Re: Autism Scholarships - Rural areas, etc.

[Guest guest]

I am hoping that the scholarships will make the schools get training in order to

compete with the private sector. The district has been getting our tax dollars

for years yet I have been forced to take my children elsewhere for an education.

It was bad enough with two above average boys that were not tested and then to

have a child with autism abused by the district was more than I could bear as a

parent and a grandparent.

If the districts lose the money that is alloted for the child, then they will

be more willing to learn and enforce the methodologies for teaching a child with

autism.

We live in Alvin which is actually a rural area because most of the local yokels

are against progress. The district has not spent money to educate the educators

but do have enough to buy a van for the super.

Just my thoughts, I am tired of not being able to implement a full program for

my child because of the money.

[Guest guest]

Hello all,

I just joined this list, so I am new, but I do recognize many of the

names on the list, and I am certainly not new to autism. I have a 19

yr old son with autism. This voucher/autism scholarship question

seems to be bebated on all the lists I subscribe to and I am hearing

the same arguments on both sides over and over. Both sides have pros

and cons and certainly some merit to them.

My personal opinion is this, smaller districts will suffer more

financially if vouchers are passed, certainly rural areas would fall

under that category. Unless there is educational reform and a strong

parent lobby changing the way things are done in public schools,

vouchers will only make things worse, schools will have an out, or an

excuse for not getting appropriate training for their teachers and

for not dealing with children who are more difficult behavior wise in

an appropriate manner. (might say to the parents if you don't like

it, you have a choice, take a voucher). Heck some schools already

give up on the more difficult kids, call parents at the drop of a hat

to come get the child etc....

I highly doubt the Texas legislature that only allows $25.00 a day

habilitation for the most severe kids under HCS will pass anywhere

near $10,000 a year voucher (never mind $20,000), this will make it

possible for parents with means to take advantage of vouchers while

middle class and poorer families will get stuck in programs that have

been gutted due to vouchers. For folks who say the money is a drop

in the bucket, let's take PISD (Plano), which is a fairly big

district and an affluent city, they cut 56 special ed teacher

positions 2 yrs ago due to lack of money, and they added more cuts in

2006, their special ed budget was cut again, so any amount of money

taken from them will make the situation worse than what it is already.

Unfortunately Texas has never been a state that cared about

education, it is not a priority with them, now high school football,

that's a priority. It's taken the legislators over 10 yrs, and they

still have not come up with an equitable funding plan to replace

Robin Hood, and anyone who realisticlly thinks that they will not

botch up the voucher thing is an optimist!

Private schools will have many of the same issues the public schools

have, teachers lacking training, or not quite what you hoped for,

programing that might not be what you want for your child. Remember

many private schools are for profit, once vouchers are in place, many

of these schools will crop up to take advantage of the opportunity,

and they will be out to make money. You will be responsible for

making sure your child's IEP is being followed. Having a

disagreement as to progress will be your word against theirs.

Every special ed parent in every district needs to get together with

other parents, go to your school board and demand changes and reform

for your kids. Contact TEA incessantly and ask for solutions and

their involvement in your school district. Become a thorn in their

side until change takes place. This is the only way we are going to

see change.

Sorry for rambling, but I do understand the frustration of parents,

you could say I have experienced a lot of it myself, but I still did

not give up on public education.

Just as an aside, I do realize that parents on both sides of this

issue want the best for their child, I respect their opinions even if

I don't agree with it. I know your hearts are in the right place

either way!

Nagla

>

> I am hoping that the scholarships will make the schools get

training in order to compete with the private sector. The district

has been getting our tax dollars for years yet I have been forced to

take my children elsewhere for an education. It was bad enough with

two above average boys that were not tested and then to have a child

with autism abused by the district was more than I could bear as a

parent and a grandparent.

> If the districts lose the money that is alloted for the child,

then they will be more willing to learn and enforce the methodologies

for teaching a child with autism.

> We live in Alvin which is actually a rural area because most of the

local yokels are against progress. The district has not spent money

to educate the educators but do have enough to buy a van for the

super.

> Just my thoughts, I am tired of not being able to implement a full

program for my child because of the money.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Nagla,

I can understand some of your viewpoints, but yet I believe that

Autism famililes should never have to fight with their school or

ISD. I think this is fundamentally wrong. Why should we be the

ones who are forced to " demand changes and reform for our kids " at a

school? Is that what an Autism family is supposed to do for a

school that refuses/neglects/overlooks or excuses itself? Is that

our calling to correct a school system? I don't think so at all.

I really can't see the rational of having families in need being

forced to advocate in ARDs. We should be supported and affirmed by

our ISD. As long as this is NOT the case, then I say all families

should do whatever they can without " fighting " . Autism families

should really be focusing on how to cure, support, augment and

develop their child's independence. They should not be forced to

focus on minutia in ARDS and present powerful arguments to win over

ISD officials.

All Autism families deserve support without any fighting. Autism

scholarships as an OPTION can eliminate it for some families. The

fight is gone when each family chooses this OPTION/money to support

their loved one. Hopefully, it will help 500 families in Texas

soon :>)

Love and Peace

Mark

> >

> > I am hoping that the scholarships will make the schools get

> training in order to compete with the private sector. The district

> has been getting our tax dollars for years yet I have been forced

to

> take my children elsewhere for an education. It was bad enough

with

> two above average boys that were not tested and then to have a

child

> with autism abused by the district was more than I could bear as a

> parent and a grandparent.

> > If the districts lose the money that is alloted for the child,

> then they will be more willing to learn and enforce the

methodologies

> for teaching a child with autism.

> > We live in Alvin which is actually a rural area because most of

the

> local yokels are against progress. The district has not spent

money

> to educate the educators but do have enough to buy a van for the

> super.

> > Just my thoughts, I am tired of not being able to implement a

full

> program for my child because of the money.

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I have not chimed in on this topic before (tend to lurk) but there is

one point that seems to be getting lost in the messages from both

sides. I believe that vouchers would most likely be used heavily by

families who have a child that is more severely affected by autism.

Money that will be taken out of a district for such a particular

child as the result of a voucher in many cases may well be less than

that district was spending on that child for an aide, ABA, OT, PT,

speech, etc. It just does not necessarily follow that vouchers will

actually drain funds from districts.

We just moved here from Oklahoma prior to this school year. I have

been pretty delighted by the program developed for my son here. The

educators' attitude and knowledge about autism is far and away better

than what we had in Oklahoma. If vouchers were available, I'm quite

sure we would not take advantage of them - currently. However, I

know what it feels like to believe that a school is not only NOT

helping your child, but is actually harming your child through

ignorance and archaic approaches, if not intent. When you have these

beliefs, your only concern is your child's well-being and mental

health. I used to lay awake worrying about whether my son's anxiety

(in 2nd grade, mind you) would eventually cause him to be suicidal.

Even receiving services for his autism was a distant second on the

priority list behind getting his anxiety lower. If, when I was in

that state of mind, someone had suggested that I focus on the

potential theoretical effects down the road to another child, I would

not have been able to hear. I was only concerned about rescuing my

child, quite literally. And, I think that many parents on both sides

of the voucher issue are feeling the same panic that I used to feel.

These feelings are real and worthy of respect - no matter which side

of the fence you may be on.

JMHO -

> > >

> > > I am hoping that the scholarships will make the schools get

> > training in order to compete with the private sector. The

district

> > has been getting our tax dollars for years yet I have been forced

> to

> > take my children elsewhere for an education. It was bad enough

> with

> > two above average boys that were not tested and then to have a

> child

> > with autism abused by the district was more than I could bear as

a

> > parent and a grandparent.

> > > If the districts lose the money that is alloted for the child,

> > then they will be more willing to learn and enforce the

> methodologies

> > for teaching a child with autism.

> > > We live in Alvin which is actually a rural area because most of

> the

> > local yokels are against progress. The district has not spent

> money

> > to educate the educators but do have enough to buy a van for the

> > super.

> > > Just my thoughts, I am tired of not being able to implement a

> full

> > program for my child because of the money.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

I have not chimed in on this topic before (tend to lurk) but there is

one point that seems to be getting lost in the messages from both

sides. I believe that vouchers would most likely be used heavily by

families who have a child that is more severely affected by autism.

Money that will be taken out of a district for such a particular

child as the result of a voucher in many cases may well be less than

that district was spending on that child for an aide, ABA, OT, PT,

speech, etc. It just does not necessarily follow that vouchers will

actually drain funds from districts.

We just moved here from Oklahoma prior to this school year. I have

been pretty delighted by the program developed for my son here. The

educators' attitude and knowledge about autism is far and away better

than what we had in Oklahoma. If vouchers were available, I'm quite

sure we would not take advantage of them - currently. However, I

know what it feels like to believe that a school is not only NOT

helping your child, but is actually harming your child through

ignorance and archaic approaches, if not intent. When you have these

beliefs, your only concern is your child's well-being and mental

health. I used to lay awake worrying about whether my son's anxiety

(in 2nd grade, mind you) would eventually cause him to be suicidal.

Even receiving services for his autism was a distant second on the

priority list behind getting his anxiety lower. If, when I was in

that state of mind, someone had suggested that I focus on the

potential theoretical effects down the road to another child, I would

not have been able to hear. I was only concerned about rescuing my

child, quite literally. And, I think that many parents on both sides

of the voucher issue are feeling the same panic that I used to feel.

These feelings are real and worthy of respect - no matter which side

of the fence you may be on.

JMHO -

> > >

> > > I am hoping that the scholarships will make the schools get

> > training in order to compete with the private sector. The

district

> > has been getting our tax dollars for years yet I have been forced

> to

> > take my children elsewhere for an education. It was bad enough

> with

> > two above average boys that were not tested and then to have a

> child

> > with autism abused by the district was more than I could bear as

a

> > parent and a grandparent.

> > > If the districts lose the money that is alloted for the child,

> > then they will be more willing to learn and enforce the

> methodologies

> > for teaching a child with autism.

> > > We live in Alvin which is actually a rural area because most of

> the

> > local yokels are against progress. The district has not spent

> money

> > to educate the educators but do have enough to buy a van for the

> > super.

> > > Just my thoughts, I am tired of not being able to implement a

> full

> > program for my child because of the money.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

I agree with Mark.

Why should we have to fight the school district to get our son the

education he deserves? I am determined to provide my son with the

best opportunity I can possibly can and as far as I can tell public

schools are not providing our children with the services they need

to be the best they can be.

Giving my tax dollars to a school district that does not care about

my son's future is something I don't agree with.

I know some school districts provide adequate education but why

should parents that are not lucky enough to be on a district that

cares about the children having to worry about fighting the district

to get their son the education he deserves. When our sons

pediatrician started having concerns bout our son she referred us to

ECI and the therapists that we worked with were wonderful and did

everything they could for our son with the limited time they had to

spend with him but after reading how important early intervention is

we decided to start his intervention and were lucky enough that Dr.

Shahla les and her staff were able to take our son and we are

more than happy with this progress even our parents who saw our

little one this Christmas were impressed on how much he has improved.

If we would have kept our son just with the services that he was

receiving through ECI I am sure he would not be were he is now. This

showed us what a big difference the right program and education can

have on our son. So why should I jeopardize his future by having to

fight the school district to provide him with the proper education;

time is precious and all the studies show how important an effective

early intervention is. I would rather have the option to use my tax

dollars and make our own decision on what is best for our son.

I know the school is supposed to provide our children with adequate

free public education but unfortunately the definition of adequate

is interpreted differently by each state and each school district.

And our great state of Texas ranks 51st in providing services not

only to autistic children but to all people with disabilities. So I

believe it is important to have the option to use our hard earned

money to provide our children with the education they deserve when

our public school system is failing to do so. It is not acceptable

to have our children in a classroom with 10 or 20 other children and

only two teachers who may or may not be qualified to teach a child

with autism because as the research shows children need 2 to 3 years

of one on one intensive early intervention before they can be

incorporated in to a normal classroom setting.

We live in a free country and we deserve the opportunity to make or

own decisions on what is best for our children the stakes are to

high and I am not willing to gamble with my sons future by having to

fight the school district to provide him with the services he needs

to be the best he can be. As parents of children with autism we

already have a full plate and we don't need the added stress of

having to fight the school district to get the services that our

children deserve. If their program is not effective and does not

provide our children with the education they deserve we should have

the option of enrolling our children in a different program and use

our tax dollars to help cover their education.

America is the land of oportunity, so lets give our children the

opportunity to be the best they can be.

Enrique

> > >

> > > I am hoping that the scholarships will make the schools get

> > training in order to compete with the private sector. The

district

> > has been getting our tax dollars for years yet I have been

forced

> to

> > take my children elsewhere for an education. It was bad enough

> with

> > two above average boys that were not tested and then to have a

> child

> > with autism abused by the district was more than I could bear as

a

> > parent and a grandparent.

> > > If the districts lose the money that is alloted for the child,

> > then they will be more willing to learn and enforce the

> methodologies

> > for teaching a child with autism.

> > > We live in Alvin which is actually a rural area because most

of

> the

> > local yokels are against progress. The district has not spent

> money

> > to educate the educators but do have enough to buy a van for the

> > super.

> > > Just my thoughts, I am tired of not being able to implement a

> full

> > program for my child because of the money.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Hi Mark,

Autism families are not the only ones that fight for their kids,

parents of kids with any disability including ADHD have to advocate

and fight for their kids. I think cheerleader moms, choir moms

etc..do some of that as well. Not only in education do we have to

advocate, and it's not just for our kids with autism. I do that for

both of my kids at the doctor's office, and in many other

situations. I think it's more difficult when your kid has autism,

because the needs are overwhelming and misunderstood.

Nothing is ever easy, even when you pay for it out of your own

pocket. I've had to advocate for my son with private speech

therapists and I went to meetings with other parents to advocate for

their child in private therapy situations.

I agree with you we do need support, I guess we have to advocate for

that as well!

Nagla

> > >

> > > I am hoping that the scholarships will make the schools get

> > training in order to compete with the private sector. The

district

> > has been getting our tax dollars for years yet I have been forced

> to

> > take my children elsewhere for an education. It was bad enough

> with

> > two above average boys that were not tested and then to have a

> child

> > with autism abused by the district was more than I could bear as

a

> > parent and a grandparent.

> > > If the districts lose the money that is alloted for the child,

> > then they will be more willing to learn and enforce the

> methodologies

> > for teaching a child with autism.

> > > We live in Alvin which is actually a rural area because most of

> the

> > local yokels are against progress. The district has not spent

> money

> > to educate the educators but do have enough to buy a van for the

> > super.

> > > Just my thoughts, I am tired of not being able to implement a

> full

> > program for my child because of the money.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

,

I agree with you 100%, the feelings of a parent whose child is not

doing well in school are most certainly worthy of respect and

consideration. This is why I say that I understand the motives of

people who support vouchers, you want to make things better for your

child, and there is absolutely no better cause to a parent.

I don't agree that the more severe kids will be the ones to use the

vouchers, I think it will be the other way around, they will the ones

left behind because no private school will accept them, and voucher

money will not cover homeschooling without an additional big

investment from parents, and most parents can't afford that.

Nagla

> > > >

> > > > I am hoping that the scholarships will make the schools get

> > > training in order to compete with the private sector. The

> district

> > > has been getting our tax dollars for years yet I have been

forced

> > to

> > > take my children elsewhere for an education. It was bad enough

> > with

> > > two above average boys that were not tested and then to have a

> > child

> > > with autism abused by the district was more than I could bear

as

> a

> > > parent and a grandparent.

> > > > If the districts lose the money that is alloted for the

child,

> > > then they will be more willing to learn and enforce the

> > methodologies

> > > for teaching a child with autism.

> > > > We live in Alvin which is actually a rural area because most

of

> > the

> > > local yokels are against progress. The district has not spent

> > money

> > > to educate the educators but do have enough to buy a van for

the

> > > super.

> > > > Just my thoughts, I am tired of not being able to implement a

> > full

> > > program for my child because of the money.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

[Guest guest]

Enrique,

Someone on another list pointed out that 67% of tax paying households

in America do not have children in schools, should they be able to

use their tax money on a voucher for their kid to go to college, or

to pay their hospital bills or house morgage that they are struggling

to pay?

I understand your frustration, but what will happen to public

education if we give up on it. What would have happened to public

education if African Americans did not fight for integeration and

inclusion in white schools? I also understand the urgency, this is

why I say advocate now, and don't let anyone off the hook, hold your

teacher, principal, school board accountable, they are after all

public servants paid partly from your tax dollar.

Nagla

> > > >

> > > > I am hoping that the scholarships will make the schools get

> > > training in order to compete with the private sector. The

> district

> > > has been getting our tax dollars for years yet I have been

> forced

> > to

> > > take my children elsewhere for an education. It was bad enough

> > with

> > > two above average boys that were not tested and then to have a

> > child

> > > with autism abused by the district was more than I could bear

as

> a

> > > parent and a grandparent.

> > > > If the districts lose the money that is alloted for the

child,

> > > then they will be more willing to learn and enforce the

> > methodologies

> > > for teaching a child with autism.

> > > > We live in Alvin which is actually a rural area because most

> of

> > the

> > > local yokels are against progress. The district has not spent

> > money

> > > to educate the educators but do have enough to buy a van for

the

> > > super.

> > > > Just my thoughts, I am tired of not being able to implement a

> > full

> > > program for my child because of the money.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

[Guest guest]

Hi Nagla,

Excellent points, but when your doctor does not treat your son well,

you go to another doctor.

When you disagree with a football coach or a cheerleader instructor,

you can also quit the group/team.

You can't quit school. It is a requirement/a passage of time.

The burden is on the ISD. Not one bit should be placed on the

Autism family. Ours is a medical need, certified by doctors and is

evident in how our Autism loved ones function. They can not

function without assistance. If it is not there, you can not

overpower the ISD or principal (nor should you have to). They have

the power and the money.

Heck, the moment you start emphasizing that your school is NOT doing

enough, what do you think happens. It happens everywhere in this

great state. Give me a principal with a little stubborness and lack

of understanding/compassion and watch out. One can barely deal with

personalities, let alone providing a supportive, functioning system

for Autism families.

The burden is absolutely in my humble opinion on the ISDs and not

our families.

If you happen to be in a school where they are doing all the right

things for your child that is wonderful, but many of us can't get

past the front doors of our school. It is an environment where

parents must be on the outside looking in ........ we've all been

there.

Peace and Happiness

Mark

> > > >

> > > > I am hoping that the scholarships will make the schools get

> > > training in order to compete with the private sector. The

> district

> > > has been getting our tax dollars for years yet I have been

forced

> > to

> > > take my children elsewhere for an education. It was bad enough

> > with

> > > two above average boys that were not tested and then to have

a

> > child

> > > with autism abused by the district was more than I could bear

as

> a

> > > parent and a grandparent.

> > > > If the districts lose the money that is alloted for the

child,

> > > then they will be more willing to learn and enforce the

> > methodologies

> > > for teaching a child with autism.

> > > > We live in Alvin which is actually a rural area because most

of

> > the

> > > local yokels are against progress. The district has not spent

> > money

> > > to educate the educators but do have enough to buy a van for

the

> > > super.

> > > > Just my thoughts, I am tired of not being able to implement

a

> > full

> > > program for my child because of the money.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

[Guest guest]

,

I am sorry to hear your son was abused at school, that is horrible.

I am glad to hear your son is in a suitable private program and will

be employed as an adult.

I wish both of you the best always.

Nagla

>

> There are places that accept the more severe children and mine will

be employable according to one professional as he has been in a

program for 5 years now and is 14. I do not agree as I don't believe

that you have done your homework on this and trust me I have made a

lot of mistakes along the way and trusting the district to do

something that never happened for 3 years, and I worked closely with

them. He was abused so severly that he reverts to all of the

undesirable behaviors when he returns to that sitting. I still think

that our money should be able to pay for part of his schooling. He

was considered moderate to severe when we started.

> _._,___

>

>

[Guest guest]

I absolutely agree Mark. Autism families have a 90% divorce rate. I

hate it that our already stressed out families have to spend years of

fighting with their child's school. Some people are strong enough

to handle all that stress of fighting with the school system and

manage autism related issues but I am not and never will be that

strong. How did we get to this place? It is not about rules and

regulations because IDEA is about 300 pages long and our state rules

and regulations go on for pages and pages and yet my child did not

make it in public school? He never even mastered one goal in two

years. Funny thing, I absolutely love my school district. They are

doing an outstanding job with my 12 year old. Throw in my very

difficult to manage child with autism and it all goes downhill...

School finance... how crazy is that mess??? I remember hearing

someone speak about school finance and they said only 4 people in

Texas truly understand how it all works. I am not one of them. What

I do know is that there is a school district in my area that did not

spend 2 million of their special education dollars, Texas returned

the most (out of the 50 states) unused federal dollars back to the

federal treasury, Texas has 1 administrator to every 1 teacher, Texas

is the only state that does not have or has not applied for a special

interest grant...there are enough questions about how our schools

spend our money that the Governor submitted an executive order to

every school district in TX to see how their money is being spent.

Some believe that money for failing districts will solve their

problems. Unfortunately, when the only offered answer is “we need

more money”, folks generally have lost interest in solving their

problems.

Does anybody else find it funny that what we are at odds about is

really just theory and guess work? We don't know the answers because

a program like autism scholarships is not even an option in TX. It

is strange to me when I hear, that the more severely disabled

children will not be served, or my child will be hurt, or I can't use

a scholarship so no one else should have one, or folks are optimistic

to think TX can pull this off... Jeepers. Did I miss something

here? Did someone in TX actually take part in a scholarship program

for children with autism and it was an absolute disaster? What I do

know is that we spend an enormous amount of money on attorneys

fighting parents for what parents believe is appropriate for their

child. In one year TX spent on two different families who had a

child with autism, a half a million dollars on just school attorney's

fees... Does that make anybody else ill? Because we are

speculating on so much, maybe an autism scholarship program will

create immediate change in a school system without all the expensive

fighting? Maybe all a district needs is for one family to use a

scholarship and the urgency to change is immediate without the rest

of the parents fighting and with those school attorney's sitting back

waiting for their phone to NEVER ring. - big smiles! Right now the

districts can say 'our way or the highway', families leave and then

the status quo remains or families stay and fight and money is spent

on a school attorney not the teacher or the students where it should

be spent.

I am sorry for the once again lengthy email. I am just so tired of

the complaining and fighting with everything based on the theory and

with the idea that Texas can't pull it off... Gosh, would it be so

horrible if TX did pull it off and it was a blessing for families?

Again, we will never know if it is not tried.

Liz

tscillian@...

[Guest guest]

Yes that's true but everybody living in a community pays school taxes

whether you have a child in school or not.

Nagla

> > > > >

> > > > > I am hoping that the scholarships will make the schools

get

> > > > training in order to compete with the private sector. The

> > district

> > > > has been getting our tax dollars for years yet I have been

> > forced

> > > to

> > > > take my children elsewhere for an education. It was bad

enough

> > > with

> > > > two above average boys that were not tested and then to

have a

> > > child

> > > > with autism abused by the district was more than I could

bear

> as

> > a

> > > > parent and a grandparent.

> > > > > If the districts lose the money that is alloted for the

> child,

> > > > then they will be more willing to learn and enforce the

> > > methodologies

> > > > for teaching a child with autism.

> > > > > We live in Alvin which is actually a rural area because

most

> > of

> > > the

> > > > local yokels are against progress. The district has not

spent

> > > money

> > > > to educate the educators but do have enough to buy a van

for

> the

> > > > super.

> > > > > Just my thoughts, I am tired of not being able to

implement a

> > > full

> > > > program for my child because of the money.

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >