Re: Need Help Navigating School System for my Daughter

[Guest guest]

Hey ,

Well the first bit of advice I have to offer is put EVERYTHING in writing!!!!!

Keep a copy for yourself and try taking an advocate to your emergency ARD meeting.

I'm so sorry you are experiencing such difficulty. Where was the University Health Science Center located and what district are you in?

Debby

Need Help Navigating School System for my Daughter

I hope this is the right place to ask for input/help in dealing with the school system for my daughter. My daughter is 6 years old and in first grade. She is diagnosed with Asperger’s and Developmental Coordination Disorder. She has been under the care of a Developmental Pediatrician and Occupational Therapist since she was 4 for motor delays, and “autism-like” symptoms and just received the Asperger’s Diagnosis from a University Health Science Center in June of 2009. In the diagnosis, they offered tips/strategies for helping my daughter at school. She is also on anti-anxiety meds for social/sensory anxiety.

Immediately upon enrolling my daughter in public school (she was in a private school last year), I gave the school the diagnostic testing paperwork from UTHSC, the OT, and the Developmental Pediatrician. They conducted their own examination (I won’t go into the deficits of their “eval”) and concluded that because she was at or above grade level academically, she was not in need of special education. They stated 504 was the law that would allow for accommodations in the classroom.

During the evaluation process my daughter had several problems at school. She had sensory sensitivity in the gym, social anxiety in the classroom and began to hate school and beg me not to take her. She has separation anxiety in the mornings and is irritable or weepy in the afternoons after school. The weekends, where the pressure of school is not present, we have made amazing strides with decreasing her tantrums and emotional volatility. The school has taken the approach that if they do nothing she’ll “get used to things”. The counselor has tried to implement a pass that she can use to go to the counselor during anxiety but it is unclear whether they are refusing to allow the use of the pass or that my daughter is too afraid to use it. My daughter states they won’t let her use it.

I went to the school and spoke with the Director of Special Education for our District. She promised to analyze the data and observe my daughter in the classroom, as well as communicate with my daughter’s treatment team. As of yet no calls have been made to any of the treatment team and the principal called me for a meeting later today. My daughter also sees a play therapist who has a lot to say about the anxiety levels my daughter is experiencing at school. I have requested use of earplugs in the gym and that request was denied. I requested that my daughter be exempted from Assemblies (pep rallies) and that request was denied. I had a 504 meeting with the 504 coordinator and they stated my daughter does not meet 504 eligibility guidelines, however no paperwork nor study was ever done by the 504 Committee. They continue to say that my daughter is just “fine” at school. She has had no disciplinary problems because she tends to shut down when frightened.

I have a meeting with the principal today. I am unsure as to what I should do at this meeting. Do I formally (in writing) request another ARD meeting? Do I formally (in writing) request a 504 evaluation?

I’m just lost! And frustrated! My daughter is in a social skills class and I see the problems she has with that, I can only imagine what the school day must be like for her.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! I’ll answer any questions you might have!

Thanks!_._,___

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[Guest guest]

Singleton - you out there???Sent from my iPhone

I hope this is the right place to ask for

input/help in dealing with the school system for my daughter. My daughter

is 6 years old and in first grade. She is diagnosed with Asperger’s

and Developmental Coordination Disorder. She has been under the care of a

Developmental Pediatrician and Occupational Therapist since she was 4 for motor

delays, and “autism-like†symptoms and just received the Asperger’s

Diagnosis from a University

Health Science

Center in June of

2009. In the diagnosis, they offered tips/strategies for helping my

daughter at school. She is also on anti-anxiety meds for social/sensory

anxiety.

Immediately upon enrolling my daughter in

public school (she was in a private school last year), I gave the school the diagnostic

testing paperwork from UTHSC, the OT, and the Developmental Pediatrician.

They conducted their own examination (I won’t go into the deficits of

their “evalâ€) and concluded that because she was at or above grade

level academically, she was not in need of special education. They stated

504 was the law that would allow for accommodations in the classroom.

During the evaluation process my daughter

had several problems at school. She had sensory sensitivity in the gym,

social anxiety in the classroom and began to hate school and beg me not to take

her. She has separation anxiety in the mornings and is irritable or weepy

in the afternoons after school. The weekends, where the pressure of school

is not present, we have made amazing strides with decreasing her tantrums and

emotional volatility. The school has taken the approach that if they do

nothing she’ll “get used to thingsâ€. The counselor has

tried to implement a pass that she can use to go to the counselor during

anxiety but it is unclear whether they are refusing to allow the use of the

pass or that my daughter is too afraid to use it. My daughter states they

won’t let her use it.

I went to the school and spoke with the

Director of Special Education for our District. She promised to analyze

the data and observe my daughter in the classroom, as well as communicate with

my daughter’s treatment team. As of yet no calls have been made to

any of the treatment team and the principal called me for a meeting later

today. My daughter also sees a play therapist who has a lot to say about

the anxiety levels my daughter is experiencing at school. I have

requested use of earplugs in the gym and that request was denied. I

requested that my daughter be exempted from Assemblies (pep rallies) and that

request was denied. I had a 504 meeting with the 504 coordinator and they

stated my daughter does not meet 504 eligibility guidelines, however no

paperwork nor study was ever done by the 504 Committee. They continue to

say that my daughter is just “fine†at school. She has had no

disciplinary problems because she tends to shut down when frightened.

I have a meeting with the principal

today. I am unsure as to what I should do at this meeting. Do I

formally (in writing) request another ARD meeting? Do I formally (in

writing) request a 504 evaluation?

I’m just lost! And

frustrated! My daughter is in a social skills class and I see the

problems she has with that, I can only imagine what the school day must be like

for her.

Any help would be greatly

appreciated! I’ll answer any questions you might have!

Thanks!_._,___

[Guest guest]

:First, start an educational notebook in which you keep EVERYTHING in chronological order.  This needs to include all outside testing and recommendations, letters to or from school, and you must keep phone contact logs.  You must create a paper trail.

The school district needs to inform you in writing why it denied her special education services.  It sound to me that the nature of her disability affects every area of the school environment, and therefore, she is entitled to services under idea.

If you disagree with an observation by a district personally about her performance in the school environment, demand an independent observation by an outside specialist w/ knowledge in her disability.  We used Batts, who came to our district and made recommendations (the school didn't follow them, but that's another story).

Never go to any meeting with district personnel alone.  Take someone more knowledgeable with you.  A special ed advocate would be preferred.  If you are anywhere in the DFW area, I can recommend a a very good one.  Email me off list for the info.

I am seeing this more and more of late --children with ASD disorders being denied services under IDEA.  Your child needs these services, but you are going to have to learn to advocate for her.  Go to www.wrightslaw.com and learn all you can.

You must become knowledgeable about 504 and IDEA in order to have it work for your child.If you would like to talk more.  Email me off-list.