Guest guest Posted March 2, 2010 Report Share Posted March 2, 2010 Hi, I am mostly a lurker, but some of you know me. We have a daughter who is 14 and we Homeschool her. She does well for the most part, but friendships, etc are always an interesting challenge. So, a local specialized school offered a social skills class and we signed up. It was $600 for 10 weeks 2 hours per week. I just got off the phone and am not happy. The lady running the class said because Olivia has DS she would not fit into this class of "high" achievers! She mentioned having kids from expensive private school (my words not hers) and they are high achievers but need some social skills. I TRIED to persuade her to at least give Olivia a chance and it might be good for the class. I told her she was prejudging Olivia only on the basis of her diagnosis and nothing else. She was VERY patronizing to me and told me how much she 'loved how I advocated for Olivia" but the decision was final. She told me that if the school had a social class for teens with DS she would let us know. I was ALL over that and asked why seclude our kids, why not include them with other typical peers for the interaction. I told her again she was prejudiced, but she said she would HATE to think that and it was really based on the high level of the class and how fast paced the games were. The games she mentioned we play with Olivia at home-outburst or catchprase and charades type games. She seemed to me to think that Olivia would hold back the class instead of add to it. Guess I am thinking it best for Olivia not to be with someone who does not want her, but is there something I should/could do about this? I am open to input from others. thank you joan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 2, 2010 Report Share Posted March 2, 2010 HI Joan, We homeschool as well. I would suggest for you to start your own social skills class within your homeschool group as a co-op. That way, everyone already knows and accepts your daughter. The other group sounds totally snobby and not a place for any child! I bet you will do a great job starting your own class! Debbie > > Hi, > I am mostly a lurker, but some of you know me. We have a daughter who is 14 > and we Homeschool her. She does well for the most part, but friendships, > etc are always an interesting challenge. > So, a local specialized school offered a social skills class and we > signed up. It was $600 for 10 weeks 2 hours per week. > I just got off the phone and am not happy. The lady running the class > said because Olivia has DS she would not fit into this class of " high " > achievers! She mentioned having kids from expensive private school (my words not > hers) and they are high achievers but need some social skills. I TRIED to > persuade her to at least give Olivia a chance and it might be good for the > class. I told her she was prejudging Olivia only on the basis of her diagnosis > and nothing else. She was VERY patronizing to me and told me how much she > 'loved how I advocated for Olivia " but the decision was final. She told me > that if the school had a social class for teens with DS she would let us know. > I was ALL over that and asked why seclude our kids, why not include them > with other typical peers for the interaction. I told her again she was > prejudiced, but she said she would HATE to think that and it was really based on > the high level of the class and how fast paced the games were. The games she > mentioned we play with Olivia at home-outburst or catchprase and charades > type games. She seemed to me to think that Olivia would hold back the class > instead of add to it. > Guess I am thinking it best for Olivia not to be with someone who does not > want her, but is there something I should/could do about this? I am open > to input from others. > thank you > joan > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 2, 2010 Report Share Posted March 2, 2010 Hmmm...it sounds like to me that the instructor is teaching the WRONG social skills to people paying a lot of money. And there is no way in * & ^% that I would want my children (DS or not) in *HER* class. HA...I would certainly notify the school in writing of what happened AND I would contact the OCR (Office of Civil Rights) and the BBB (Better Business Bureau), if for nothing else to have a *record* on file that shows what *kind* of social skills people are paying for. I would do it with a lot of tact and come out smelling like a rose. I might even go as far as contacting a local news station and broadcast the story for all to see and hear. But I still would not take my child there in the end. > > Hi, > I am mostly a lurker, but some of you know me. We have a daughter who is 14 > and we Homeschool her. She does well for the most part, but friendships, > etc are always an interesting challenge. > So, a local specialized school offered a social skills class and we > signed up. It was $600 for 10 weeks 2 hours per week. > I just got off the phone and am not happy. The lady running the class > said because Olivia has DS she would not fit into this class of " high " > achievers! She mentioned having kids from expensive private school (my words not > hers) and they are high achievers but need some social skills. I TRIED to > persuade her to at least give Olivia a chance and it might be good for the > class. I told her she was prejudging Olivia only on the basis of her diagnosis > and nothing else. She was VERY patronizing to me and told me how much she > 'loved how I advocated for Olivia " but the decision was final. She told me > that if the school had a social class for teens with DS she would let us know. > I was ALL over that and asked why seclude our kids, why not include them > with other typical peers for the interaction. I told her again she was > prejudiced, but she said she would HATE to think that and it was really based on > the high level of the class and how fast paced the games were. The games she > mentioned we play with Olivia at home-outburst or catchprase and charades > type games. She seemed to me to think that Olivia would hold back the class > instead of add to it. > Guess I am thinking it best for Olivia not to be with someone who does not > want her, but is there something I should/could do about this? I am open > to input from others. > thank you > joan > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 3, 2010 Report Share Posted March 3, 2010 Thanks for the input. We have done several HS coops and they have all been great for Olivia. This was just an option and I am always trying to find new avenues to stimulate and enhance Olivia's conversational skills. This whole thing made me think of all the ways Olivia has been included and we have been blessed.She has taken Improv acting class with other typical peers, math and history Coop classes and now a creative Problem solving class with peers, we have art, voice and gym teachers who love her as well as a Church with teachers who accept her in their class. This is only the second time that we have had this kind of discrimination. I do think that you all are right that the HSing world is MUCH more accepting of our kids and willing to work with us. I figure it is easier to teach her and find others to work with us than to fight the system. This is the "system" at it's ugliest! Pride and arrogance to be sure. I did talk to an ARC representative today and will be working with an advocate to develop a plan of action. This will be not a fight to get Olivia into the class, but to develop awareness. thanks, we press onward and upward. We are truly blessed. joan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 3, 2010 Report Share Posted March 3, 2010 > I just got off the phone and am not happy. The lady running the class > said because Olivia has DS she would not fit into this class of " high " > achievers! ****She mentioned having kids from expensive private school (my words not > hers) and they are high achievers but need some social skills. **** Awesome.. they could learn so much from Olivia. I am sure she can help teach the class to be more relaxed around each other and help them develop a sense of humor and dignity. - some of her natural charisma may rub off on those introverts. : p What a Nasty woman! I agree to contact the BBB and etc and challenge the discrimination. Also a full refund in order if you have paid. I agree with you that Olivia would be better served by a different teacher. We also homeschool, and we have had mixed experiences with being included. In the one situation it was like.. " well if she can't keep up .... she will get left behind. " So.. it all just depends on the people . Steph C agirlnamedsuess21 wrote: > > Hmmm...it sounds like to me that the instructor is teaching the WRONG > social skills to people paying a lot of money. And there is no way in > * & ^% that I would want my children (DS or not) in *HER* class. > HA...I would certainly notify the school in writing of what happened > AND I would contact the OCR (Office of Civil Rights) and the BBB > (Better Business Bureau), if for nothing else to have a *record* on > file that shows what *kind* of social skills people are paying for. I > would do it with a lot of tact and come out smelling like a rose. > I might even go as far as contacting a local news station and > broadcast the story for all to see and hear. > But I still would not take my child there in the end. > > > > > > > Hi, > > I am mostly a lurker, but some of you know me. We have a daughter > who is 14 > > and we Homeschool her. She does well for the most part, but > friendships, > > etc are always an interesting challenge. > > So, a local specialized school offered a social skills class and we > > signed up. It was $600 for 10 weeks 2 hours per week. > > I just got off the phone and am not happy. The lady running the class > > said because Olivia has DS she would not fit into this class of " high " > > achievers! She mentioned having kids from expensive private school > (my words not > > hers) and they are high achievers but need some social skills. I > TRIED to > > persuade her to at least give Olivia a chance and it might be good > for the > > class. I told her she was prejudging Olivia only on the basis of her > diagnosis > > and nothing else. She was VERY patronizing to me and told me how > much she > > 'loved how I advocated for Olivia " but the decision was final. She > told me > > that if the school had a social class for teens with DS she would > let us know. > > I was ALL over that and asked why seclude our kids, why not include > them > > with other typical peers for the interaction. I told her again she was > > prejudiced, but she said she would HATE to think that and it was > really based on > > the high level of the class and how fast paced the games were. The > games she > > mentioned we play with Olivia at home-outburst or catchprase and > charades > > type games. She seemed to me to think that Olivia would hold back > the class > > instead of add to it. > > Guess I am thinking it best for Olivia not to be with someone who > does not > > want her, but is there something I should/could do about this? I am > open > > to input from others. > > thank you > > joan > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 3, 2010 Report Share Posted March 3, 2010 I know. I do think a simple form from the BBB (being filled out) is in order. Others need to know that she is not teaching social skills, but rather social discrimination. But that is me. I care an awful lot about bad things NOT happening to others that happened to my family or kids. > > > > > > Hi, > > > I am mostly a lurker, but some of you know me. We have a daughter > > who is 14 > > > and we Homeschool her. She does well for the most part, but > > friendships, > > > etc are always an interesting challenge. > > > So, a local specialized school offered a social skills class and we > > > signed up. It was $600 for 10 weeks 2 hours per week. > > > I just got off the phone and am not happy. The lady running the class > > > said because Olivia has DS she would not fit into this class of " high " > > > achievers! She mentioned having kids from expensive private school > > (my words not > > > hers) and they are high achievers but need some social skills. I > > TRIED to > > > persuade her to at least give Olivia a chance and it might be good > > for the > > > class. I told her she was prejudging Olivia only on the basis of her > > diagnosis > > > and nothing else. She was VERY patronizing to me and told me how > > much she > > > 'loved how I advocated for Olivia " but the decision was final. She > > told me > > > that if the school had a social class for teens with DS she would > > let us know. > > > I was ALL over that and asked why seclude our kids, why not include > > them > > > with other typical peers for the interaction. I told her again she was > > > prejudiced, but she said she would HATE to think that and it was > > really based on > > > the high level of the class and how fast paced the games were. The > > games she > > > mentioned we play with Olivia at home-outburst or catchprase and > > charades > > > type games. She seemed to me to think that Olivia would hold back > > the class > > > instead of add to it. > > > Guess I am thinking it best for Olivia not to be with someone who > > does not > > > want her, but is there something I should/could do about this? I am > > open > > > to input from others. > > > thank you > > > joan > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 3, 2010 Report Share Posted March 3, 2010 I agree. we hs too, and public or Christian hs.. it's all the same.. if you aren't like them you raren't included!! Makes me mad! Whatever happened to LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF???? Deb [DownSyndromeInfoExchange] Re: social skills class I know. I do think a simple form from the BBB (being filled out) is in order. Others need to know that she is not teaching social skills, but rather social discrimination. But that is me. I care an awful lot about bad things NOT happening to others that happened to my family or kids.> > >> > > Hi,> > > I am mostly a lurker, but some of you know me. We have a daughter > > who is 14> > > and we Homeschool her. She does well for the most part, but > > friendships,> > > etc are always an interesting challenge.> > > So, a local specialized school offered a social skills class and we> > > signed up. It was $600 for 10 weeks 2 hours per week.> > > I just got off the phone and am not happy. The lady running the class> > > said because Olivia has DS she would not fit into this class of "high"> > > achievers! She mentioned having kids from expensive private school > > (my words not> > > hers) and they are high achievers but need some social skills. I > > TRIED to> > > persuade her to at least give Olivia a chance and it might be good > > for the> > > class. I told her she was prejudging Olivia only on the basis of her > > diagnosis> > > and nothing else. She was VERY patronizing to me and told me how > > much she> > > 'loved how I advocated for Olivia" but the decision was final. She > > told me> > > that if the school had a social class for teens with DS she would > > let us know.> > > I was ALL over that and asked why seclude our kids, why not include > > them> > > with other typical peers for the interaction. I told her again she was> > > prejudiced, but she said she would HATE to think that and it was > > really based on> > > the high level of the class and how fast paced the games were. The > > games she> > > mentioned we play with Olivia at home-outburst or catchprase and > > charades> > > type games. She seemed to me to think that Olivia would hold back > > the class> > > instead of add to it.> > > Guess I am thinking it best for Olivia not to be with someone who > > does not> > > want her, but is there something I should/could do about this? I am > > open> > > to input from others.> > > thank you> > > joan> > >> >> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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