Re: Advocate Part 2 (vent)

January 11, 2007

Some advocates are too tied in with the school system IMO. We hired one to help

us when

Ian was in third grade. I wanted an aide for him so he could stay in the

full-time gifted

program. The school responded that *no* students in our district receive 1-on-1

aides,

no exceptions, and that he belonged in the ED program where class sizes would be

smaller, but a gifted curriculum would not be available. Our advocate--a former

special

ed. teacher in the district--caved in and started telling us that she would get

the best

possible placement for him within the school's strictures. At that point we

were facing the

need to pursue the problem in the courts, but were hearing that no parent had

ever won a

case against our district. (It's annual operating budget exceeds $2 Billion and

they have

extremely good lawyers on their side who just keep you in court until your money

runs

out.) We opted to thank our advocate for her advice--and home school our son

for the

following 2 1/2 years while *I* worked with him 1-on-1 to give him the skills to

be able to

move back into general ed. on a full-time basis. He's currently a freshman in

high school

and doing very well academically. He also says home schooling was the right

decision for

him. Personally, I would have loved to hold the district's feet to the fire

legally, but

finances and energy just weren't there for the fight, so we went a different

route.

Sue

>

> Well, the advocate called me back yesterday. (fast huh?) And I was happy

> about that and she had be tell her the whole story about what is going on

> with . Can you believe that she seems to have this thinking that we

> shouldn't put back into TLC because it is more restrictive!!! UH, yeah,

> I believe that is what he needs to be successful though. She said she is

> going to try to set his schedule so that he can succeed, but in a

> regular/resource room class. They have already tried that and it ISN'T

> working. would rather be back in the TLC program, he has told everyone

> that. So, why does his therapist agree with me? I am thinking now that I

> maybe don't want her to come to an IEP meeting. I don't have to sign the

> papers she is sending me and then she wouldn't be able to anyways.

>

January 11, 2007

She did mention that she has been here for a year and has been to just about

every school in the system here. So, when the papers come I am just going

to include a note that says we don't require her assistance and send it back

to her.

Our other issue with the school where our son goes to is a personal one. A

few years ago our kids got taken away cause we were using drugs. (We are

clean now and have been for almost 2 years!) The woman who is the head of

the TLC program at my son's school was working at the time at Department of

Family Services and was our son's case worker. I think she has too much of a

personal connection with our family. This is another reason why I want him

transferred to the school he is supposed to be in, which isn't her school.

(Wow, that was incredibly hard to write, I don't want to be judged or

anything.)

> Some advocates are too tied in with the school system IMO. We hired one

> to help us when

> Ian was in third grade. I wanted an aide for him so he could stay in the

> full-time gifted

> program. The school responded that *no* students in our district receive

> 1-on-1 aides,

> no exceptions, and that he belonged in the ED program where class sizes

> would be

> smaller, but a gifted curriculum would not be available. Our advocate--a

> former special

> ed. teacher in the district--caved in and started telling us that she

> would get the best

> possible placement for him within the school's strictures. At that point

> we were facing the

> need to pursue the problem in the courts, but were hearing that no parent

> had ever won a

> case against our district. (It's annual operating budget exceeds $2

> Billion and they have

> extremely good lawyers on their side who just keep you in court until your

> money runs

> out.) We opted to thank our advocate for her advice--and home school our

> son for the

> following 2 1/2 years while *I* worked with him 1-on-1 to give him the

> skills to be able to

> move back into general ed. on a full-time basis. He's currently a

> freshman in high school

> and doing very well academically. He also says home schooling was the

> right decision for

> him. Personally, I would have loved to hold the district's feet to the

> fire legally, but

> finances and energy just weren't there for the fight, so we went a

> different route.

>

> Sue

January 11, 2007

You won't be judged by me. I applaud you for being clean!! I am a recovering

alcoholic (14 years 19 Jan) I KNOW how hard it is...It is hard to write that

because not everyone understands addiction and think you can just quit...or

that you are a 'bad' person.. I'd want to get away from her too because she

probably already has judged you in her mind.

Re: ( ) Re: Advocate Part 2 (vent)

> She did mention that she has been here for a year and has been to just

> about

> every school in the system here. So, when the papers come I am just going

> to include a note that says we don't require her assistance and send it

> back

> to her.

>

> Our other issue with the school where our son goes to is a personal one. A

> few years ago our kids got taken away cause we were using drugs. (We are

> clean now and have been for almost 2 years!) The woman who is the head of

> the TLC program at my son's school was working at the time at Department

> of

> Family Services and was our son's case worker. I think she has too much of

> a

> personal connection with our family. This is another reason why I want

> him

> transferred to the school he is supposed to be in, which isn't her school.

>

> (Wow, that was incredibly hard to write, I don't want to be judged or

> anything.)

>

>> Some advocates are too tied in with the school system IMO. We hired one

>> to help us when

>> Ian was in third grade. I wanted an aide for him so he could stay in the

>> full-time gifted

>> program. The school responded that *no* students in our district receive

>> 1-on-1 aides,

>> no exceptions, and that he belonged in the ED program where class sizes

>> would be

>> smaller, but a gifted curriculum would not be available. Our advocate--a

>> former special

>> ed. teacher in the district--caved in and started telling us that she

>> would get the best

>> possible placement for him within the school's strictures. At that point

>> we were facing the

>> need to pursue the problem in the courts, but were hearing that no parent

>> had ever won a

>> case against our district. (It's annual operating budget exceeds $2

>> Billion and they have

>> extremely good lawyers on their side who just keep you in court until

>> your

>> money runs

>> out.) We opted to thank our advocate for her advice--and home school our

>> son for the

>> following 2 1/2 years while *I* worked with him 1-on-1 to give him the

>> skills to be able to

>> move back into general ed. on a full-time basis. He's currently a

>> freshman in high school

>> and doing very well academically. He also says home schooling was the

>> right decision for

>> him. Personally, I would have loved to hold the district's feet to the

>> fire legally, but

>> finances and energy just weren't there for the fight, so we went a

>> different route.

>>

>> Sue

>

January 11, 2007

Judged? NO!!! No one on this earth has the power to judge you! You obviously

have made some amazing changes in your life and care very much for your

children, otherwise you wouldn't be seeking support and help for him!

Graves <inspiringmind@...> wrote: She did mention that she

has been here for a year and has been to just about