Re: Please help a member in distress!

[Guest guest]

Hi --

Additionally I would have Ms. contact each of her legislative

representatives. We do have a conservative legislature. Everyone paints

good services as a 'government services' picture, but Ms. is

suffering professional as a direct result of BAD SCHOOL SERVICES. She works

hard, is contributing to the economy, but because the state funded school

system is so backwards is providing federally mandated services, she has

been fired in the attempt to secure her son's rights. People who have the

luxury to chose where they live, i.e. educated professionals in desirable

parts of the economy are NOT going to choose to come to a state where they

risk being fired in the fight to secure their children's rights. That is

going to have serious long term impact that legislators need to be aware of.

I suggest people, when they talk to their legislators, mention the people

that they know of who have moved out of state or have chosen not to move to

Texas rather than face the educational backwater of special ed services.

S.

Please help a member in distress!

Dear Texas Autism Advocacy members:

One of our members, , has been fighting a courageous battle to

hold her school district accountable for ARDing her son out of special ed

entirely without following any of the required procedures, and denying him

all services for a year and a half and insufficient services for the past

school year when they finally provided services to him as a learning

disabled student student. An IEE and the school's FIE agreed last May that

he is high functioning autistic and entitled to 150 minutes per week of

resource support (he'd been receiving 170 minutes per week before his

transfer into the district), and related services.

The school actually filed on her for revoking consent for them to do further

assessment and we counterclaimed for denial of FAPE. We had a two-day

hearing last week that went well, despite having a hearing officer who's

considered one of the most pro-school in our state. Unfortunately, on

Friday, Ms. was fired from her job for taking off for the hearing.

When she was hired last spring, the manager was apprised of the pending

action and assured her they could accommodate it, but they've have a

revolving door of managers and the incumbent wouldn't honor that

representation.

If you would like to help get the attention of corporate America and this

sad statement on how parents of the handicapped are often treated, please

send a note asking her corporate employer to reconsider her termination from

the SCI Dallas Campus. The address is:

Kaplan, Inc.

888 Seventh Avenue

N.Y., N.Y. 10106

Thanks for trying to help!-- Heiligenthal

[Guest guest]

That is such a heartbreaking story- one I hear repeated all too often. Can you

give an email address rather than a conventional address for us to send letters?

thanks,

Please help a member in distress!

Dear Texas Autism Advocacy members:

One of our members, , has been fighting a courageous battle to

hold her school district accountable for ARDing her son out of special ed

entirely without following any of the required procedures, and denying him all

services for a year and a half and insufficient services for the past school

year when they finally provided services to him as a learning disabled student

student. An IEE and the school's FIE agreed last May that he is high functioning

autistic and entitled to 150 minutes per week of resource support (he'd been

receiving 170 minutes per week before his transfer into the district), and

related services.

The school actually filed on her for revoking consent for them to do further

assessment and we counterclaimed for denial of FAPE. We had a two-day hearing

last week that went well, despite having a hearing officer who's considered one

of the most pro-school in our state. Unfortunately, on Friday, Ms. was

fired from her job for taking off for the hearing. When she was hired last

spring, the manager was apprised of the pending action and assured her they

could accommodate it, but they've have a revolving door of managers and the

incumbent wouldn't honor that representation.

If you would like to help get the attention of corporate America and this sad

statement on how parents of the handicapped are often treated, please send a

note asking her corporate employer to reconsider her termination from the SCI

Dallas Campus. The address is:

Kaplan, Inc.

888 Seventh Avenue

N.Y., N.Y. 10106

Thanks for trying to help!-- Heiligenthal

[Guest guest]

If she is unable to get her position back, or does not want to just let

this drop without response, she might want to consult an attorney that

practices employment law to see if there are any non-retaliation or

non-interference provisions of the ADA, ERISA, etc., that may apply. It

may depend on what type of leave she was taking and how informed the

employer was regarding the circumstances of the leave.

[Guest guest]

I would love too;)

Also I hope you all have some statistical information from the infromation you

have on his success in school. Simply gathering the information and averaging

how well he did compared to would work. Numbers are great and defining;)

Candis

http://www.inclusioncommunitytrainingcenter.org

Candis Firchau,MA,TLPC

Director

Inclusion Community Training Center

Advocacy, Behavioral Interventions, Counseling

and Training

This email is intended exclusively for the person to whom it was addressed. This

email is confidential. If you have received this email by error, please

disregard it.

[Guest guest]

Is there anything else we can do to help? Donating to a legal fund? Finding

her a job?

~Anne~

>

>Reply-To: Texas-Autism-Advocacy

>To: <Texas-Autism-Advocacy >

>Subject: Re: Please help a member in distress!

>Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 12:46:52 -0500

>

>That is such a heartbreaking story- one I hear repeated all too often. Can

>you give an email address rather than a conventional address for us to send

>letters? thanks,

> Please help a member in distress!

>

>

> Dear Texas Autism Advocacy members:

>

> One of our members, , has been fighting a courageous

>battle to hold her school district accountable for ARDing her son out of

>special ed entirely without following any of the required procedures, and

>denying him all services for a year and a half and insufficient services

>for the past school year when they finally provided services to him as a

>learning disabled student student. An IEE and the school's FIE agreed last

>May that he is high functioning autistic and entitled to 150 minutes per

>week of resource support (he'd been receiving 170 minutes per week before

>his transfer into the district), and related services.

>

> The school actually filed on her for revoking consent for them to do

>further assessment and we counterclaimed for denial of FAPE. We had a

>two-day hearing last week that went well, despite having a hearing officer

>who's considered one of the most pro-school in our state. Unfortunately, on

>Friday, Ms. was fired from her job for taking off for the hearing.

>When she was hired last spring, the manager was apprised of the pending

>action and assured her they could accommodate it, but they've have a

>revolving door of managers and the incumbent wouldn't honor that

>representation.

>

> If you would like to help get the attention of corporate America and

>this sad statement on how parents of the handicapped are often treated,

>please send a note asking her corporate employer to reconsider her

>termination from the SCI Dallas Campus. The address is:

>

> Kaplan, Inc.

> 888 Seventh Avenue

> N.Y., N.Y. 10106

>

> Thanks for trying to help!-- Heiligenthal

>

>

[Guest guest]

Im so sorry and when on this earth will people finally get a clue!!!

My blessings are with her and her family during this difficult time.

Debby McCray and family

Please help a member in distress!

>

>

> Dear Texas Autism Advocacy members:

>

> One of our members, , has been fighting a courageous

>battle to hold her school district accountable for ARDing her son out of

>special ed entirely without following any of the required procedures, and

>denying him all services for a year and a half and insufficient services

>for the past school year when they finally provided services to him as a

>learning disabled student student. An IEE and the school's FIE agreed last

>May that he is high functioning autistic and entitled to 150 minutes per

>week of resource support (he'd been receiving 170 minutes per week before

>his transfer into the district), and related services.

>

> The school actually filed on her for revoking consent for them to do

>further assessment and we counterclaimed for denial of FAPE. We had a

>two-day hearing last week that went well, despite having a hearing officer

>who's considered one of the most pro-school in our state. Unfortunately, on

>Friday, Ms. was fired from her job for taking off for the hearing.

>When she was hired last spring, the manager was apprised of the pending

>action and assured her they could accommodate it, but they've have a

>revolving door of managers and the incumbent wouldn't honor that

>representation.

>

> If you would like to help get the attention of corporate America and

>this sad statement on how parents of the handicapped are often treated,

>please send a note asking her corporate employer to reconsider her

>termination from the SCI Dallas Campus. The address is:

>

> Kaplan, Inc.

> 888 Seventh Avenue

> N.Y., N.Y. 10106

>

> Thanks for trying to help!-- Heiligenthal

>

>

[Guest guest]

I'm mailing the following letter to both the NY and Dallas locations and I also

sent it to media relations (the only email address I could find on their

website) requesting they forward it to human resources.

Perhaps if enough people reach out they will take notice and change this

horrible situation. I hope this is what would like us to do.

August 30, 2006

Kaplan, Inc.

10500 Steppington St., Suite 150

Dallas, TX 75230

To Whom It May Concern:

Re:

I am writing on behalf of your former employee , who worked in

the SCI Dallas Campus of Kaplan, Inc. I understand that last Friday, Ms.

was fired from her job for taking off for a school district hearing so that she

could advocate for her son with autism.

As you may or may not know, autism is a challenging lifelong disability. The

incidence of autism has increased dramatically over the last decade and 1 in 166

children suffer from autism spectrum disorders today, according to the CDC.

Children with autism are often bright and appear to be normal in many ways,

yet suffer from speech and communication delays, sensory dysfunction, lack

social skills and certain behavioral issues. I am a parent of a boy on the

autism spectrum. While he is considered high functioning and can keep up with

his classmates academically, he needs many accommodations to function in social

situations and in society.

Families with children with autism need to adjust many aspects of their lives

to accommodate their children. And while they cannot always participate in

after school activities and social functions to the extent that their typical

peers do, a child with autism needs as much exposure to their peers to model

appropriate behavior.

In addition, they need many forms of therapy throughout their lives because

they learn everything literally rather than by osmosis. Most children learn

appropriate behavior by simply observing those around them and conforming. The

cost of therapy and special services can range from $10,000 to $100,000 per year

for families of children with autism.

Prior to staying home with my children, I enjoyed a successful 20 year career

in Manhattan. I understand the demands of a high pressure job and the

professionalism we all need to exhibit. The high incidence of autism is

creating a dreadful situation in our society as the education system and

government is faced with providing support services for children and adults with

disabilities of all kinds.

Studies have proven that the sooner we provide intervention for children with

autism and other developmental delays, the more likely they will be able to

reach their full potential. Every parent’s goal is to provide the most

opportunity for their child to succeed in life. Parents of children with autism

need to sacrifice financially as well as in the way they spend their leisure

time to give their child a safe environment for learning in every aspect of

their day throughout their lives.

As an educational testing organization, I’m sure you can appreciate the

importance of educating our children. Ms was simply supporting the

special needs of her child so he could receive an appropriate education and the

ability to continue to receive the special accommodations that will help him

succeed in life.

I am writing to ask you to consider reinstating Ms. in her position at

the SCI Dallas Campus of Kaplan, Inc. Please consider that her life is

challenged in many ways supporting her child with autism. She needs this job

and would be grateful for the opportunity to return to work as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Maggie Everts

Debby McCray wrote:

Im so sorry and when on this earth will people finally get a clue!!!

My blessings are with her and her family during this difficult time.

Debby McCray and family

Please help a member in distress!

>

>

> Dear Texas Autism Advocacy members:

>

> One of our members, , has been fighting a courageous

>battle to hold her school district accountable for ARDing her son out of

>special ed entirely without following any of the required procedures, and

>denying him all services for a year and a half and insufficient services

>for the past school year when they finally provided services to him as a

>learning disabled student student. An IEE and the school's FIE agreed last

>May that he is high functioning autistic and entitled to 150 minutes per

>week of resource support (he'd been receiving 170 minutes per week before

>his transfer into the district), and related services.

>

> The school actually filed on her for revoking consent for them to do

>further assessment and we counterclaimed for denial of FAPE. We had a

>two-day hearing last week that went well, despite having a hearing officer

>who's considered one of the most pro-school in our state. Unfortunately, on

>Friday, Ms. was fired from her job for taking off for the hearing.

>When she was hired last spring, the manager was apprised of the pending

>action and assured her they could accommodate it, but they've have a

>revolving door of managers and the incumbent wouldn't honor that

>representation.

>

> If you would like to help get the attention of corporate America and

>this sad statement on how parents of the handicapped are often treated,

>please send a note asking her corporate employer to reconsider her

>termination from the SCI Dallas Campus. The address is:

>

> Kaplan, Inc.

> 888 Seventh Avenue

> N.Y., N.Y. 10106

>

> Thanks for trying to help!-- Heiligenthal

>

>

[Guest guest]

That is a great letter, Maggie!

[Guest guest]

I empathize with and was thinking we should modify it and include more

stats to send to legislature to increase funding for education and treatment (we

just moved to TX and got on the waiting list for services - 7 years is a

completly unacceptable wait period) as well as insurance reimbursement. We have

a ridiculous limit of $2000 for speech therapy and both my boys need speech at

least once a week privately in addition to what is provided in school. $2000

doesn't even come close.

If anyone has a list of appropriate contacts in Texas or at the NIH and CDC,

please post them.

Maggie

Bill and Michele McCants wrote:

That is a great letter, Maggie!

[Guest guest]

It is a beautiful letter, Maggie!

>

> That is a great letter, Maggie!

>

>

[Guest guest]

Can someone give me an e-mail address for Feller Heiligenthal?

Debby McCray wrote: Im so sorry and when on this earth

will people finally get a clue!!!

My blessings are with her and her family during this difficult time.

Debby McCray and family

Please help a member in distress!

>

>

> Dear Texas Autism Advocacy members:

>

> One of our members, , has been fighting a courageous

>battle to hold her school district accountable for ARDing her son out of

>special ed entirely without following any of the required procedures, and

>denying him all services for a year and a half and insufficient services

>for the past school year when they finally provided services to him as a

>learning disabled student student. An IEE and the school's FIE agreed last

>May that he is high functioning autistic and entitled to 150 minutes per

>week of resource support (he'd been receiving 170 minutes per week before

>his transfer into the district), and related services.

>

> The school actually filed on her for revoking consent for them to do

>further assessment and we counterclaimed for denial of FAPE. We had a

>two-day hearing last week that went well, despite having a hearing officer

>who's considered one of the most pro-school in our state. Unfortunately, on

>Friday, Ms. was fired from her job for taking off for the hearing.

>When she was hired last spring, the manager was apprised of the pending

>action and assured her they could accommodate it, but they've have a

>revolving door of managers and the incumbent wouldn't honor that

>representation.

>

> If you would like to help get the attention of corporate America and

>this sad statement on how parents of the handicapped are often treated,

>please send a note asking her corporate employer to reconsider her

>termination from the SCI Dallas Campus. The address is:

>

> Kaplan, Inc.

> 888 Seventh Avenue

> N.Y., N.Y. 10106

>

> Thanks for trying to help!-- Heiligenthal

>

>

[Guest guest]

She's listed on the COPAA pages www.copaa.org

SUSAN FELLER HEILIGENTHAL (Attorney)

STUDENT ATTORNEY

6805 CYPRESS POINT NORTH

AUSTIN, TX 78746

Phone:

Email: studentslawyer@...

Tonya

Re: Please help a member in distress!

Can someone give me an e-mail address for Feller Heiligenthal?