Re: Alphasmart

[Guest guest]

Please forgive me if this comes across strong. I teach in public

school. My son has AS. For any public school to say that they cannot afford

something for a student with disabilities is WRONG. It is their responsibility

to find the funds. With NO Child Left Behind, and all of the other funding that

they get, they can afford it. They just didn't want to do the paperwork. Sorry

if this seems like an angry note. It really is more of frustration towards

public school systems and the way they weasel out of problems. According to IDEA

any child with a disability has the right to the theings needed for education. I

hate to say this, but I am determined to start to get my school board to sit up,

listen, and for teachers, my peers, to do a better job serving and educating all

students. Thanks for reading

Glenna

He is in public school.

Shona

Re: ( ) Alphasmart

is your child in public or private school?

Glenna

kneeleee@... wrote:

In a message dated 3/14/2006 11:24:45 AM Eastern Standard Time,

shonap@... writes:

No, it sure isn't wrong for you to feel that way. We purchased an

AlphaSmart

for our 12 year old son Curtis because the school couldn't afford it. Since

the beginning of the year we've spent over $4000 on technology for Curtis

to

have at school to make it easier for him, and it has all come out of our

pocket. Same situation here, there are other schools in our district that

seem to have AlphaSmarts everywhere, lots of kids have them because the

schools have purchased lots of them. And our school can't afford it, so

they

say anyway. I find that hard to believe as they have had enough money for

extra fieldtrips, a new fridge, new dishes for the staffroom etc., but not

for the kids. Maybe I'm just bitter.

Shona

Bitter maybe but definitely being used and abused by your school system.

They can't deny a child with a disability needed accommodation and

equipement

due to " no money. " Plus, they do get specific money for having children

with

disabilities in school. Granted, it's not funded 100% but there is no

excuse

for them to say " no money. " Next time, I would request that they put it in

writing and keep records of this nonsense.

Roxanna ô¿ö

Autism Happens

[Guest guest]

You came across just fine Glenna! That's how I feel too. Another thing I

don't quite understand is that the school is given a certain amount of money

per special needs child, well, I don't see where Curtis is getting the help

he needs. The TA says " I have 5 of them, it's not possible for me to give

any more time to Curtis " . So................ homework doesn't come home

because he doesn't have the organization skills to have it together, some of

his work is strewn across the hallway outside the classroom because he

didn't know it was there and noone told him, his desk is a mess because

noone will bother to help him clean it up, although they are always on his

back to keep it clean. Makes no sense to me. He goes to junior high next

year and they feel that he will cope with even less TA help.

Uhhhh................excuse me!

Shona

Re: ( ) Alphasmart

is your child in public or private school?

Glenna

kneeleee@... wrote:

In a message dated 3/14/2006 11:24:45 AM Eastern Standard Time,

shonap@... writes:

No, it sure isn't wrong for you to feel that way. We purchased an

AlphaSmart

for our 12 year old son Curtis because the school couldn't afford it. Since

the beginning of the year we've spent over $4000 on technology for Curtis

to

have at school to make it easier for him, and it has all come out of our

pocket. Same situation here, there are other schools in our district that

seem to have AlphaSmarts everywhere, lots of kids have them because the

schools have purchased lots of them. And our school can't afford it, so

they

say anyway. I find that hard to believe as they have had enough money for

extra fieldtrips, a new fridge, new dishes for the staffroom etc., but not

for the kids. Maybe I'm just bitter.

Shona

Bitter maybe but definitely being used and abused by your school system.

They can't deny a child with a disability needed accommodation and

equipement

due to " no money. " Plus, they do get specific money for having children

with

disabilities in school. Granted, it's not funded 100% but there is no

excuse

for them to say " no money. " Next time, I would request that they put it in

writing and keep records of this nonsense.

Roxanna ô¿ö

Autism Happens

[Guest guest]

WELL SAID GLENNA!! We need more people like you in our public school

system!!!THANK YOU!!!!

-- Re: ( ) Alphasmart

Please forgive me if this comes across strong. I teach in public

school. My son has AS. For any public school to say that they cannot

afford

something for a student with disabilities is WRONG. It is their

responsibility to find the funds. With NO Child Left Behind, and all of the

other funding that they get, they can afford it. They just didn't want to do

the paperwork. Sorry if this seems like an angry note. It really is more

of frustration towards public school systems and the way they weasel out of

problems. According to IDEA any child with a disability has the right to the

theings needed for education. I hate to say this, but I am determined to

start to get my school board to sit up, listen, and for teachers, my peers,

to do a better job serving and educating all students. Thanks for reading

Glenna

He is in public school.

Shona

Re: ( ) Alphasmart

is your child in public or private school?

Glenna

kneeleee@... wrote:

In a message dated 3/14/2006 11:24:45 AM Eastern Standard Time,

shonap@... writes:

No, it sure isn't wrong for you to feel that way. We purchased an

AlphaSmart

for our 12 year old son Curtis because the school couldn't afford it. Since

the beginning of the year we've spent over $4000 on technology for Curtis

to

have at school to make it easier for him, and it has all come out of our

pocket. Same situation here, there are other schools in our district that

seem to have AlphaSmarts everywhere, lots of kids have them because the

schools have purchased lots of them. And our school can't afford it, so

they

say anyway. I find that hard to believe as they have had enough money for

extra fieldtrips, a new fridge, new dishes for the staffroom etc., but not

for the kids. Maybe I'm just bitter.

Shona

Bitter maybe but definitely being used and abused by your school system.

They can't deny a child with a disability needed accommodation and

equipement

due to " no money. " Plus, they do get specific money for having children

with

disabilities in school. Granted, it's not funded 100% but there is no

excuse

for them to say " no money. " Next time, I would request that they put it in

writing and keep records of this nonsense.

Roxanna ô¿ö

Autism Happens

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/16/2006 10:43:29 AM Eastern Standard Time,

shonap@... writes:

You came across just fine Glenna! That's how I feel too. Another thing I

don't quite understand is that the school is given a certain amount of money

per special needs child, well, I don't see where Curtis is getting the help

he needs. The TA says " I have 5 of them, it's not possible for me to give

any more time to Curtis " . So................ homework doesn't come home

because he doesn't have the organization skills to have it together, some of

his work is strewn across the hallway outside the classroom because he

didn't know it was there and noone told him, his desk is a mess because

noone will bother to help him clean it up, although they are always on his

back to keep it clean. Makes no sense to me. He goes to junior high next

year and they feel that he will cope with even less TA help.

Uhhhh................excuse me!

Shona

Well, of course he won't. Just looking at the " data " from how he is

functioning now, you should insist that they write organizational goals with

appropriate supports into his IEP. Middle school is really hard - it hit our

ds

like a brick wall. I didn't think we would make it through 6th grade at all.

If he had to do all his own organization on top of that, we would have quit

right off the bat. You might look up some information on executive function or

executive dysfunction. Google that and you can find some data to help

support the need and also, to frame it correctly so they can't make it seem he

is

just lazy.

In addition, who cares how many kids the TA has. If he has help written in

his IEP, then he needs to get that help. If it's not in there, call a

meeting to get it in there. Push and push and then shove. I did this in 5th

grade

with my ds finally and took the load off of him to figure out all the

paperwork and 'be responsible " . They did sure grouch about having to do it and

how

they had X number of other kids to take care of. But I stood firm and let

them know that this meeting was to discuss my ds's unique and individualized

needs - not the needs of the other kids or staff. If they want help

requesting another aide or something, offer to meet with the higher ups to

request it.

But don't let them off on this one.

Roxanna ô¿ô

Don't take life too seriously; No one gets out alive.

[Guest guest]

Only 5 kids, I'm sorry, but mabye if she was more organized, is there not an

aide in there with her or in the school. This is what I am fighting with for

Micah, my 12 yr old.

I have 25 in my classes and of those i probably have 30-40% that are ADHD or

have other learning and emotional disabilities. It is my responsibility to

accomidate them and make adjustments to them, not them to me.

Shona Eldering <shonap@...> wrote:

You came across just fine Glenna! That's how I feel too. Another thing I

don't quite understand is that the school is given a certain amount of money

per special needs child, well, I don't see where Curtis is getting the help

he needs. The TA says " I have 5 of them, it's not possible for me to give

any more time to Curtis " . So................ homework doesn't come home

because he doesn't have the organization skills to have it together, some of

his work is strewn across the hallway outside the classroom because he

didn't know it was there and noone told him, his desk is a mess because

noone will bother to help him clean it up, although they are always on his

back to keep it clean. Makes no sense to me. He goes to junior high next

year and they feel that he will cope with even less TA help.

Uhhhh................excuse me!

Shona

Re: ( ) Alphasmart

is your child in public or private school?

Glenna

kneeleee@... wrote:

In a message dated 3/14/2006 11:24:45 AM Eastern Standard Time,

shonap@... writes:

No, it sure isn't wrong for you to feel that way. We purchased an

AlphaSmart

for our 12 year old son Curtis because the school couldn't afford it. Since

the beginning of the year we've spent over $4000 on technology for Curtis

to

have at school to make it easier for him, and it has all come out of our

pocket. Same situation here, there are other schools in our district that

seem to have AlphaSmarts everywhere, lots of kids have them because the

schools have purchased lots of them. And our school can't afford it, so

they

say anyway. I find that hard to believe as they have had enough money for

extra fieldtrips, a new fridge, new dishes for the staffroom etc., but not

for the kids. Maybe I'm just bitter.

Shona

Bitter maybe but definitely being used and abused by your school system.

They can't deny a child with a disability needed accommodation and

equipement

due to " no money. " Plus, they do get specific money for having children

with

disabilities in school. Granted, it's not funded 100% but there is no

excuse

for them to say " no money. " Next time, I would request that they put it in

writing and keep records of this nonsense.

Roxanna ô¿ö

Autism Happens