Re: Parents rights in School Districts for special need chil...

November 19, 2010

Ok, we have some " holes " in info here. What was the reason given for

wanting to change your child's placement?

Were there any behaviors that they felt their county program could not

adequately address?

What do the other schools offer that they feel the present placement

cannot--such as a more adhered to methodology, such as ABA?

When you are talking about your son not being able to " reside " at the

proposed other schools, are you saying your son is residentially placed now in

the county facility? Is the school trying to change your son from a

residential student to a " day school " student--who will now live at home?

Perhaps if you filled in some of these gaps, folks could better respond.

You should also think about sharing the names of the other proposed schools

with this list, as parents here who have experience with these places

could weigh in on the good/bad about those placements.

It is not necessarily true that because you didn't sign anything, the

school cannot change his placement. In some states (don't know where you are),

a signature by parents is not necessary to implement the IEP. However,

you do have " stay put " rights to stay in the placement you are in, pending

resolution of the dispute of an appropriate placement.

You should get in touch with a special edd attorney, and this national

listserv of special ed attorneys and public agencies that represent special ed

students is a good place to start (it's organized by state--go to the

top-- " finding an advocate or attorney " ): copaa.org

Often universities also have law schools that operate legal clinics that

can provide special ed expertise. Those are often more affordable, as are

the public agencies in each city that provide low or pro bono legal services.

Hope this helps,

In a message dated 11/19/2010 2:12:22 A.M. Central Standard Time,

autismhelpinghands@... writes:

I went to my son's I.E.P. meeting at school, he is in a County Austim

program, and I feel as my rights was vilated by them not providing the best

intrest for my child. The meeting went horrible and I felt tricked into

putting my son in a non-public school. They gave me a list of other options to

look at, however when I told the princple she said " he couldn't reside at his

school and I had to choose a facility. I didnt' sighn anything stating my

son would be considered a temp student until they place him some where. I

feel as if my son's best interest wasn't taken in consideration. DO I have

rights? can someone help me? The principle said

' she was the final say, and there was nothing I could do, however but

choose a non-public school.

Can someone help me?

California resident

November 19, 2010

Oops--sorry--just saw the California resident note. Where approximately

are you in Calif?