standing up to schools for CMT children's rights

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I am happy to hear I am not alone in this. I bought carbon paper for Adam's note

takers. He also has dyslexia. Modifications do work no doubt at all. What gets

me is that the kids don't have a say. The teachers just assume they are trying

to get out of work or out

of P.E. Grrr

[Guest guest]

Hurray for moms who can stand up for their CMTer's rights in the

school system. My son is 6th grade at Middle school with CMT1A and

I just recently went through a case conference again on his IEP. It

is amazing to me that after sending a notebook FULL of literature,

talking with all the teachers individually on 2 occasions, and

checking his agenda nightly, he still had problems. I also sub in

the school system so I see what happens on the " inside " too.

His first 9 wks midterm was terrible (below average due to

incomplete work, PE grade was low too). After ranting at the IEP

conference that the teachers should allow him 1) extra passing time

2) modified PE as needed 3) extra assitance or consideration with

copious writing tasks and 4) required to allow him to take written

tests or tasks in a study skills environment. The schools often

require copious note-taking and writing. My son has a tremendous

difficulty with tremors and hand strength and the writing was simply

overcoming him.

It's amazing, the case conference was 3 weeks ago, he got his recent

mid-term today and has A+ in ALL his classes! I have noticed, that

once required to adhere to the IEP, the teachers have made minute

adjustements that have allowed my son's intelligence to show over

his physical constraints. IT's AMAZING to me that these teachers

are so busy, or uncaring, that they didn't have this in place on the

first day of school rather than 3 months later. He has had an IEP

since 3rd grade, and it is supposed to follow him throughout his

school.

Hurray moms, keep up the pressure on the 'system' to deal fairly

with our kids. MDA does have a new publication out to send to

teachers, but I send CMT specific information at the beginning of

every school year and I am almost positive no one bothers to read it.