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Post by mattandchris on Apr 16, 2005 11:36:11 GMT -5
I have been so patient with our schools and their dealing with Matt. The counselor at school convinced us to try this regular education intervention plan with Matt. It is basicly like a 504 without acknowledging that Matt has a disability. Welll, it's not working. Teachers are suppose to inform us of missing or late work and due date for large projects. Matt had done this huge book project- I was upset to begin with because they are suppose to break down big ones into smaller projects with shorter deadlines and hadn't done this. Anyway, Matt told me the project was due Tuesday after spring break. He finished it early- spent half of spring break working on it, I took him to school on that Tuesday, he did turn it in--HE HAD THE DATE WRONG!!! It was due Monday. He automatically failed. He was given half credit. She marked it A+, 100% crossed it off and put F, 50%. I immediately began to cry when he told me. My husband and I have decided that we are going to say this plan does not work. The issues we have with Matt are exactly the same and we feel he is entitled to a 504. His ADHD does significantly effect his grade. This is a prime example of it. I am just so tired of getting a run around on this. My question for anyone is- If they do not follow through on a 504 plan what are my alteratives. I have already been told that even with a 504 the school couldn't guarentee that all teachers would make the accomedations and follow through on things. I guess first things first- I need to recontact the counselor and get a meeting set up. mad* *rg
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Post by Mayleng on Apr 16, 2005 13:42:03 GMT -5
If it is effecting his grades, then you might want to consider an IEP under Other Health Impaired. A 504 is a civil rights law. You can complain to the Office of Civil rights if the 504 is violated but they won't do anything unless it is a blantant violation and that it effects alot of people.
I think you need to seriously get him on either of them and make the accomodations official. You can't make any complaints or go to due process until this is done.
I feel your pain here.
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Post by ohmama on Apr 16, 2005 13:55:19 GMT -5
I could just cry hearing this if I wasn't so mad. Have you talked to the teacher to explain what went wrong? Is it possible she would understand the situation and all your sons effort? If not then I would have to go higher up. Or knowing me, I would start right at the top and talk to her boss. Let him talk to her. He is responsible for his employees after all.
I don't know the answer as to what your options are with enforcing a 504 or even an IEP. I do know it's important to get everything in writing so you can show them for a fact what was agreed on is not being done. That way there can be no misunderstanding and should you have to go for the throat you have the legal issues on your side if that's what it takes.
I can be real difficult to get along with when I find out my child is not being given what he needs, especially after it was agreed upon. Have you gone to wrightslaw.com to look this up?
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Post by mattandchris on Apr 16, 2005 14:14:56 GMT -5
The thing that has really been frustrating is their saying that they think his grades are fine because he isn't actually failing any classes. When you can earn As ofr Bs, why is a C okay? It's going to make it tough for him to get into any school after high school. We tried earlier in the year to get him a 504, but they thought this would work. They don't want to say that he has a disability. I guess we will just have to push harder
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Post by mrsheartbuzz on Apr 17, 2005 15:35:20 GMT -5
this subject is close to my heart...
Even though your son gets good grades doesn't mean he doesn't need an IEP. My son is and A/B student. He has to work d@mn hard to get those grades. I push and push him at home. He is a smart boy, but that darn ADHD!!!!! Projects are a night mare!!! Book reports are H#ll!!! My son gets extra time on tests and projects. If he didn't, he would fail. He has a learnig disability in written expression, but is not LD(according to testing) He has his IEP under OHI (other health impaired) because he tested not quite learning disabled. An IEP is a legal document. The teachers HAVE TO follow it. Don't let them snowball you. He can have an IEP, then you can make them comply. Schools hate lawsuits! I have had to push the school a lot to get all this. It's not an easy battle. They will be happy to see me go at the end of the year, I'm sure!!! (on to middle school next year and more fighting I'm sure)
Good- Luck, Sandy
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Post by mattandchris on Apr 20, 2005 9:09:15 GMT -5
I have heard back from the principal- she seems to think that the plan is working. She felt his grades were "respectable" I haven't heard from the teacher even after 2 emails. I guess I don't think a D or failing a major project because you forgot which day it was due on is "respectable". I'm talking with the counselor today.
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Post by Mayleng on Apr 20, 2005 10:19:59 GMT -5
I have heard back from the principal- she seems to think that the plan is working. She felt his grades were "respectable" I haven't heard from the teacher even after 2 emails. I guess I don't think a D or failing a major project because you forgot which day it was due on is "respectable". I'm talking with the counselor today. They will say he is doing well because they want to stop you from asking for the accomodations to be made legal. If they say the current accomodations are working, then why the resistance to make it all official and nice, so that you don't have to start all over again telling the new teachers for next year to implement the same accomodations. Not all teachers are going to accomodate if it is not official. So write to them, and say you want either an IEP under OHI or 504. If they have not done an evaluation, request that they do one. There is more info at www.concordspedpac.org/www.listen-up.org/rights/rights.htm#compwww.wrightslaw.comThese sites will tell you what evaluations should be done and how to request for them.
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Post by mattandchris on Apr 20, 2005 10:32:00 GMT -5
Thanks Mayleng. I don't get why they are dragging their feet on this. For some reason they don't want to say that his ADHD is a disability. I don't care what they call it, I just want a very little help for him. The accomodations we asked for were so minimal, I guess I just don't understand why they are fighting me.
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Post by Mayleng on Apr 20, 2005 11:28:42 GMT -5
Thanks Mayleng. I don't get why they are dragging their feet on this. For some reason they don't want to say that his ADHD is a disability. I don't care what they call it, I just want a very little help for him. The accomodations we asked for were so minimal, I guess I just don't understand why they are fighting me. They always fight. It's all about money. And they don't want to have to be tied to doing accomodations when they don't have to.
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Post by dmom32002 on Apr 20, 2005 19:24:36 GMT -5
Chiming in here. Go to the teacher involved that gave the 100% then marked out and gave 50% have them document why. Not exactly explaining why.
Also ask for a educational evaluation for other health impairment. Explaining that since the general education intervention isn't working, showing the things you keep with bad grades and the reasons. That a 504 wouldn't work either the teachers wouldn't follow it.
So you want a IEP for Other Health Impairment because he would have a teacher assigned to oversee.
donna
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Post by mattandchris on Apr 21, 2005 10:29:41 GMT -5
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Post by wtwingduv on Apr 21, 2005 13:13:59 GMT -5
I feel for you because I am going through the exact same thing!! In 4TH & 5th grade they gave him a principle intervention plan which really only had longer testing time on it..He was passing all of his subject so I didn't push for more..Now he is in Middle school and I asked for a 504 at the beginning of the year and they said I will never get it and all of his teachers are accomodating him anyway...So now he is failing all of his core subjects! In Mid March I wrote a very strong letter and copied the principle that I wanted them to start the process of either a 504 or an IEP under other health impaired. I made it clear that in the past I was told by many that I would never get it but I wanted them to go through the process anyway. So 2 days later a new Phsycologist was put on my sons case and she put another principles intervention plan in place for the rest of this year and he is now being evaluated for a IEP for next year.. Don't let them tell you that you can't get it...if you request that they evaluate in writing they have to do it..I'm sorry I didn't push at the beginning of the year..middle school is very hard..so much change for them to go through..I will not stop until I get everything possible for my son..I know that you hate to fight them and you shouldn't have to but unfortunately that is the way it is..good luck
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Post by Mayleng on Apr 21, 2005 13:29:14 GMT -5
Another tip, document everything, every request, every meeting, everything agreed upon verbally, every phone call.
If it is not documented, it did not happen.
For the evaluation to happen, the request needs to be done in writing. If they refuse the request, you need to ask them to write their reasons for the denial.
You are going to need to push the schools.
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Post by dmom32002 on Apr 23, 2005 11:38:00 GMT -5
Everything in writing if right on target.
In Indiana if you request it and don't get it its a violation of the law. So you can file a complaint. Of course they still have so many days. donna
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