Re: Republic attack on the call-in day

[Guest guest]

But Joy, what about those parents out there that don't have time to learn

everything there is to know about their rights. Wasn't that point mentioned

already? " ...Not all parents participate at a lesser level because they don't

care. " We should just let the children of parents who don't hear about 1-year

IEP's by " word of mouth " fend for themselves and be left behind?

Schulte

This is where parents need to again eduate themselves, we already have to do

it so word of mouth will get that fact around, and I'm sure that the advocates

and lawyers will make sure that it's put in the parental rights or something

like that. You know those pieces of paper that you probably have enough of to

paper a small room.

[Guest guest]

>and I'm sure that the advocates and lawyers will make sure that it's >put in

the parental rights or something like that. You know those >pieces of paper

that you probably have enough of to paper a small >room.

Yes, I do know these pieces of paper well. Although my son with ds is only 2,

my 14-year-old gets a gifted IEP. The last time the principal handed them to me

she said, " we keep hoping if we photocopy them small enough nobody will be able

to read them. "

Schulte

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/2/2003 11:43:31 PM Central Standard Time,

JTesmer799@... writes:

> BTW, why is this called an attack on the call in day? All they did was

> inform their members as to what they were putting into the bill and what it

> is meant it to mean. If nothing else it's in a record now so they can't

> back

> out of the true meaning. LOL

>

> joy

>

HI

I guess because of their title on their message, look below

Respond to False " Attacks " on the Improving Education Results for Children

with Disabilities Act (H.R. 1350)

Kathy mom to Sara 11

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/3/2003 5:23:06 AM Central Standard Time,

mom2bridget@... writes:

> Okay, I'm confused. Bridget is in a spec ed class because of many things.

> We have had the same goals year after year because we are not making

> progress we thought she could. How do you go to a different goal in Math

> when you still need to work on addition facts for the 2nd or 3rd year? How

> do you go backwards when there is not anything prerequisite to go to?

>

> This is not sarcasm. I really want to know and understand.

>

> mom to Bridget 10

HI

This is the same area I had to make a decision about so I know where you are

coming from. Sara is struggling soooooooo much with addition. She does have

the concept down, 1 set plus another set gives you more lol but using the

different programs we have tried she's still struggling so much sooooooooo on

the fall's IEP (the one we've been working on) we have decided to change the

criteria's, It now states (because she does understand addition concepts)

Goal

Sara will improve computation skills by adding one and two digit numbers with

no regrouping and subtracting numbers 1-10 using manipulative.(** this will

be a calculator)

Objective (only listed # 2)

2. Using a calculator Sara will add horizontally or vertically two two-digit

numbers in facts up to 10 with no regrouping

Now I am not giving up on the adding on paper with no manipulative, but for

now until I see that its clicking we are moving down a step. Its kind of like

the " colors " we had it on the IEP for yrssssssssss, we finally said enough is

enough and 2 yrs later she picked up 11 colors WHAM it clicked for her and

let me share the first 3 colors were learned by incidental learning in reg ed

lololol

If your child has not mastered a goal then really look at that goal, see its

functionality and see if its maybe a developmental thing and your child's not

ready for it. This is how I look at what Sara's mastered and not mastered

through the yr. Where I struggle is when Sara doesn't master a certain

objective but has full understanding of the goal, maybe the objective (one of

the steps) wasn't functional. Hope I didn't confuse you heehee

Kathy mom to Sara 11

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/2/03 9:37:33 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

heather_schulte@... writes:

>

>

> I keep hearing that parents can still get 1-year IEP's if they want them.

> In fact, that is how Jim Ryun responded to my letter about HR 1350. But my

> biggest concern about this is that there will be parents out there that do

> not realize they can ask for a 1-year IEP. Many schools will not tell

> them,

> or simple won't agree to 1 year IEP's if they are not mandated. 3-year

> IEP's are not a good choice for many of our children.

>

Here's the tactic I see used universally by school districts

Parent says to principal, teacher, whoever

" I think we need a meeting " (or an assessment, etc)

Prinicpal, " oh no, that's not necessary "

then NOTHING HAPPENS....unless the parent puts it in WRITING!

How many people know that if you want the school to do anything you've got to

put it in writing? Otherwise it's as if your request never happened....it

gets conveniently forgotten (I've had my prinicpal say to my face I never

asked) on otherwise slid under the carpet. VERY common ploy.

- Becky

[Guest guest]

No Joy,

If the law is passed, then the IEP will be reviewed every 3 years. Maybe the

1 year option will still be around, but how would we all enforce that if the

law states every 3 years? We cant get our congresspeople to vote down such a

harmful law to special needs children across the nation, then what can we do?

And what about the parents who cant educated themselves for some reason or

another, the school system will lie to them and they will follow whatever it

is they are told to do.

[Guest guest]

Okay, I'm confused. Bridget is in a spec ed class because of many things. We

have had the same goals year after year because we are not making progress we

thought she could. How do you go to a different goal in Math when you still

need to work on addition facts for the 2nd or 3rd year? How do you go backwards

when there is not anything prerequisite to go to?

This is not sarcasm. I really want to know and understand.

mom to Bridget 10

Re: Republic attack on the call-in day

In a message dated 5/2/2003 9:01:58 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

JTesmer799@... writes:

> But if you look at some of the kids that are really, really

> delayed, what purpose does it serve to have to have a meeting every year to

>

> discuss the same objectives.

No child should have the same objectives year after year, that's the law.

They should have individualized objectives suited for them that they can

ACCOMPLISH within one year's time. AND there are very few students that meet

the severe and profound type of definition ... so why change the entire law

if lawmakers thought that would benefit only the small minority?

One of the main functions of IDEA 97 was to STOP the same goals being put on

IEPS year after year ... and it wasn't just students that were severe and

profound that this was happening to.

Cheryl in VA

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay

any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any

foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty. - F. Kennedy

[Guest guest]

-----

>

> <Not all parents participate at lesser levels because they don't care.

They

> are overwhelmed, they are surviving. They are dependent on schools to do

the

>

> right thing. They trust the people involved in their child's education

> process. And they should be able to.>

>

I've been a parent rep at CSE meetings. What I've seen is a number of

parent's who care very much, but they themselves are not well educated. I

remember one especially. A single father of 3, who admitted that he

himself had been in special ed.

He knew what he wanted for his daughter, but didn't know the laws or how to

deal with that table full of people talking & staring at him. I think the

kids of the uneducated parent's are the ones who will suffer. Maybe not in

all schools, but in my district, money comes way before what's best for any

child.

Donna

[Guest guest]

Here is a link that breaks down the changes section by section. One important

change is in some of the definitions. I need to review this more. On the

changes to options I agree with Joy. So far, and that is what the staffer at my

rep office said, is these things are optional.

mom to Bridget 10

Proposed Changes to IDEA

This proposed bill weakens IDEA in significant ways that will harm children with

disabilities. The bill introduces " optional " 3-year IEPs; eliminates IEP

objectives and benchmarks; weakens procedural safeguards and protections for

parents and kids; allows schools to suspend or expel kids who have behavior

problems related to their disabilities for violating school " codes of conduct " .

For more info about proposed changes to IDEA, please read the IDEA Alert we sent

out on April 21.

http://www.wrightslaw.com/nltr/03/al.0421.htm

The National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems (NAPAS) developed an

Analysis of Proposed Changes to IDEA as a side-by-side table that compares the

current IDEA with the proposed bill. We converted the Analysis of Proposed

Changes to IDEA into a pdf file for easy printing and distribution.

http://www.wrightslaw.com/news/2003/idea.house.sidebyside.napas.pdf

We encourage you to read the Analysis of Proposed Changes to IDEA - this

document will help you identify the strengths and weaknesses of the bill before

you share your concerns with your member of Congress.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Email: newsletter@...

[Guest guest]

I became very involved with our local Down syndrome support group at my

daughter's birth 20 years ago. One reason was I wanted to help other

families and ease their transition into the world of disabilities. My

efforts (or evolution as a community minded person) have spread in the years

since. I have become active in other groups, schools, advocacy groups, more

global disability groups. As my daughter becomes older I see more systemic

problems that need to corrected. My focus has shifted from just her needs to

those of others. I am not alone in this philosophy in my community ... but I

am in the minority. That saddens me because really, really, there is a big

picture and the more we can do to help all people with disabilities, the

better the world is for them and our child as well. People with disabilities

need all the allies they can get and that is especially true with the

legislation that will affect them for the rest of their lives. We do need to

think of all of them, those with strong parents and those without. Someday

our own child could be in the world without us ... who will represent their

best interests then?

Cheryl in VA

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay

any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any

foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty. - F. Kennedy

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/3/2003 8:31:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

b4alltoday@... writes:

> If your child has not mastered a goal then really look at that goal, see its

>

> functionality and see if its maybe a developmental thing and your child's

> not

> ready for it.

YES!! Evaluate the goal ... if the child is not able to master that goal

in a year's time .... it must not be appropriate or services may not be what

they should.

Cheryl in VA

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay

any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any

foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty. - F. Kennedy

[Guest guest]

Hi

I am concerned. I am one of those overwhelmed parents, who had no clue that

I would have a daughter who happened to have Down Syndrome. We wanted

gondolas, and got windmills, instead. Were we prepared for this? Is any

family ever prepared for this? Has it been a bed of tulips? No, but we have

had our moments of great joy, and promise. But the reality is, we were just

average Americans, worked hard all our lives, didn't have time to do some of

the " other " stuff out there, and didn't have the money either. Now, we did

the best we could, fought a lot of battles, and now we are getting older. We

are tired, we fought the good fight, we have endured much as good little

soldiers and cared " for our own. " But it was hard, many families break up

over the stuff we have gone through. So now, we re looking around and seeing

the inequities of life, and we can't help think of how selfish people are.

" Me and Mine and that's just fine. " Well, I can't be that way, as tired as I

am. There's not much out there to help and I think that is sad. We are

treated like second class families for the most part and not wanted at most

social functions, church groups, or community events, because we make people

feel uncomfortable. We have experienced it, it is sad, we have hurt over it,

but we make of our lives what we decide to let control us. I choose to

expect tomorrow to be better, I choose to see the good and not the bad, and I

choose to let my life spill over into others and let someone else know I

care, and if possible to help. As a human being I believe it is my

responsibility to do for others as I would have others do for me. The reward

in that is it takes my mind off my own issues and allows me to lighten the

load for someone else. That makes me feel like a caring human being. God (

or your higher power) help us all.

Diane

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

I have to agree with many of the previous posters who noted that parents who

aren't " involved " are not necessarily unconcerned with their child's needs.

Many of them are simply overwhelmed! I have spoken with many parents whose

children have complicated medical diagnos(es), who are worn out simply from

meeting their child's complicated physical needs. As the mom of a baby (16

months) with Down Syndrome, I have heard many parents of kids with other

disabilities make the comment that kids with DS are the " Cadillac " of

disabilities, simply because most don't have the extremely complex medical needs

that many other children with disabilties do. I don't find that comment

offensive when I see what some of them are dealing with, although I am aware

that there are kids with DS with complex medical needs too. We need to remember

that this bill affects ALL kids and parents with disabilities, not only our kids

with DS.

As a parent rep on our LICC, I speak to many parents in the early intervention

program in my county. In a large number of the families, both parents work, and

there are also a great number of single parents. Lots of these families are so

involved in simply PROVIDING for their children that they lack the time it takes

to educate themselves. Still others are uneducated themselves, and are

completely bewildered by the special education laws. They are easy prey for

school districts that are looking to take the easy way out.

I have encountered a number of parents who are unaware that under the current 1

year IEP law that they can call an IEP before the year expires if there is a

change in the services needed by their child. I shudder to think how many will

slip through the cracks if the three year requirement becomes law.

And of course, the discipline provisions (or lack thereof) are keeping me awake

at night. My little guy's services are still governed under Part C, but he will

come under the Part A and B portion soon enough.

I have to agree with Joy's comment that the parents can still request the 1 year

IEP, but I truly question the intent behind changing the mandatory requirement

to every three years. The stated reason has been reduction of paperwork, and

that it takes too much of the teacher time, but let's be frank, if the IEP is

unchanged, they could COPY the old one, and simply have the parent sign.

Doesn't seem too time consuming to me.

[Guest guest]

I think many of us are still overwhelmed. I know I am, and i said this last

night. i've been fighting this fight- with schools, the govt, everyone, just

to get rights that my child and hopefully the next generation of children

should be entitled to just because they are human beings.

When a small battle is won, it is not just for the benefit of my child, but

hopefully, some other children will reap the benefit, and the next parent's

life will be slightly easier because of it. I am tired and in 13 years I

have never complained about raising a child with special needs. But it is

so constant and sometimes I just want to give up, but all of us know we cant,

we have to keep going for our children-all our children.

~ Mom to 12 DS and Diabetes Type 1 and 8 NY

[Guest guest]

--- - whether the parent is too tired, over- whelmed, etc-

isn't that child still THEIR child and their responsibility? My

daughter (and my other children) are just that- MINE- and even if

I'm tired it's MY job to look out for them and make sure they're

getting what they need. If I didn't want to take that responsibility

then maybe I shouldn't have had children.

In , JTesmer799@a... wrote:

> In a message dated 5/2/03 11:57:52 PM Central Daylight Time,

> heather_schulte@e... writes:

>

>

> > But Joy, what about those parents out there that don't have time

to learn

> > everything there is to know about their rights. Wasn't that

point

> > mentioned already?

>

> You know, when you have achild you sometimes end up with no time.

You end up

> staying up late and sleep deprived.

> Two of the women I work with are involved in sped. one has 5

kids, the

> youngest is only 8 months old and has a pretty basic idea of what

her child

> is entitled to. The other asks and has been informed by me and a

nurse on

> her station what her youngest son (15?) who has an IEP is entitled

to get an

> eduation. (he really needs books on tape since he has reading

difficulties

> and oral tests) The nurse has stated that she'd go to an IEP

meeting to help

> her, I've told her that I'd come along with her if she liked, she

chose no

> help, her son continues to struggle with getting his assignments

done even

> tho he has an IEP. Many people are like that. And she only has

him left at

> home so should have plently of time to get informed.

>

> you will get informed if you really want to from what the

experience that

> I've had with others.

>

> joy

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Yes you are right it is ultimately the parents responsibility.

So we just shouldn't care that the law now will make it easier for the

schools to get by w/o meeting their needs? And we shouldn't care because

after all it's not our kid! Right!? I don't think so. I think the law

should be protecting their rights because they have a disability and are

easily discriminated against.

The more we do to enable children when they are young the more

self-sufficient they will be when they are older. When they are 18 and

unemployable because they never developed the skills they need to work, that

will be a problem of the taxpayer's not their parents. Children disabled or

not are our countrys most valuable resource.

Schulte

Re: Republic attack on the call-in day

> --- - whether the parent is too tired, over- whelmed, etc-

> isn't that child still THEIR child and their responsibility? My

> daughter (and my other children) are just that- MINE- and even if

> I'm tired it's MY job to look out for them and make sure they're

> getting what they need. If I didn't want to take that responsibility

> then maybe I shouldn't have had children.

>

>

> In , JTesmer799@a... wrote:

> > In a message dated 5/2/03 11:57:52 PM Central Daylight Time,

> > heather_schulte@e... writes:

> >

> >

> > > But Joy, what about those parents out there that don't have time

> to learn

> > > everything there is to know about their rights. Wasn't that

> point

> > > mentioned already?

> >

> > You know, when you have achild you sometimes end up with no time.

> You end up

> > staying up late and sleep deprived.

> > Two of the women I work with are involved in sped. one has 5

> kids, the

> > youngest is only 8 months old and has a pretty basic idea of what

> her child

> > is entitled to. The other asks and has been informed by me and a

> nurse on

> > her station what her youngest son (15?) who has an IEP is entitled

> to get an

> > eduation. (he really needs books on tape since he has reading

> difficulties

> > and oral tests) The nurse has stated that she'd go to an IEP

> meeting to help

> > her, I've told her that I'd come along with her if she liked, she

> chose no

> > help, her son continues to struggle with getting his assignments

> done even

> > tho he has an IEP. Many people are like that. And she only has

> him left at

> > home so should have plently of time to get informed.

> >

> > you will get informed if you really want to from what the

> experience that

> > I've had with others.

> >

> > joy

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/3/2003 6:49:14 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

_Schulte@... writes:

> There is a difference between WANTING to take responsibilty and being

> educated and able to deal with a child with a disability-

Many of the parents I hear from think they are doing the right thing and what

they should be doing. Then they have something happen or they hear from

another parent about they are doing on behalf of their child and realize that

they could have been doing more.

I cannot tell you how many parents call me and say something like this:

" My son/daughter is 18 and they can't read. The school kept telling me it

was coming, they were making progress but now they can't read and the school

says they will never learn how to read, just give up on reading. " The

parents put their faith in what they heard at once a year meetings, believed

the progress reports, and just waited for the words to come true. Asking

questions, challenging the teachers never occurred to them. Why would they

have signed up for any workshop when their IEP meetings go so wonderful ...

come in, sign the forms we have already filled out for you and see you next

year. Only now, for many parents, it will be see you in three years, IMO.

Cheryl in VA

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay

any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any

foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty. - F. Kennedy

[Guest guest]

--- That wasn't what I said at all- I just said that it's the parent

responsibilty. The law gives them the right to a 1 year IEP and if

they don't act on it then that's their decision or failure or

whatever you want to call it. The right is there- it's up to you to

act on it- I don't think that's asking parents to take too much

responsibility.

>

> So we just shouldn't care that the law now will make it easier for

the

> schools to get by w/o meeting their needs? And we shouldn't care

because

> after all it's not our kid! Right!? I don't think so. I think

the law

> should be protecting their rights because they have a disability

and are

> easily discriminated against.

>

> The more we do to enable children when they are young the more

> self-sufficient they will be when they are older. When they are

18 and

> unemployable because they never developed the skills they need to

work, that

> will be a problem of the taxpayer's not their parents. Children

disabled or

> not are our countrys most valuable resource.

>

> Schulte

>

> Re: Republic attack on the call-in day

>

>

> > --- - whether the parent is too tired, over- whelmed, etc-

> > isn't that child still THEIR child and their responsibility? My

> > daughter (and my other children) are just that- MINE- and even if

> > I'm tired it's MY job to look out for them and make sure they're

> > getting what they need. If I didn't want to take that

responsibility

> > then maybe I shouldn't have had children.

> >

> >

> > In , JTesmer799@a... wrote:

> > > In a message dated 5/2/03 11:57:52 PM Central Daylight Time,

> > > heather_schulte@e... writes:

> > >

> > >

> > > > But Joy, what about those parents out there that don't have

time

> > to learn

> > > > everything there is to know about their rights. Wasn't that

> > point

> > > > mentioned already?

> > >

> > > You know, when you have achild you sometimes end up with no

time.

> > You end up

> > > staying up late and sleep deprived.

> > > Two of the women I work with are involved in sped. one has 5

> > kids, the

> > > youngest is only 8 months old and has a pretty basic idea of

what

> > her child

> > > is entitled to. The other asks and has been informed by me

and a

> > nurse on

> > > her station what her youngest son (15?) who has an IEP is

entitled

> > to get an

> > > eduation. (he really needs books on tape since he has reading

> > difficulties

> > > and oral tests) The nurse has stated that she'd go to an IEP

> > meeting to help

> > > her, I've told her that I'd come along with her if she liked,

she

> > chose no

> > > help, her son continues to struggle with getting his

assignments

> > done even

> > > tho he has an IEP. Many people are like that. And she only

has

> > him left at

> > > home so should have plently of time to get informed.

> > >

> > > you will get informed if you really want to from what the

> > experience that

> > > I've had with others.

> > >

> > > joy

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Also, look at how much support we get in terms of help with IEP's, issues with

the school, questions about needed services, etc. from this site and others that

we use. Every parent doesn't have access to support like this - some don't even

have computers, let alone access to the Internet. This legislation was created

to protect EVERY child, not just those whose parents were aware of their rights.

As a humane people, governed under a humane government, our children's rights

are protected. In times past, it was OK to have kids working in sweatshops,

when they were very young. Our government, through our elected representatives,

has made it literally ILLEGAL to employ young children to work many hours. ALL

children are protected against being exploited in this way, not just those whose

parents know the law.

Re: Re: Republic attack on the call-in day

> --- - whether the parent is too tired, over- whelmed, etc-

> isn't that child still THEIR child and their responsibility? My

> daughter (and my other children) are just that- MINE- and even if

> I'm tired it's MY job to look out for them and make sure they're

> getting what they need. If I didn't want to take that responsibility

> then maybe I shouldn't have had children.

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/3/2003 1:45:25 PM Central Standard Time,

suezqpete@... writes:

> --- That wasn't what I said at all- I just said that it's the parent

> responsibilty. The law gives them the right to a 1 year IEP and if

> they don't act on it then that's their decision or failure or

> whatever you want to call it. The right is there- it's up to you to

> act on it- I don't think that's asking parents to take too much

> responsibility.

HI

I understand what you are saying but it is so hard. Where Im concerned is to

call a meeting we really need a reason to call one. Most goals are wrote by

the sped dept. and I guarantee they will be wrote for 3 year mastery.

Being a parent who actively participates in the goal writing etc... I still

find it soooooo difficult to call a meeting and challenge them now (you all

wouldn't know this since Ive called 4 meetings this year lol), I can imagine

my difficulties and issues when I challenge a 3 yr. IEP.

April is the most stressful time of the year for me, shoot even more then the

Christmas holidays lol I prepare for the worst, practice my rebuttals and

PRAY for strength to oppose them and usually everything works out

Kathy mom to Sara 11 ........... strength to all who find being adversarial,

hard

[Guest guest]

>As a human being I believe it is my

> responsibility to do for others as I would have others do for me. The

reward

> in that is it takes my mind off my own issues and allows me to lighten the

> load for someone else. That makes me feel like a caring human being. God

(

> or your higher power) help us all.

> Diane

Well said Diane!

The law is complex and often difficult to understand for anyone. This

includes special ed law. Parents of children w/ disabilities obviously have

a need to understand the law & their rights concerning their child's

education. But many find it difficult to ACCESS or UNDERSTAND. This point

was made before. I think it is worth repeating!

The idea that someone should not be ALLOWED to give birth to a child based

soley on the possibility that it could be diabled and they don't have the

educational ability to understand the law is proposterous.

Schulte

[Guest guest]

--- Again - you are putting words in my mouth- I never said

anything about anyone being " allowed " to have children- I said that

I consider my children my responsibility- not the governments and

not anyone elses. That is how I feel- I chose to have children and I

take full responsibilty for finding any resources I need for them-

if that offends you then I'm sorry- In an ideal world -yes- everyone

looks out for everyone elses child,etc-and that's great but when it

comes down to it- it's still my child and at the end of the day I'm

still the one responsible for her. I refuse to apologize for taking

responsibility for my own child instead of expecting someone else

to.

In , " Schulte "

<_Schulte@e...> wrote:

> >As a human being I believe it is my

> > responsibility to do for others as I would have others do for

me. The

> reward

> > in that is it takes my mind off my own issues and allows me to

lighten the

> > load for someone else. That makes me feel like a caring human

being. God

> (

> > or your higher power) help us all.

> > Diane

>

> Well said Diane!

> The law is complex and often difficult to understand for anyone.

This

> includes special ed law. Parents of children w/ disabilities

obviously have

> a need to understand the law & their rights concerning their

child's

> education. But many find it difficult to ACCESS or UNDERSTAND.

This point

> was made before. I think it is worth repeating!

> The idea that someone should not be ALLOWED to give birth to a

child based

> soley on the possibility that it could be diabled and they don't

have the

> educational ability to understand the law is proposterous.

>

> Schulte

[Guest guest]

---This is what I'm saying- although it has been taken out of

context by many- you are overwhelmed but you haven't quit- and

that's what I mean- I understand being overwhlemed- I just don't

think that you can just quit and say- I'm going to wait and let

somebody else fix this- if it's my child-I'm going to be out there

fighting for her and not waiting for someone else to do it for me.

In , linman42@a... wrote:

> I think many of us are still overwhelmed. I know I am, and i said

this last

> night. i've been fighting this fight- with schools, the govt,

everyone, just

> to get rights that my child and hopefully the next generation of

children

> should be entitled to just because they are human beings.

>

> When a small battle is won, it is not just for the benefit of my

child, but

> hopefully, some other children will reap the benefit, and the next

parent's

> life will be slightly easier because of it. I am tired and in 13

years I

> have never complained about raising a child with special needs.

But it is

> so constant and sometimes I just want to give up, but all of us

know we cant,

> we have to keep going for our children-all our children.

>

> ~ Mom to 12 DS and Diabetes Type 1 and 8 NY

[Guest guest]

Actually you did say today at 1:53 pm that people shouldn't have

children if they couldn't look after their rights....

Re: Republic attack on the call-in day

> --- - whether the parent is too tired, over- whelmed, etc-

> isn't that child still THEIR child and their responsibility? My

> daughter (and my other children) are just that- MINE- and even if

> I'm tired it's MY job to look out for them and make sure they're

> getting what they need. If I didn't want to take that responsibility

> then maybe I shouldn't have had children.

>

>

> In , JTesmer799@a... wrote:

> > In a message dated 5/2/03 11:57:52 PM Central Daylight Time,

> > heather_schulte@e... writes:

> >

> >

> > > But Joy, what about those parents out there that don't have time

> to learn

> > > everything there is to know about their rights. Wasn't that

> point

> > > mentioned already?

> >

> > You know, when you have achild you sometimes end up with no time.

> You end up

> > staying up late and sleep deprived.

> > Two of the women I work with are involved in sped. one has 5

> kids, the

> > youngest is only 8 months old and has a pretty basic idea of what

> her child

> > is entitled to. The other asks and has been informed by me and a

> nurse on

> > her station what her youngest son (15?) who has an IEP is entitled

> to get an

> > eduation. (he really needs books on tape since he has reading

> difficulties

> > and oral tests) The nurse has stated that she'd go to an IEP

> meeting to help

> > her, I've told her that I'd come along with her if she liked, she

> chose no

> > help, her son continues to struggle with getting his assignments

> done even

> > tho he has an IEP. Many people are like that. And she only has

> him left at

> > home so should have plently of time to get informed.

> >

> > you will get informed if you really want to from what the

> experience that

> > I've had with others.

> >

> > joy

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

> --- - whether the parent is too tired, over- whelmed, etc-

> isn't that child still THEIR child and their responsibility? My

> daughter (and my other children) are just that- MINE- and even if

> I'm tired it's MY job to look out for them and make sure they're

> getting what they need. If I didn't want to take that responsibility

> then maybe I shouldn't have had children.

>