I might have posted in the wrong forum, sorry.
1.) Is the School District required by law to offer more than 1 program to MY DAUGHTER? See, they wanted to dance around and state all these programs they have at each of the schools in the County, but when asked over and over if these programs were available for my daughter we were told "No, the program your daughter is in is the only program available" I then stated that THEY need to make a new program because it's not suppost to be ONE SIZE FITS ALL, IT'S SUPPOST TO BE THE PROGRAM MEETS THE INDIVIDUAL CHILDS NEEDS and their response was ALABAMA GUIDELINES STATE THAT THIS PROGRAM IS SUFFECIENT, I stated that the program is not suffecient because my child will not meet her I.E.P. GOALS
2.) Was the School Legally suppost to notify us that the Program our daughter is in was going to be changed from a seperate Special Needs Pre-School/Pre-K into one program? See, last year our daughters program provided one-on-one services in a small group setting, but in August the program was changed into a large group setting with 20 or more kids(few disbled) with no one-on-one, or atleast in my opinion no one-on-one. How can they provide one-on-one to an AUTISTIC child with a room full of screaming, playing kids? In our daughters I.E.P it states that our daughter is to be in a small group setting with one-on-one services. I suggested this is the reason that our daughter is unable to make any progress, but they stated that we didn't need to look to the past and we need to focus on the future.(ARE THEY SERIOUS?) Also, we taped the entire meeting.
3.) Is the school required to allow our daughter to attend this program at the same amount as the non-disabled children? The Non-Disabled children go from 7:30a.m. - 2:00p.m. but our daughter goes from 8:45a.m.-12:45p.m.. The Teachers said that they do not have to let her since this program is designed for 4 yr. olds and since our daughter was still 3 when she started this year (her b-day is Nov.1st) they are not required to let her attend full day. I understand this from a non-disabled viewpoint, but my child is disabled and needs to get all the services she can get before she enters into a full-blown public school. Plus, their own progress report about the I.E.P. goals should be adequate enough to see that my child needs either a better program, more services, or more time at school.
I think each one of your points are valid and you should NOT back down on a single one of them. I esp. like the way you worded the first one, it is NOT supposed to be a one size fits all. What does the advocate have to say about the points you are bringing up?That all sounds like a load of bullsh*t to me. I hate when schools do this to parents, especially since we have enough to do. Anyway, if you can prove, which it looks like you can, they are not educating your child, they will have to send her somewhere else. My SD pays for a private school there is no way we could afford. They tried keeping him in a class because a couple school districts around here have a joint agreement to educate more severe needs. One size does not fit all, but I guess it's cheaper. You may have to get a lawyer. I didn't, but I had to threaten using a really good one from our downtown area.
Good luck, and you can always PM me if you have any more questions.
The advocate comes from The Alabama Advocacy Program and currently my daughters case is under "review" which means that they havent decided yet to take her case for Legal Action but will communicate via telephone and e-mails, so everytime something happens I have to tell the advocate then the advocate meets with an Attorney that knows the Education Laws then after a few days I get an answer or a suggestion. It's slow but after months of searching and begging it's all I've found. I was also told that no parent has ever won an education case with a disability action in Alabama......so, when I say Attorneys are scarce to find - thats an understatement! EVERY PART OF MY NATURAL BEING SAYS SOMETHING IS VERY, VERY WRONG HERE BUT I CAN'T GET ANYONE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
Worse is that there are children in my school system that are way more disabled than my baby and they are getting no better than she gets.....I feel really bad for them but I have to worry about my baby - maybe down the road when I am truly aware of everything I can help them but as you all know it takes so much time to learn, research, stay up-to-date, and I'm truly trying......all with an 11th grade education and a G.E.D.!
Prayers, I need them.
You are in my prayers.
Please don't underestimate yourself because of your education. You've got a crash course, and you know more about your child than anyone. Good luck with the advocate, and someone has to be the first. Don't give up!!
Is your daughter getting OT, ST and PT?[QUOTE=NYMommyof3]Is your daughter getting OT, ST and PT?[/QUOTE]
Only ST, her physical abilities is very good. (running, jumping, rolling) I did bring up that I thought OT and PT covered more than these things such as dressing self, and eating, things like that but they replied that those skills are covered under pre-school daily activities and non-disabled and disabled children all get these practices.
[QUOTE=KaKingsbury][QUOTE=NYMommyof3]Is your daughter getting OT, ST and PT?[/QUOTE]
Only ST, her physical abilities is very good. (running, jumping, rolling) I did bring up that I thought OT and PT covered more than these things such as dressing self, and eating, things like that but they replied that those skills are covered under pre-school daily activities and non-disabled and disabled children all get these practices.
[/QUOTE]
I also want to add that the ST doesn't seem to be much because she can't really say any useable language, only help, no, but these arent always said appropriatly. No I'm hungry, mommy, lets play, etc. nothing!
As far as dressing herself and eating independently - those should DEFINTIELY fall under OT! Unless it is her not wanting to do it as opposed to not being ABLE to do it. Because that is more behavioral and wouldn't fall under OT. But if she can't do it - then that is fine motor issues and should be covered. Our kids often need one-on-one attention to these matters and she would not get that in a classroom setting - it needs to be provided by an OT!