HELP with SCHOOL ISSUES, IEP, SON HIT BY CHILD IN SCHOOL, LONG POST..........

October 6, 2006

Hi Everyone, I haven't written in a long time due to the fact that I moved three months ago and things have just been crazy. I can't even keep up with reading all of the posts but I am trying.

I moved from New York to Las Vegas and let me tell ya, what a difference! I have to say, I miss New York!

The reason I am writing is because of what is going on with my son and school here in Vegas.

Now, I was told the school district was not good out here but I was not warned how bad it is and how differently they do things here compared to New York.

My son is 9 years old, turning 10 in December. He is High functioning Autistic in an Inclusion Placement but needs assistance in school. He has come a LONG way and we still have a long road ahead of us and this is why I am NOT backing down to this school district!

My son was in his school in New York for 4 years. Once I got him in there, everything was great. I had a GREAT team and we worked together for 4 years and we all had 's best interest at heart. We all wanted to see succeed and do well, socially and academically and we wanted to see him continue to progress.

Now, my son's IEP is difficult for Nevada to understand due to the fact that New York worded 's IEP differently as they would have here. I know that every state is different. Now currently my son is enrolled in the school he is zoned for here, he finally started last Monday. Meanwhile school started here on August 30 but I was shuffled back and forth, it was ridiculous getting him in!

Now, in New York received a one on one paraprofessional that was in his class with him all day. She assisted him when he needed it and redirected when he needed it to keep him focused in the classroom and it worked out wonderfully. He did AMAZING last year, he passed BOTH state exams, reading and math and made honor roll for the whole year!!!! It was a rough year but he did it! We worked hard and we got through it. His Para was a Godsend, she became very close to us, I adore her and I miss her terribly and so does . She truly loves and helped him progress so much in school.

also had speech 4x a week and O/T 3x a week. He also had the support of his Special Education Teacher WHEN needed. He is in general Ed, has NEVER been in a Special Education classroom in Elementary school, he was always in a General Ed class, that's what I want and I plan on keeping it that way. They were trying to throw him in a self contained classroom out here, I told them absolutely not! It's not the appropriate placement for my son. It is not the least restrictive environment for him.

Currently is in a 4th grade classroom here getting his services like in New York BECAUSE they LEGALLY have to follow the IEP from New York. Of course they have 45 days to test him, collect data, observe him and call a meeting to discuss and have an IEP meeting to develop a new IEP for the State of Nevada.

Ok, now this is where I am having MASSIVE problems with these people out here in the school district.

A paraprofessional was brought in BUT she does NOT assist all day, his teacher in his class really is supposed to keep an eye on him to make sure he is following the class work. I was told the Para is a CLASSROOM Para, not a Para for him!!! Are they freaking kidding me! My Advocate and I were promised a Para ONLY for NOT the classroom! The Para is NOT supposed to talk to me at all either!! I can't believe it, it's crazy! They don't want me to discuss with her at all, ONLY his teacher! The Para won't even look at me and say hello when she sees me! I never heard of such a thing! She is working with my son, I feel I have every right to ask her how is doing with her BUT NO, I can't! I am up there everyday, morning and afternoon and I am on TOP of these people and watch their every move! I ask questions constantly and they just can't stand it, OH WELL, not my problem. I was told that they are probably intimidated by me hence the reason they get nervous when they see me and don't want me knowing anything!

Moving on, I do have an advocate and have gotten lawyers from the Law School at UNLV to take on 's case. I do NOT want to attempt to go into an IEP meeting here without any legal counsel and I feel the school district is ready to pull A LOT of 's services that he had in New York!

For instance, I want the one on one Para, they don't want to give it BUT he has had one for four years and NEEDS it especially right now that he left his old school, was out of school for three months and needs a lot of help in class right now! He is still adjusting to this BIG change that occurred, moving to a new place and starting a new school and that should be completely understandable.

Second, I can tell they want to cut speech and O/T and this is all because of money, NO OTHER REASON! I will NOT let my son's education suffer because they don't want to pay! That is insane! I am relentless when it comes to and I will not give in OR back down to them.

Third, I want to let you know that my son got hit by another child on Monday in the lunchroom! My son was NEVER bullied or harassed until his SIXTH day of school here! I am LIVID!

First off, I wasn't called at home ONLY told when I went to pick him up from school! Then I was not told of the hitting, told me and his Father that he got hit and I don't know for sure if told a teacher or the assistant Principal or not about getting hit in the arm? They told us the weren't told of the hitting. My son was laughed at, taunted and threatened to give up his lunchbox at lunch in the lunchroom! They teased him and apparently saw him as an easy target! Believe me do I want to get a hold of those 4 little punks that did this to my son and give them a piece of my mind! But of course the school wont tell me who they are BUT I know my son will show me them when he sees them if I am there, he wants me to know who they are, he needs to feel protected and I don't blame him one bit! The kids in 's class were told and the next day the kids in his class wanted to start a big fight with these kids that bothered my son! It's been a nightmare of a week!

My son has a black and blue that is now fading on his arm from one of these little punks! I called up my advocate and my lawyers right after I got home and told them what occurred immediately.

My Ex-Husband and I went right back to the school after told us in the car that he was hit and hurt and we were LIVID! We went right into the school after finding out about this and had a 50 minute sit down with the Assistant principal (who I cannot stand!) and his teacher. Now the only person in the whole school I like is his teacher, everyone else is an ass!

So my question is, what do I do here? I was told today by my advocate that I couldn't even sue the school if I wanted to! My son got harmed DUE TO THEIR NEGLECT! There was NO Para in the lunchroom with him OR anyone else to assist him and keep on eye on him! His Teacher brings the kids in and then leaves and the kids scatter and sit whereever they want to! had NO idea where to sit so he just sat down and apparently at the wrong table! NO ONE even saw what happened to ! If it wasn't for ONE nice little boy that raised his hand and told, might have gotten seriously hurt by these FOUR boys, it was FOUR against ONE and that is BULLSHIT!

Sorry to vent but I am so upset by this! I hate the school district out here and right now my hands are tied because I can't get up and move again BUT I wish I could!

My lawyers want to go in to the school and observe next week and then have a sit down meeting with the school about and 's safety, I requested this meeting, I feel they are legally obligated to provide a safe environment for my son! In four years in his school in New York, he was NEVER hit, bullied, or taunted in any way!

And his school in New York would have suspended the kids and their parents would have been notified! NONE of that was done here! They were only given a warning! A warning for HITTING my child! Taunting him, teasing him, laughing at him and threatening him to give up his lunch! That is unacceptable to me!

I was told to try to sue for home services, would I be able to? I feel this is only the beginning of more bullshit to come in this school and I cannot keep putting my son at risk!

Plus they want to cut so many services from him and I have a BAD feeling I am not going to be able to keep what I had in New York for , even though I am filing for Due Process and taking it all the way.

What should I do? My lawyers since they are law students being assisted by the director of the law school seem a bit intimidated and confused also on what to do.

I just can't sit back and let my son's education be affected and his safety be at risk also.

Any, any advice from anyone, legal advice, any advice, is GREATLY appreciated in this time of need. Sorry for the rant, it's been a heck of a week!

Thank you so much!

Vicki 's Mommy HFA/Mercury Poisoned 9 years old

October 7, 2006

Hello Vicky-

Our heart goes out to you/yours. What a dreadful situation.

is in jeapardy.

It's totally criminal what they are allowing to go through. If you should decide to Home School keep in mind

ANY monetary assist the school would give would subject you to their regulations (including no religious teaching) so Home School Defense Asociation advises it's best to make a clean split from the school if you Home School.

They should pay for a private school. See if any exist in your area for persons w/autism or special needs.

Much helpful info may be found at

http://wrightslaw.com/

and

http://teacch.com/

We'll keep your family in the light of our prayers.

Best,

Jack

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