Oh I am living in a night mare with the school

December 13, 2004

Well, it wasn't a good day in the life of our son. The IEP team met

today and will not change methodology in our son's IEP for speech. They

refused him to use his speaking device in the preschool setting. They wanted to

do a trail for 6 weeks and see if there were any problems with it then revisit

it and if problems happen tell me he couldn't use it in the class room. I

said NO WAY he is going to use it. This is with a lawyer in the room. I am so

upset that I am dealing with a school system that isn't doing there job and my

little boy is losing out. I am so sad Help! We are going to have to go to

hearing and I am rejecting the whole IEP. I have filed a complaint with the

cilvil rights office in Boston for discrimination. Do you really think that

they

would take away a wheel chair from a student! I am crying too much to cont. to

write any more. Any ideas or thoughts? Trisha anyone!

December 14, 2004

-Clare,

I am so sorry you are going through this. Please know that if you continue

as you have, you will prevail and 3 years from now you will reaping the

exponential dividends.

From what you are saying, it sounds like they are willing to do a 6 week

trial. Isn't that what you wanted? Or are you saying that the 6 week trial

is just a token thing and the device would just sit and collect dust in the

classroom for 6 weeks and they could *say* that they " tried " it.

What about going to mediation before going to a hearing?

I know you are a super savvy about legal as it applies to sped but have you

read " From emotions to advocacy " ? There is a great section about the

psychology behind winning a hearing. Basically you want to come off as nice

and willing to " work " with the school as possible. There are several

suggestions that are made as to how to do this:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1892320088/speechvilleex-20/10

2-6509169-2304949

Also, I bought (but haven't yet viewed) the DVD " Surviving Due Process " by

Pete and Pam but I have heard it is pretty good:

http://www.wrightslaw.com/store/dpdvd.html

I am so sorry to hear this. I still don't understand why a school wouldn't

implement something that wouldn't cost them money to use. If I remember

correctly you had an outside evaluator indicate that your son should use

this in the classroom. Plus you have had doctors, etc support this also.

Doesn't the school realize that your son needs to develop language, despite

his speech impairment? How is supposed to do this while he is still

developing his speech ability? For some kids sign is best, for others PECS

is best and for some augmentative communication is best. Then there are

some that use a combination of these. This program is supposed to be based

on individual needs NOT WHAT FITS THE SCHOOL'S NEEDS.

The other thing that bothers me is that your son's device should really be

with him as much as possible. If he gets severely hurt and has to go to the

ER and explain what hurts, etc. How can do that without his " voice " . It is a

safety issue.

You have probably already given the school tons of info but in case you did

not see this one:

Journal: Disability and rehabilitation 2001 Sep 20;23(14):623-34

The use of a digital voice output device to facilitate language development

in a child with developmental apraxia of speech: a case study.

Bornman J, Alant E, Meiring E.

Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication, University of

Pretoria, South Africa.

PURPOSE: The study aimed at describing the language and communication

abilities of a child diagnosed with Developmental Apraxia of Speech (DAS),

who used a Macaw Digital voice output device...

PMID: 11697460 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.speechville.com/augmentative-communication/bornman.html

How are things going with using the device at home?

Let yourself cry for a while. Last year with that whole restraint nightmare

we had, sometimes I just had to do that. Then I was ready to brush myself

off and kick some #*(!+ & $.

Tricia Morin

North Carolina

Clare wrote:

Well, it wasn't a good day in the life of our son. The IEP team

met

today and will not change methodology in our son's IEP for speech. They

refused him to use his speaking device in the preschool setting. They

wanted to

do a trail for 6 weeks and see if there were any problems with it then

revisit

it and if problems happen tell me he couldn't use it in the class room. I

said NO WAY he is going to use it. This is with a lawyer in the room. I am

so

upset that I am dealing with a school system that isn't doing there job

and my

little boy is losing out. I am so sad Help! We are going to have to go

to

hearing and I am rejecting the whole IEP. I have filed a complaint with

the

cilvil rights office in Boston for discrimination. Do you really think

that they

would take away a wheel chair from a student! I am crying too much to

cont. to

write any more. Any ideas or thoughts? Trisha anyone!

December 14, 2004

I'm so sorry to hear this. what were their reasons for not letting him use the

device. I am shocked at the end result and so sorry this is happening to you.

you said lawyer in the room, was it the school's lawyer? what is the big deal

about the device in the school???!!!!!

I wish I knew a laywer to do some pro bono work for you

lots of love going out your way

chris

mcdalzell@... wrote: