Kris/Re: Missing School

[Guest guest]

Hi Kris,

If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to see what sorts of things to ask for in an

IEP or 504. Thanks!

I'm not sure how much school Conner has missed this year, I think it was 12

days in the first semester.

Mom to Conner (11, Asperger's, mild CP, partial seizures, asthma, GERD,

Hashimoto's disease, hypogammaglobulinemia, complement deficiency, antibody

deficiency, NK cell defect, and resolved adrenal insufficiency),

Hayden (11, PDD-NOS, IBS and moderate hearing loss/aided),

Evan (11, asthma and mild hearing loss/unaided),

and Kelsey - (9 going on 19!)

Please visit us at www.caringbridge.org/in/connersmith

>From: " mcfalls11 " <k.mcfalls@...>

>Reply-

>

>Subject: Re: Missing School

>Date: Wed, 01 Feb 2006 04:50:12 -0000

>

>As with all things there are many opinions and experiences with

>school, home school, 504 plans and IEP's. I may be in the minority

>here and it sounds like I am however, I believe that public school

>with the right support can work. Until the 8th grade, it was not

>unusual for my son to miss 1/3 of the school year. He was on an IEP

>for many years as he qualified for speech and physical therapy.

>However, when it came time to switch to a 504 we were still able to

>secure a tutor when we knew he was going to miss school. Each year

>his immunologist would write a letter and each year a tutor was

>assigned to be on call for him should he need one. Keegan

>eventually ended up taking more difficult classes than the tutor

>could handle. At that point his teachers just made extra effort to

>get him the work he needed via email. We went through years where

>we did indeed have to fight for what was needed. However, once they

>saw that this kid could and would do the work, life settled down.

>In fact most teachers became Keegan's biggest advocate. Keegan

>eventually went on and combined his last two years of high school

>with his first two years of college. His 504 plan did indeed follow

>him to college. They even gave him first priority for enrolling in

>classes to make sure he got a schedule that maximized his energy

>level. I know that not everyone is blessed to have things work out

>that well, but it can happen. In working in the school district I

>have also learned that you can simply tell them with a smile on your

>face that you understand what they want but this is how it's going

>to be. We can re-evaluate it again in two months but for now we

>need to work as a team to ensure the best result for this child then

>walk away. They think your nuts at first but it works really well!

>Heck they thought I was nuts before I walked in the room so what's

>the difference. Keegan through his hard work earned their respect

>and eventually they even liked me. It stinks to be the ice breaker,

>but it makes a difference. If you would like to contact me

>privately to talk about what we had in our 504, I am more than happy

>to share.

>

>Take care,

>Kris

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