julietsierra
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quote:
ORIGINAL: nyrisa
quote:
ORIGINAL: julietsierra
Do you know all the ramifications of IDEA 2004 and how they apply to your child? Have you read the procedural safeguards that are provided to parents at least once a year? Can you quote it? Can you use it? If you haven't, if you can't, why would you expect more from the teacher of your child than we expect from the parent of that same child?
juliet
I do not pretend to know ALL the ramifications of IDEA 2004. But I have read the procedural information, in detail. I also did quite a bit of research into the information available, as well as into special education in general, and what interventions were likely to help.
His IEP was reviewed yearly at a conference with us, but it was not adhered to in the classroom. I did not expect the teachers to be an expert on the diagnosis of every child that might cross their threshold, but when specific information is offered to them and they neglect to even open the folder, then yes, I DO expect some effort from them in order to be prepared to meet his needs.
I am not bashing special ed teachers in general, Juliet. The teacher he had in elementary school was wonderful, and we grieved when he had to promote to middle school. It was the teachers in this school who were so bad.
I am a nurse, and I can tell you, when you go into the hospital, the people who care for you had better quickly educate themselves about your condition, even if it is rare. To fail to provide proper care for you, and to allow your condition to worsen, just because they are busy, or because the majority of their patients have conditions X and Y, but not Z, but giving the same care should be good enough for Z, too, would be a malpractice lawyer's dream.
To me, the teachers he had in this middle school were the equivalent of educational malpractice. However, they do not have to worry about the same degree of scrutiny, so the harm that is done to the individual child is easily disregarded. Except by the child.
First of all, I'm not bashing you at all.
Since you brought up the part about "in a hospital" let me ask you something. We all like to think that in our given professions, people will, on the whole, behave in a professional manner. However, if there weren't the threat of life and death; if there weren't the continued and ever-present threat of malpractice, just how many of your professionals would continue to act in a professional manner?
It is all well and good to read IDEA with the idea of what sort of interventions schools can provide, but the thing to remember - never ever ever ever forget - is that your individualized educational plan is a LEGAL DOCUMENT - even if the teachers your child has are ignoring that fact. Because it's a legal document, every SINGLE thing they put in it - in writing - they are expected by a court of law to follow through on. If they don't, the ball is in your court. THAT'S why you're given the copy of the procedural safeguards yearly. If you are NOT given those safeguards - IN WRITING, they are non-compliant. If you go to your school and request another copy of the procedural safeguards and they don't provide one to you, again, they are out of compliance. Look them up on your individual state's website (they are provided there), follow the guidelines and make a complaint.
Believe me, NOT ONE OF US wants our individual state board of education on our asses!! The thing to also remember and do research on is that there is case law out there - at the FEDERAL level (so applies to all states) that held individual teachers (general education as well as special education) PERSONALLY responsible for neglecting the IEP guidelines. I wish I knew the name of the plaintiff so that you could find it easier, but it's in my files somewhere. This time of the year though, those files are always in chaos.
The very FIRST thing to do this year is to get proof - in writing - from your child's special education teacher that the general education teachers have been informed - in writing - of the ramifications of his disability and how to handle them in the general education classroom. Keep notes of every single conversation you have with ANYONE at the school. Probably the scariest thing a special education teacher can see is a parent with a notepad and pen taking notes on the conversations. Make them slow down. Read back what was said "so, you're saying......" Do this with every single person you talk to at the school - from the secretary to each of his/her teachers to the janitors and bus drivers - every single person is responsible for living up to the language of that IEP. Provide copies of behavior plans and supplemental services to every single person that comes in contact with your child. Then follow those procedural safeguards and hold them to their plan.
And if they don't....file a complaint at the state level and if need be, get an attorney.
I make each of my general education teachers sign a receipt saying that they received information regarding each of my students. If they don't comply, it's not going to be my ass!!
And above all, stay in constant contact with your school. Drop by. Ask questions. Quiz the teachers over and over again. Remind them each time that they are required by law to provide services whether they are general ed teachers or special ed teachers - and never ever ever let up.
It's a pain in the ass, and you shouldn't have to do it, but the other side of that coin is that the general ed teachers are under their own gun regarding state standards and AYP. The squeaky wheel gets the oil and the oil is what helps your child be successful. Develop a thick skin and fight like you've never fought before.
And as a parent, I follow this guideline. The special education teacher is my friend as long as services are delivered. The principal is my adversary because he or she is called upon to defend his/her teachers. General ed teachers are, depending on their willingness to provide services, either a friend or an adversary and I treat them accordingly - always polite, but always on my guard - and I'm IN this profession.
Good luck.
juliet
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