Mother says school not meeting daughter's special needs

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Mother says school not meeting daughter's special needs

video http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=154459 & catid=250

Tampa, Florida - At 18 and with Rett Syndrome, Chelsea Fabiszak's family says

she's beaten the odds lived a longer and fuller life than expected, even

graduated from high school. And now her family is fighting for the education

they say she deserves.

" My daughter has every right to learn. She has every right to be educated,

educate her. I guarantee she will inspire and motivate anyone that works with

her, " says Fabiszak.

The Fabiszaks are a military family who relocated in June to Tampa from

California. Chelsea enrolled at Gaither High School for continued education.

Fabiszak says she notified the district of her daughter's special needs in

February and gave the school Chelsea's detailed Individualized Education Program

(IEP) from California. Fabiszak says the school district has ignored the IEP at

her daughter's expense.

Rett Syndrome is a developmental disorder that targets mostly girls. Chelsea's

mother says her daughter was diagnosed when she was 8 years old.

" Chelsea is wheelchair bound, non-verbal and has seizures on a daily basis, "

explains Fabiszak. The mother of five says since the family's move and her

daughter's enrollment at Gaither High School, her condition has worsened. " Hard

for her to grasp objects, hold on to objects her appetite and ability to eat has

regressed, " explains Chelsea's mother.

" It seems to me there hasn't been any progress, there has been regression, " adds

Kris Millrose, USF social worker and the family's advocate.

Chelsea's mother says the district has met part of her daughter's IEP. She

spends half the school day in classes with non-disabled students studying music,

piano and art. But it's the special education part that Fabiszak says is not

comparable to California's as required by law under an interstate agreement.

Fabiszak says in California Chelsea's IEP indicated 27 goals for her daughter;

Hillsborough's IEP has four goals.

The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children states,

" A receiving state must initially provide comparable services to a student with

disabilities based on his or her current individualized education program (IEP)

in compliance with the requirements of the individuals with Disabilities

Education Act. "

Fabiszak says the school is not properly equipped, " They need the training the

supportive services they need the right equipment in order for her to make

success within the school. "

Fabiszak says just two weeks ago after months of pleading with the school

district, her daughter's school received some of the equipment she needs. But

Fabiszak says Chelsea's nurse's aide is not trained to handle a student with

Rett Syndrome and she adds her daughter is not receiving the one-on-one

instruction she requires. School district officials say they are working on it.

Steve Hegarty, spokesperson for Hillsborough Schools says Chelsea is at the best

school in the district for her special needs, " It has a tremendous reputation

for working with families and doing the right thing for kids. "

Hegarty says the district is trying to do what's best for Chelsea. " When you

come in with an IEP from another state or county we will try to honor that. But

we are going to do our own IEP sit down with the resources we have decide what's

best for that child not all districts have the same programs, " says Hegarty.

Fabiszak says each day that passes is priceless, " While they're trying to work

through it and work on it my daughter is slipping away. That's what I see. "