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Originally Posted By FLORIDA MOMHi, Just thought I'd let everyone know that I've given up on the school system. People keep telling me that I (or SOMEONE) should sue the school system. Maybe, I'll look into that, but, in the meantime, my daughter wasn't getting any help from the school so I took her to Sylvan Learning Centers. They tested her and she is reading on a third grade level and doing math on a fourth grade level. She is fourteen years old. In my opinion, they have failed this child big time. We started her on tutorting immediately. I don't know how long it will take to bring her up to grade level. We also enrolled her and her younger sister in a private school for the fall. All this is going to be VERY expensive, but we're just going to have to bite the bullet and come up with the money since the most important thing is the kids and their education.
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Originally Posted By DonnaOn the whole, I've been happy with my son's public school experience - he's working at "grade level", and making huge strides - with a big BUT! He tested low on the state testing last spring, we got a notice that he qualified for intervention last summer - and - and - and - Nothing! (I asked the principal and she said "well, he can go to summer school - next year!) (And is public school "grade level" really up to what he should be learning, or have they just lowered their standards?) I too took him for private tutoring, and I've also applied for private school for next year. I looked at this time in elementary school as a time for emotional healing and catching up (he's been with me a little over 2 years), but I sure don't want the public schools' "lowest common denominator" teaching philosophies to carry over into middle school. I regret that I didn't make big waves at the district level earlier this year; it's great that I was able to scrimp for the tutoring he needed, but I shouldn't have had to! - that's supposed to be their job!!!
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I hear you FLA mom. I survived RAD, am surviving bipolar, but the schools will be the end of me. I have worked professionally with schools, families of developmentally disabled etc for 20 years. For the first time ever, this spring I have to end a phone conversation because I was too upset and didn't want to go over the edge. The call was with the special ed coordinator for my son. My problem I guess is that I am trying to insist on accomodations for a child they view as perfectly normal. The conversation above was me being told that "there is absolutely nothing wrong with your son. I don't know why you want these accomodations for him, he doesn't need them and he doesn't want them". I was never so patronized and so insulted in my entire career. Why of course my son is Normal, I never said he wasn't. But that doesn't mean he doesn't have some disabilities that need accomodating. Why do I have to "prove" he's abnormal to get services. He has a 504 service contract. I thought that's what 504 was about - providing services for "normal" kids who just need some accomodations. My son has a full time aide. I have stressed that with accomodations for his sensory integration disorder = I feel they could eliminate the aide within 1 year. Next year he has 4 teachers (4th grade), plus the 4 specials teachers. I feel is is critical to have everything spelled out clearly on his service contract. My son had a medical emergency this year related to a need for oral stim. He wore away the chewing surface of a tooth - grinding, and the nerve got infected. I have been asking that he be permitted to access oral stim (sucky/sour/chewy snacks, as needed through out the day) since Sept. Lucky me -the tooth fairy let my son keep the tooth. It should provide for a nice visual at his next meeting. Dentist also wrote a great letter backing up OT's recommendations. We also finially have accessed an education law attorney. He's on vacation until 6/1, but I'm pretty optimistic that after 1 meeting with him and a letter to the school, they'll come on board pretty quickly. All of the accomodations I am asking for (expect the auditory trainer) are free. Sorry this is so long, but you touched on a sore subject for me. It is just so frustrating. I am use to being treated as a valued professional at CSE meetings, and with my own son - I'm treated like an ignorant bumpkin.Thanks for the forum to vent! Dimas Mom