I have been seeing more and more on here lately about the school punishing our kids or holding them to different standards because we fight for their rights and educations.
I KNOW that this is NOT all schools, families, school districts, police officers, kids, etc.....
I do think that all of us parents/guardians of difficult children need to take the time, at least 2 times per year (more if things are not going well) to go up to the office and READ the entire IEP and student file.
I found out much of it by READING the IEP that the school gave to me to take to the psychiatric hospital. She ADDED pages, forged my signature, and crossed out things. The IEP was given to me in a sealed envelope, with a note that it was ONLY to be read by the hospital staff.
Well, my son, my right to read. I had my own copy in the file when I read it.
With this proof we got a LOT of accomodations we otherwise would have been out of luck for.
I think many of us will not find this, but if even a few do then it is worth the time.
It needs to extend to the school file, even if you (or I) have to sit in the hallway and read the file. We have a right to know what is in there. We have a responsiblity to know what is going on.
I know my timing was very lucky - another parent was preparing a class action lawsuit against this same teacher (Now the teacher is the principal of the alternative school!!) and I made a deal to get what my kids need however long one of them is in the district on the condition that I would NOT join the lawsuit.
I think that this might give each of us some insight into what is going on, and some ammo if that is needed.
Sorry if this rambled a bit.
Susie
ps. Be sure you have YOUR copy of hte IEP handy when you read their copy. I wrote on each paper of my copy with a highlighter so I could tell them apart.
I KNOW that this is NOT all schools, families, school districts, police officers, kids, etc.....
I do think that all of us parents/guardians of difficult children need to take the time, at least 2 times per year (more if things are not going well) to go up to the office and READ the entire IEP and student file.
I found out much of it by READING the IEP that the school gave to me to take to the psychiatric hospital. She ADDED pages, forged my signature, and crossed out things. The IEP was given to me in a sealed envelope, with a note that it was ONLY to be read by the hospital staff.
Well, my son, my right to read. I had my own copy in the file when I read it.
With this proof we got a LOT of accomodations we otherwise would have been out of luck for.
I think many of us will not find this, but if even a few do then it is worth the time.
It needs to extend to the school file, even if you (or I) have to sit in the hallway and read the file. We have a right to know what is in there. We have a responsiblity to know what is going on.
I know my timing was very lucky - another parent was preparing a class action lawsuit against this same teacher (Now the teacher is the principal of the alternative school!!) and I made a deal to get what my kids need however long one of them is in the district on the condition that I would NOT join the lawsuit.
I think that this might give each of us some insight into what is going on, and some ammo if that is needed.
Sorry if this rambled a bit.
Susie
ps. Be sure you have YOUR copy of hte IEP handy when you read their copy. I wrote on each paper of my copy with a highlighter so I could tell them apart.