*Sheesh* I am going round and round with the school district over them evaluating my 4 (almost 5) year old. They say that they cannot start the evaluation process until fall, when he would be in kindergarten. It doesn't matter to them what IDEA, Childfind or Wrights Law says. They say that because my son is pre-school age, almost school age (apparently there are different requirements for both) and because he has always been homeschooled, he is too complicated to do anything with until fall, when he would actually be in school every day. I told them that part of me even considering public school (because my children have done so well with homeschooling) is the fact that they could get services through the IEP. The special ed director said that she will contact the state office to see what can be done. I am getting so frustrated with the whole process. Go to www.copaa.org and click on the FInd and Attorney/Advocate link. You MUST get the advice of a pro in your state. Even a one hour consult will help. The are screwing you. What they are thinking is that there is no time left in THIS school year to do anything for your child. But what YOU are asking for is an eval for the NEXT school year. Those services should be set up to START the first day of school. Have you put your request in writing? If not, do so. Got to Wrightslaw and see if there are examples of letters requesting and initial evaluation. At any rate, search "initial evaluation." You'll turn up lots. THEN send the request to the Dir. of Spec. Ed. AND the Superintendent of Schools. In fact, hand-deliver it to the Superintendent's office and have his secretary date stamp it and give you a copy.
[QUOTE=tzoya]Go to www.copaa.org and click on the FInd and Attorney/Advocate link. You MUST get the advice of a pro in your state. Even a one hour consult will help. The are screwing you. What they are thinking is that there is no time left in THIS school year to do anything for your child. But what YOU are asking for is an eval for the NEXT school year. Those services should be set up to START the first day of school. Have you put your request in writing? If not, do so. Got to Wrightslaw and see if there are examples of letters requesting and initial evaluation. At any rate, search "initial evaluation." You'll turn up lots. THEN send the request to the Dir. of Spec. Ed. AND the Superintendent of Schools. In fact, hand-deliver it to the Superintendent's office and have his secretary date stamp it and give you a copy. [/QUOTE]
Thanks, Tzoya. It's nice having people here that understand the schools better than I do, because I just feel like I must be doing something wrong. I had my husband listen to the conversation today, to verify that I am being clear that my requests are for NEXT year, but that I don't want Cody to have to wait until Christmas before the whole IEP matter is settled. Why waste HALF a school year? I'm headed to Wrightslaw right now to look up 'evaluation request letters'. I have been told by the school that putting in a request in writing does not mean that the testing has to begin then. I have also been told that parents are not allowed to initiate the process; that it has to be the childs teacher. I know that's not true, because I have my own copy of 'Whose IDEA is it?". Even if that were true, I tried pointing out that I AM his current teacher, as he has been homeschooled all of his life, along with his older brother. *sigh*
Search "child find." The SCHOOLS are supposed to locate children in need of intervention. The parents are not the only ones who are allowed to bring this to the school's attention -- doctors, nursery school teachers, neighbor...ANYONE can notifiy a school that a child need to be evaluated. Then the school is supposed to seek out your consent to evaluate. This is Child Find. It's a FEDERAL law. TODAY, order a copy of From Emotions to Advocacy and learn it all. This will be vital to getting your child an education.Hogwash!!! I say in response to the original post. Our school district was evaluating and gathering info in Feb/March, meeting with us to explain results in the spring and we had our first IEP meeting over the summer! Andrew started school on the very first day.
The longer they put you off, the LESS likely your child will get to go to public school on the first day with services in place. If you enroll him, and he starts school on the first day, and you get him evaluated then by the school...It will take up to 6 months to get everything going in my opinion!
Listen to Tzoya! She knows what she's talking about!
Okay, I wrote up my letter and called the state department of education. I spoke to someone that deals with IEP issues and she verified that I was correct (and so was everyone here, LOL). She gave me her name and phone number and told me to include both in my letter to the district, that way if they don't understand something, they can call her. Very sweet woman. She told me that the district has to reply to me within 3 weeks, so that's what I'm waiting on right now. Thanks for the help! (Oh, and I did order 'From Emotions to Advocacy' from our library... should have it by early next week).Great job. You're now on the road to advocating for your child. It's a long road, but a satisfying one.Yep the district pulled the same crap on me re: speech therapy for my (NT) son. I'll evaluate him in August. I am jsut too worried that he (age 4) has onnly been hearing English for TWO YEARS.
Tabled till August for now ... I decided I had too many other fish to fry with my daughter!
That is 100 % unacceptable !!
When you first requested an eval was it in writing.....I SURE hope so.....because they MUST take action within 30 days.....if it wasn't in writing....shoot off a letter and hand deliver it tomorrow.....QUICK before you get too close to end of year.
Our preschool had open enrollment for children with a dx......they anticiapte that children will be coming sporadically and at any time.....
*** All states may vary.....mine is Massachusetts.....put everything in writing !!
foxl -- The District is now obligated, under IDEA 2004, to eliminate limited English as a possible cause of a delay BEFORE they classify a child into Spec. Ed. However, that is not supposed to delay the 60 day timeline from the date you give consent to evaluate in a written request to the date the services begin. Go to www.wrightslaw.com and search "initial evaluation"We are in the same situation with our school district and the area education agency. We have taken our son to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for evaluation and the specialists there stated in their report that he needs to be evaluated and start being helped by our local AEA. One year later, the AEA is giving us the same run around as sisterchick.
Does anyone know any good contacts for an attorney/advocate in Iowa? I tried the copaa link and nothing came up for Iowa. We've had multiple conferences with the school and the AEA and we are not getting anywhere. Unfortunately, we'll have to seek some professional assistance.
Thanks!
One thing you'll learn very quickly when working with the public school system.... Put everything in writing. Document everything. It is so important to request everything in writing so they cannot claim they didn't get it or come up with the various other excuses many of them are known for. And then, if they refuse, you have supporting documentation if you need to appeal to your state.
In a nutshell, what the school said was very wrong. My son started receiving services through the school when he was 3. They sent a speech therapist to his private daycare after he was diagnosed with speech/language delay. They can't just postpone services and evaluations because it's not convenient for them.
Got these IOWA organizations from Yellow Pages for Kids at Wrightslaw. Some clearly are advocacy connections, some might or might not help.
Access for Special Kids
321 E. 6th Street
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 243-1713; (800) 450-8667
Email: info@askresource.org
Web: http://www.askresource.org
The Arc of Cedar Valley
PO Box 4090
Waterloo, IA 50704-4090
(319) 232-0437; (319) 232-0453 (fax)
Email: arccv@cedarnet.org
Web: http://cedarnet.org/thearc/
Information, support, advocacy, referral
The Arc of Iowa
715 E. Locust
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 283-2358; (800) 326-2927
Email: arciowa@aol.com
Autism Society of Iowa
4549 Waterford Drive
W. Des Moines, IA 50265
(563) 557-1169; (888) 722-4799
Email: autism50ia@aol.com
Web: www.autismia.org
Center for Independent Living
Direct Services Team Member
3708 11TH Street
P.O. Box 6156
Rock Island, IL 61204
(309) 793-0090; (309) 283-0097
Email: iicil@iicil.com
Web: www.iicil.com
We are a non-profit organization geared toward making a independence a priority for persons of all ages with disabilities. We provide advocacy and outreach to help people achieve independence.
Central Iowa Center for Independent Living
1024 Walnut
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 243-1742
Email: cicil@raccoon.com
Web: http://www.raccoon.com/%7Ecicil/home.htm
The Central Iowa Center for Independent Living is a community based, non-profit, non-residential program serving persons with disabilities to empower them to control their lives.
CHADD Ames
(515) 233-1677
CHADD Cedar Rapids
(319) 489-236
CHADD Dubuque
(319) 557-7529
Web: http://www.chaddonline.org/chapters/chadd312.html
CHADD Greater Des Moines
(515) 830-1738
Web: http://www.chaddonline.org/chapters/chadd597.html
CHADD of Iowa
Cedar Rapids
(319) 489-2361
Web: http://www.chaddonline.org/chapters/chadd556.html
CHADD Iowa City
(319) 627-2711
Web: http://www.chaddonline.org/chapters/chadd604.html
CHADD Mississippi River, Quad City
(319) 332-4482
Web: http://www.chaddonline.org/chapters/chadd628.html
CHADD Muscatine
(319) 263-8476
Web: http://www.chaddonline.org/chapters/chadd273.html
CHADD Siouxland
Sioux City
(712) 277-8871
Web: http://www.chaddonline.org/chapters/chadd748.html
Department of Human Rights
Division of Persons with Disability
Client Assistance Program
Capitol Complex, Lucas Building
Des Moines, IA 50319
(515) 281-3957; (800) 652-4198 (V/TTY)
Easter Seals Iowa
401 N.E. 66th Avenue
P.O. Box 4002
Des Moines, IA 50333
(515) 289-1933; (515) 289-4069 (TTY)
Email: info@eastersealsia.org
Governor's Developmental Disabilities Council
617 E. Second Street
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 281-9083
Web: www.state.ia.us/government/ddcouncil/
Iowa Compass
Center for Disabilities and Development
The University of Iowa
100 Hawkins Drive
Iowa City, IA 52242
(319) 353-8777; (800) 779-2001
Email: iowa-compass@uiowa.edu
Web: www.medicine.uiowa.edu/iowacompass
Iowa Congress of Parents and Teachers
8345 University Boulevard, Suite F-1
Des Moines, IA 50325
(515) 225-4197; (800) 475-4782
Email: ia_office@pta.org
Web: www.iowapta.org
Iowa Department of Education
Grimes State Office Building
East 14th and Grand Streets
Des Moines, IA 50319-0146
(515) 281-3436; (515) 281-4122
Web: http://www.state.ia.us/educate
Iowa Parental Rights in Special Education
Web: http://www.state.ia.us/educate/ecese/cfcs/dueprocess/parentr ights.html
Iowa Protection and Advocacy Services, Inc.
950 Office Park Road Suite 221 West
Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 278-2502; (800) 779-2502; (515) 278-0539 (fax)
Email: info@ipna.org
Web: http://www.ipna.org
Iowa Special Education Rules and Laws
Web: http://www.state.ia.us/educate/rules/spec_ed/index.html
Iowa's University Center for Excellence on Disabilities
Center for Disabilities and Development
100 Hawkins Drive
Iowa City, IA 52242
(319) 356-1335
Web: http://www.healthcare.uiowa.edu/cdd/index.asp
Learning Disabilities Association of Iowa
P.O. Box 665
Indianola, IA 50125
(515) 280-8558
The Legal Center for Special Education
317 East Sixth Street
Des Moines, IA 50309-1903
(515) 309-0033; (866) 250-4545; (515) 309-0035
Email: tlciowa@mcleodusa.net
Parent Educator Connection Program
Dept. of Education
Grimes State Office Bldg.
Des Moines, IA
(515) 242-5295; (515) 281-6336
The Parent Partner Community Resource Center
1120 33rd Avenue, S.W.
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
(319) 399-6719; (800) 332-8488
Web: www.aea10.k12.ia.us/
Programs for Children with Disabilities: Ages 3 through 5
Bureau of Children, Family and Community Services
Grimes State Office Building
Des Moines, IA 50319-0146
(515) 281-5433
Programs for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities: Ages Birth through 2
Early ACCESS
Grimes State Office Building, 3rd Floor
Des Moines, IA 50319-0146
(515) 281-5437
Regional ADA Technical Assistance Agency
ADA Project
Great Plains Disability and Business Technical Assistance Ctr.
University of Missouri/Columbia
100 Corporate Lake Drive
Columbia, MO 65203
(573) 882-3600; (800) 949-4232 (V/TTY)
Web: www.adaproject.org
Special Education Appeal Decisions
Web: https://www.edinfo.state.ia.us/web/appeals.asp?aptype=se
Springtides, Inc.
Sue Harapat, Development Coordinator
1030 5th Ave.,SE, Suite 1450
Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
(319) 365-1006; (319) 365-1038
Email: sue_springtides@yahoo.com
State Department of Education: Special Education
Bureau of Children, Family and Community Services
Department of Education
Grimes State Office Building
Des Moines, IA 50319-0146
(515) 281-5735
Web: http://www.state.ia.us/educate/ecese/cfcs/speced/index.html
State Mediation System
Department of Education
Bureau of Children, Family and Community Services
Grimes State Office Building
Des Moines, IA 50319
(515) 281-5766
State Mental Health Agency/State DD Program
Division of Behavioral, Developmental and Protective Services for Families, Adults and Children
Department of Human Services
Hoover State Office Building, 5th Floor
1305 E. Walnut Street
Des Moines, IA 50319-0114
(515) 281-5521
Tutor/Caregiver for Children with Autism
Annie Novak
7533 NE 19th Ln
Ankeny, IA 50021
(515) 865-2928
Email: anniemnovak@yahoo.com
A severe autism teacher with 7 years of experience working with autistic individuals provides tutoring and/or caregiving services. Available afternoons and some evenings in summer.