tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422772553499773635.comments2023-08-07T04:13:17.575-04:00One Plus One Doesn't Equal TwoBarbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07505866105152498768noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422772553499773635.post-38617223600199417012014-09-24T17:23:51.611-04:002014-09-24T17:23:51.611-04:00Bonnie, we are working on it. This will only be t...Bonnie, we are working on it. This will only be the 2nd time we are going through this. It is so unbelievable! Anyone we share our story with just can't get over it. This situation is way over the top, it seems something taken from a fictional story, like Oliver Twist.<br /><br />Thank you for responding to the post.Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07505866105152498768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422772553499773635.post-46284155891583551442014-09-24T14:43:32.369-04:002014-09-24T14:43:32.369-04:00Have you filed a complaint for denial of FAPE with...Have you filed a complaint for denial of FAPE with your State Education Agency?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01765556275028853712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422772553499773635.post-81119599593024567512014-02-28T16:04:05.837-05:002014-02-28T16:04:05.837-05:00Barbara,
Thank you for sharing your story of Aren&...Barbara,<br />Thank you for sharing your story of Aren's journey with us. From the first day I met you, I knew how special you were as a parent and as and advocate. Your sharing makes others feel as though we are not so alone out here, and it certainly makes the road less travelled easier to navigate. Together we will all find a way through....miss you my friend - RobertaAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15088163874281812392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422772553499773635.post-39862723143044162192011-05-27T18:50:37.957-04:002011-05-27T18:50:37.957-04:00Barbara,
I find the whole race thing very interes...Barbara,<br /><br />I find the whole race thing very interesting. I find that they have created what one speaker I saw referred to as a caste system in our schools. I do think if he was a caucasian girl your experience would be completely different. I see a major difference in my two children and it is gender.<br />Great job with this blog. I think you should keep taking it in on this subject and continue to relay your experiences.jbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02680361146339319727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422772553499773635.post-65964285477306031672011-03-02T08:17:57.592-05:002011-03-02T08:17:57.592-05:00All of our children have the privilege and benefit...All of our children have the privilege and benefit of attending public school because of tax dollars. In other countries, parents must pay for their children to attend school. Unfortunately, education is one of the areas that gets hit the hardest during economic downturns. And, in this current adminstration, our government is looking at cutting programs that aid the neediest of it's citizens. The priorities are completely warped, in my opinion.<br /><br />Schools receive reveneue through home owners property and school taxes. Right now, the housing market is depressed and as a result property value has gone down. This effects the amount of tax dollars paid by home owners. In this present environment it translates to less dollars by way of taxes from home owners. It's a domino effect. With that being said, I don't think you should fear higher taxes but programs being cut due to not enough.<br /><br />The laws are on the books that every child is entitled to a free and appropriate education whether it be in publc or private schools. By law, the state and school districts are obligated to provide it.<br /><br />I think we should be more concerned that not enough money is funneled into education and programs are being are limited or cut all together.Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07505866105152498768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422772553499773635.post-80162222520197452122011-03-02T02:02:31.873-05:002011-03-02T02:02:31.873-05:00Do you think the State considering reducing the am...Do you think the State considering reducing the amount of aid to schools for private special Ed placements is going to be a big concern? The state wants to shift the burden to the local taxpayers and that scares me.datrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11780816487520416497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422772553499773635.post-27266101618466573142010-11-09T09:04:12.653-05:002010-11-09T09:04:12.653-05:00Elise, thank you for the detailed response to my ...Elise, thank you for the detailed response to my post. When I started this blog, my intention is not only to share my experiences but to hear about the experiences from other people; to read the thoughts, opinions and insights from anyone in the special education system. So, I thank you very much for sharing your thoughts on the law here.<br /><br />I agree with your comments and observation about the situation. It's mind boggling to think a school district will attempt to add validity to the "professional" opinion regarding placement from an advocate. Further, it's unsettling the advocate didn't stick to her guns and refuse the visit on the basis she isn't qualified to offer concrete opinion on placement. I will add the reason the school district pressed for the advocate's participation is they are disputing the findings from the NYU Child Study Center!<br /><br />Your response to my post is meaningful and enlightening. I will be writing another post about the recent meeting so please check in and comment.Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07505866105152498768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422772553499773635.post-13342201675122745832010-11-08T08:36:42.825-05:002010-11-08T08:36:42.825-05:00First of all if your advocate is not a psychologis...First of all if your advocate is not a psychologist or social worker there is no way she would be able to evaluate what disability your child has or how truly effective he is int hat classroom.How he functions in a classroom for one hour also dos not indicate what is happening the rest of the day. In fact it is not allowable under law. If your child has a diagnosed disability it has to come from the psychiatrist not the school. This is NY state law. Also there is no MR designation any longer. It is intellectually disabled. Only if your child's IQ is below 70 is that appropriate. Also children can exhibit social appropriateness without understanding how to actually interact with others in their peer group. That is understood on the autism spectrum.<br /><br />I would recommend two basic things for you. See if there is somewhere you can file a complaint against that advocate.If you signed a contact outlining her duties and obligations and she did not fulfill them I would sue her for the return of your money or refuse to pay her any outstanding balance. <br /><br />Next I would get a real lawyer. Someone who is not dependent on the school district for their living or who does not have children in the district itself. Advocates for the most part have no idea what they are doing. They take a short course in special education advocacy and that is all. If you need to go to court you need to be prepared with someone who will kick butt. You can start with the COPPA website and see if there are any in your area or close by.Or go to Martindale Hubbel which is a listing of attorneys.<br /><br />Good luck.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422772553499773635.post-12468806127879653012010-11-04T11:02:34.153-04:002010-11-04T11:02:34.153-04:00Elise, I absolutely agree with you. At the last m...Elise, I absolutely agree with you. At the last meeting, we requested for the classification to change from OHI to Autism and we were told it wasn't going to be decided yet although we have extensive documentation from past and present health professionals that indicates PDD-NOS/Autism Spectrum Disorder. Although we have another meeting today, I anticipate the district will refuse to change the classification regardless of the reports from the well respected NYU Child Study Center.<br /><br />At this point, we're bracing ourselves for the inevitable due process hearing. Will post more on this later.Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07505866105152498768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422772553499773635.post-80087954325778302882010-11-04T07:14:26.897-04:002010-11-04T07:14:26.897-04:00The district was in violation of his rights from t...The district was in violation of his rights from the outset. PDD-NOS is autism and it should have been on the IEP from the git-go. There are laws and regulations in NY State that require the district to provide certain supports to persons with the autism category. Get the number of a lawyer handy just incase. In fact you don't have to wait until the IEP meeting, you know you can call a program review at any time during the year to have that changed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422772553499773635.post-71691198688611094072010-11-02T21:50:43.696-04:002010-11-02T21:50:43.696-04:00Adelaide, I agree that stress effects memory. Str...Adelaide, I agree that stress effects memory. Stress can make it very difficult to focus especially if there is concern about how well we do. My son is very concerned about how he measures up compared to his peers. He needs more counseling in this area.<br />Aren also has processing issues related to working memory. He often wants to know what day it is and if I help him think it through he'll arrive at the correct answer. And, then there are days where it seems to be more of a struggle.Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07505866105152498768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422772553499773635.post-1950930958776431142010-11-02T21:44:29.870-04:002010-11-02T21:44:29.870-04:00Aren wants to do things as well as children who do...Aren wants to do things as well as children who don't have challenges as he does. He also wants to create the art the way he sees me doing it. I try to tell him to enjoy making art and it doesn't need to be "perfect". It's the way he sees things; that's important.Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07505866105152498768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422772553499773635.post-60967791230684155432010-11-02T20:37:49.783-04:002010-11-02T20:37:49.783-04:00Aren must have a hard, hard time remembering thing...Aren must have a hard, hard time remembering things that are stressful.<br /><br />I know when I've been stressed, it's been hard to remember what day it is.<br /><br />And live from Friday to Friday.Adelaide Duponthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01490123934889071074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422772553499773635.post-69700916988420911822010-11-02T20:34:50.799-04:002010-11-02T20:34:50.799-04:00I like the idea of drawing shapes and drawing what...I like the idea of drawing shapes and drawing what you see (from observation).<br /><br />Aren's first kingfisher was very colourful.<br /><br />It is hard having a picture to look at, so I draw from my imagination.<br /><br />Great to see Aren and Jade carrying books together!<br /><br />The kingfisher in the picture looked very pontillist. So I would do its head with dots.Adelaide Duponthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01490123934889071074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422772553499773635.post-2302026458193004082010-11-01T13:35:22.470-04:002010-11-01T13:35:22.470-04:00TherExtras - thanks so much for commenting on my b...TherExtras - thanks so much for commenting on my blog. I've given your comment some thought and want to respond to it.<br />I have expectations set for my children. In fact, I raise the bar high and will not let my child's disability hinder his self esteem if I can help it. My children are aware of and receive natural consequences and have clear boundaries in place.<br />My 8 year old son is struggling with math. And, he is working below his peers which he is very much aware. It hurts him because he tries very hard and he wants to learn. However, he gets very frustrated. I don't see it as helpful to keep any child who is making an effort to learn but is struggling made to do the work at recess. He is only 8 years old and views the loss of recess time as punishment. To me, this seems counter productive. If he views the loss of recess time as a negative to do work he is struggling with, he could potentially be at risk of losing interest in the subject all together. And, this is the last thing I want to happen for him.<br />The expectation I have for my children is for them to do their best and strive toward their personal best.Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07505866105152498768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422772553499773635.post-40590757724832711912010-10-29T08:57:02.417-04:002010-10-29T08:57:02.417-04:00Found this:
http://www.autismathomeseries.com/lib...Found this: <br />http://www.autismathomeseries.com/library/2009/08/autism-and-learned-helplessness/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3422772553499773635.post-89319139339412849342010-10-29T08:51:17.109-04:002010-10-29T08:51:17.109-04:00Your recommendations to change the consequences of...Your recommendations to change the consequences of working through recess might backfire. One method that is effective for all children, even children with learning issues is setting expectations. If your son perceives he will never have consequences, esp the same as others, he is learning to not work (....toward helplessness).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com