changes that he wasn't prepared for.
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