Hi
I have only been through one school year with AJ. However, I know this...you may call an IEP any time and once YOU feel like it is what he needs, read it then sign it. Once it is signed, they have no other choice than to abide by what is on there. They seem to be rather eely around here when it comes to speech. I am still fighting the school. I mean even though we get outside help (one on one) they should still be accountable for giving him speech there in school, too, ...yes? I have talked to the director of special ed and AJ's teacher. It appears to me that the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing. Wish me luck! Thanks!
hi! i have an 11 year old who just started middle school in nh...we haven't signed his iep yet for this school year because we were very concerned about the placements available--they told us where they were placing him last spring, yet put me off when i wanted to visit the school and see the current programs in place...the room he is in now is completely inappropriate, something of which they were aware when they told us in the spring where he was going...but they assured us he would not be in the room. the room doesn't have enough staffing to take him to his regular classes (he needs a para with him to help with his communication...) and i'm not sure if we have any recourse right now. usually, if you sign the i.e.p., you are ignored when you ask for further meetings...i know the law in nh was that if you didnt' sign, they used the previous i.e.p. but they had my son in regular classes, regular bus, no supports at all the day before school started. after meeting with the principal, two of the teachers for the program he was supposed to go into, they assured me he would be in regular classroom for most of the day starting off, but they didn't do that.--and i'm going off on a tangent. basically, i'm wondering if i need to sign the i.e.p. before they will get any support...or shouldn't that be continued from the previous year? thank you for your help...i'm reading up on available alternatives as well as the laws-- just kind of lost right now...Hi Sherry,
I'm in Bloomingdale, north of you (way north!) about 1/2 hour west of Chicago.
Good luck at that IEP meeting!!! They are nerve-wracking for sure!
~Lesley
Hi Gwen... :( Sorry to hear you're having trouble...
I'll go ahead and respond to what I know, but let it be known that you never know from state to state how the laws differ. Personally, I researched Federal Law (CRF34?) and my own state law (Illinois), they were nearly identical.
From what I understand also, if you don't sign (and here there's nothing to sign...you have to write it up if you disagree), some states have a checkbox for "Partially Agree", the previous IEP is in place...now, if you like some parts of it, sign off, but note that it's a "partial agreement" and write up everything you disagree with - write "disagree" or "not appropriate" next to the items, write up the alternatives (with backing data) and send it to the admin asking that it be attached to the IEP. Title that page with
Addendum Page of {your NAME}
IEP for {child's NAME}
Date
Our advocate had me write up things the therapists provided that weren't originally listed, saying it was provided last year, continue this year.
With that, send a letter stating that you want another meeting to discuss the items that you don't agree on. "I agree with all of the IEP except for ... see attached addendum". They have I believe less than 30 days, once that's up, they violate IDEA which requires setting up services within the 30-day time frame of determination of eligibility. (again, you have to check that with your state).
I hope at least some of this helps...and as you're doing already...read and know the law and rights of your child. They are there, they just don't always offer it up, thinking we don't know how or what has to be done.
Certainly don't sign it without disagreeing with the services you don't think are appropriate...you're right there!
I wish you the best of luck...keep us updated.
~Lesley