How to get support from schools?

[jr-mom]

I am a mother of a ROBI boy aged almost 4. He currently attends a preschool for developmentally delayed children offered through our elementary school. This program has helped him tremendously and since December 2002 when he had Mod/Quad surgery at TCH he has improved dramatically. The problem is he has improved so much that the school teacher, and therapists at school say he is no longer developmentally delayed. I am happy and do appreciate his progress but it does not feel right to have him not attend anymore. I have a meeting this week with the school to discuss his status. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? Our children regardless of immediate progress will have continued repercussions from their conditions. How can I convince the school that he needs there continued support? What is your opinion? Am I just a mother who should shut up and be grateful that her son is doing so well? Why does it just not feel right?

[Cara]

You don't want to shut up because you want to do all you can for your child. Here is a link to a thread about IFSP goals for our daughter. She is going through transition from birth to 3 to the school program. Her goals are intended to refelct the transition phase.

http://ubpn.org/messageboard/thread ... hread=5384

Bring forth any concerns that you have about what your child can not do. Good luck

[jacobsmom]

hi my son jacob is 9 now but when he started kinder i was told he was not eligible for ot/pt at school because his disability did not affect his abilities in the classroom. every school district has it's own interpretation/policies of who is eligible for therapy in school but for many unfortunately they have to be in a special ed class to be eligible and it is near impossible to get them out of that class once they're in. i suggest you talk with the pt/ot at the school to find out the policy. for jacob the kids in the special ed class have more mental disabilities than physical so i chose not to put him there and get outpt rehab instead covered by insurance. he has had difficulties in p.e. but the coach and i have had several meetings over time, some involving the school counselor, to help him and it has worked well. everyone has been supportive with alot of info from me. sometimes the school ot can go into the classroom to offer advice to the teacher for using scissors, holding papers while drawing, coloring with the other hand, etc but i found that i could do that better without the red tape involved and his teachers were grateful. jacob is the only kid in his school of 1000 kids with a bpi. i hope this isn't too long winded and helpful. if you have any other questions just email me.

[PeggyF]

Mary,
If you run into any problems with the new school district and IEP meeting, ask for a mediation and find the law that states that your child is eligable to therapy through the school district.
I believe Rich posted on this last year, of maybe 2 years ago. Rich, if you are reading can you comment on the school therapy issues?

Same goes for all that are getting denied services. Research the state law regarding therapy services and request a mediation if you feel that the services should be required by law and they are not being provided.

Emma is not menatally delayed, but she does have physical restrictions, so she is physically delayed and she is receiving OT/PT through the school district once a week. It didn't come without a fight, but we got it and she's not in special ed. They come and work with her in the classroom sometimes or take her out for one on one.

Peggy

[Tessie258]

Can all of your children write? I got so sick of the fight that I now homeschool my son. The biggest problem that we had was that his writing was slow and it never got better! By the time he was in the 7th grade and having to take notes that needed to be turned in at the end of the hour he was soooo discouraged! If the school had taught him to type one handed he would have been better off but it takes extra to teach one child in the class how to type. The school never would give us anything extra because my son is so smart verbally...He can pass any test VERBALLY but if he has to write it down it isn't going to happen. He has just in the past 8 months started to type and things are getting better for him. The schools failed him.
People may say I should have fought more and harder(even sued) but I had to take my son's self esteem into account and the way he feels about himself is much more important than winning. He will do fine but he has zero faith in the public school system.