Parent Training & IEP Workshop ~ Basic Areas of an IEP Document.

Please join me for a Parent Training & IEP Workshop  ~ To go over the basic areas of an IEP document.

Wed. evening  JUNE 30th, 2010

7PM - 9PM at Kids S.P.O.T. in the Oakwood Plaza. Hollywood, FL

*North of Sheridan St. across the street from the Oakwood Plaza Movies http://www.kidsspotrehab.com/

There is a $10 Training fee

RSVP 5PM 6/29/10 to: nancy.harris@dsadvocate.com

FREE BOOK to those that arrive ON TIME!

Bring your IEP's with you! Meet others and learn new advocacy skills!

Carpool & bring a friend!

*Please Pass This Info To Others That Would Be Interested -Thanks!

BRING YOUR IEP'S WITH YOU!!

Will go over the importance of all the different areas of the IEP Document and why each area is important.

FREE BOOK for those that arrive on time!
RSVP RSVP RSVP

Why can't my 14 year old read?

How can a 14 1/2 year old not be taught how to learn PRE-PRIMER DOLCH words? How can a Child that scores a 5 on her MATRIX in the communication domain section NOT be considered for Assistive Technology for Communication needs over the years? So many 'things' that could have been provided or taught but everyone has their reasons why this or that basic skill wasn't taught or why a device was never tried out to see if it could or might help a student communicate and be understood. I will always have a hard time understanding why some of our schools and why some of our professionals that are making lots of educational decisions for our Children continue to have a low expectation for learning basic life skills. Why is there still in our society people that keep thinking that our Children don't need to learn the same educational skills as everyone else? There is so much today in the way of technology it's absolutely a shame if schools aren't pushing and preparing our Children for their future, which is once they leave school life they have some basic reading, writing, and math skills.

The school today told the mom she was NOT ALLOW to have a copy of the MATRIX that was just updated after the IEP today. When she asked them to write a statement saying she wasn't allowed to have a copy of the MATRIX that she needed them to provide her something "in writing", she was then provided a copy of the MATRIX. During the actual IEP meeting, I asked what was the MATRIX number and was quickly told that wasn't to be discussed at IEP meetings.

Ok....so if the student has a major disability with talking and being understood, and the MATRIX is a 254, I don't understand why this student is only ALLOW to be provided with just a 1/2 hour of Language services and just a 1/2 hour of Speech services. As far as I could tell by listening to everyone speaking at this IEP this student should have been provided  n Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device ahttp://www.abilityhub.com/aac/aac-devices.htm (here is a webpage that shows some ideas for these types of communication devices!) At the meeting it was told to mom that she had been using a devices but when I asked mom if she had ever seen what they were talking about, she was not aware of any such device was being used. Again, it amazes me what some of these IEP team members come up with and to make the parent think something is being provided when in reality nothing was being done.

Getting the supports and services is paramount to our Children's success in school and post school outcomes to be successful in today's real world past high school. Being persistant and asking lots of questions and providing your PARENT INPUT throughout the entire IEP document is part of the IEP Process. This is YOUR CHILD they are all sitting around a table talking about YOUR SON & DAUGHTER...this is not someone that deserves a little less or a lot less...everyone is there to talk about what YOUR CHILD NEEDS...so let's STOP PLAYING ALL THESE IEP GAMES AND START EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN!

Parents...listen up! If you don't take some time to read up, attend trainings, disability specific conferences & conventions, meeting and getting to know other parents, being part of a disability specific support group....your CHILD will be missing out! Parents being told by other parents all sorts of stories and real life situations only helps each of us to understand how I can better help my Child be all he or she can truly be! We need to make sure the schools we choose for our Children has a great principal that is willing to work with you as a parent and the school has good teachers that are open to TEACHING CHILDREN ~ ALL CHILDREN and that means YOUR CHILD...no matter if you Child has a disability or no disability......NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND was signed into law for a reason...and that reason is YOUR CHILD!!

Read parents....research and go to trainings...make the time...take the time to educate yourself on how to be your Childs BEST ADVOCATE! Your Child is depending on you!

Here is a link to the Florida Sunshine State Standards....is your Child being taught these? If not....why not?

 http://floridastandards.org/page24.aspx

Compass Learning ODYSSEY

Compass Learning ODYSSEY

http://compasslearningodyssey.broward.k12.fl.us/

This program is used in Broward County Schools - just put in your STUDENT ID# as the USERNAME & PASSCODE
(student # found on report card)

Great program with documentation to track student progress!
 
Enjoy!

AUDIO ~ Florence County School District Four v. Carter

AUDIO of: Florence County School District Four v. Carter
http://www.oyez.org/cases/1990-1999/1993/1993_91_1523/argument
CLICK ON THIS LINK and listen to the newest SUPREME COURT RULING!! Amazing stuff to listen to and you can also read it as well!

FAPE = FREE AND APPROPRIATE EDUCATION

This has to do with reinbursement to the parent if they enrolled their child in a private school when the public school did not provide FAPE.

This website is interesting...check it out!

Have a great day!

SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW AND ADVOCACY WORKSHOPS

FREE ~ YES THAT'S RIGHT FREE!!!


SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW AND ADVOCACY WORKSHOPS

Presented by:

The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc.

and

The Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities, Inc.

Learn how to be a strong advocate for children with disabilities in the public school system at four free workshops scheduled for this August.

A lawyer and an advocate from the Advocacy Center will team up to teach you how to be an equal participant in the IEP process. Training will focus on sections of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 and will include:

Eligibility and Evaluation

Universal Education (Inclusion)

IEP and Advocacy Tips

School Discipline

Transition from High School to Post-school activities (work, school)

Problem Solving (With a Question and Answer Session)

To register go to http://www.fddc.org/registration
or call 1-800-580-7801

All workshops are from 9 am – 4 pm and are FREE!

August 3, 2010 – Fort Lauderdale, Hyatt Pier 66

2301 SE 17 Street Causeway

August 5, 2010 – Tampa, Tampa Marriott Airport

5507 W Spruce Street

August 7, 2010 – Jacksonville, Hyatt Regency Riverfront

225 East Coast Line Drive

August 9, 2010 – Fort Walton Beach, Ramada Plaza Beach Resort,

1500 Miracle Strip Parkway SE

Let us know when you register if you need a sign language interpreter or Spanish translator.

Seats at the workshops are limited to 200. All registrations received after the first 200 will be put on a waiting list and will be contacted if space becomes available.

The list below shows how many are currently registered for each workshop. We will update it frequently so that you can see when 200 are registered

August 3, 2010 – Ft. Lauderdale, Hyatt Pier 66, 2301 SE 17 Street Causeway - 47

August 5, 2010 – Tampa, Tampa Marriott Airport, 5507 W Spruce Street - 40

August 7, 2010 – Jacksonville, Hyatt Regency Riverfront, 225 E. Coast Line Dr. - 71

August 9, 2010 – Ft. Walton Beach, Ramada Plaza Beach Resort, 1500 Miracle Strip Pkwy. SE - 18

IDEA says about Assistive Technology & English Language Learners

The laws and rules relating to the use of assistive technology for meeting the educational needs of students with disabilities, parental consent REVOKE (new!), and services for English language learners (ELLs) with disabilities.

Assistive technology, Section 300.24(a)(2)(v) of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations (the “yellow book”), the IEP Team must “consider whether the child needs assistive technology devices and services.” Additional related sections of Title 34 CFR are 300.105(a), 300.105(b), 300.113, 300.5, and 300.6. Additionally, Florida State Board of Education Rule 6A-6.03028(3)(g)(10), Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) (the “red book”), states that in IEP development, review, and revision the IEP Team shall consider “whether the student requires assistive technology devices and services. On a case-by-case basis, the use of school-purchased assistive technology devices in a student’s home or in other settings is required if the IEP Team determines that the student needs access to those devices in order to receive a free appropriate public education…”

For ELLs with disabilities, 6A-6.03028(3)(g)(10), F.A.C., states that the IEP Team shall consider “in the case of a student with limited English proficiency, the language needs of the student as those needs relate to the student’s IEP.”

In regards to parental consent, section 300.300 of Title 34 CFR describes the procedures school districts must follow in obtaining parental consent for evaluations. Note that in some cases parental consent may not be required (e.g. if the district has made “reasonable efforts” to obtain consent or if the parent has “failed to respond,” or for certain tests or evaluations that are administered to all students). Note also that a district may use dispute resolution procedures to obtain parental consent in some cases. See also state regulation Rule 6A-6.0331.

Below are direct links to the federal and state regulations:

Title 34 CFR (“yellow book”)  ~ IDEA
http://idea.ed.gov/download/finalregulations.pdf

Florida Rules (“red book”)
http://www.fldoe.org/ese/pdf/1b-stats.pdf

BENSON'S IEP UPDATE!!

Well...finally we tried to create a workable IEP document for this little guy. The first meeting we were "allowed to" meet for 2 hours, the 2nd time we were "allowed to" meet for 2 hours...and now the other day we were "allowed to" meet for ONE HOUR! We are so grateful for being "allowed to" meet on 3 different occassions to create and write up a quality IEP for BENSON that so was NOT PROVIDED what mom was told he would be provided at the school mom ended up using the McKay funds for him to attend. This school is in a section of Broward County that is very far for the mom to drive to, she refused to have her son attend a KNOWN CLUSTER SCHOOL that was in her neighborhood in the Pompano area and was not given much choice on WHERE HER SON COULD ATTEND SCHOOL because of how his wonderful IEP "team" wrote up his IEP document at the DEVELOPMENTAL PRESCHOOL. Mom input, concerns and wishes for her son was not included in her sons IEP from the Developmental Preschool. That IEP was done just a few days before school was let out and with no one 'working over the summer' to help create a well written IEP for her Kindergarten school year. This is why BENSON was NOT in school the first 2 months of this school year....the district IEP people would NOT BUDGE on their stand that BENSON was to only be provided 100% EXCLUSION & SEGRAGATION from his non-disabled peers for his Kindergarten school year! How does this sort of thing happen to our children? Why did it happen to BENSON? What was the real reason why BENSON was to be 100% in an ESE CLASSROOM and not provided with supports and services that would have helped him be successful in a gen ed kindergarten classsroom?

On Oct. 7th, 2009 Mom requested to have her son provided a FBA-Functional Behavioral Assessment and AT-Assistive Technology Assessment....this was in written form and provided to this 'nice school'......the person in charge...claims she never knew or received that written request. Oops....oh well....again...they didn't know...and my goodness wasn't it obvious that BENSON needed  that SUPPORT & SERVICE? Wasn't there any concern about his behavior & communication?? BENSON WAS NOT EVEN ASSESSED for AT or for a FBA this entire school year! ....was this because mom didn't put in for that support or service? NO!! This was because this school didn't care to do what was right! It was a written request from mom and provided and should have been included in his school files. It was talked about on several occassions and still nothing was done to move forward to have those assessments completed. Why?

When BENSON was finally enrolled in what was to be a good school in a good neighborhood far from mom's address....mom was told by the person in charge of running IEP meetings at this nice school that, "oh yes we are an INCLUSION SCHOOL!"......he would be included with a gen ed kindergarten here and there and for this and for that.....MOM DID NOT BELIEVE THIS and MOM'S GUT FEELINGS WERE RIGHT! This 'good school' did NOT provide any quality inclusion for BENSON. The Gen Ed K teacher did NOT even make EYE CONTACT WITH BENSON at a couple of observations that were held during the year. His HALF HOUR OF INCLUSION TIME IN THE GEN ED KINDERGARTEN was BENSON VISITING! He was NOT included as you and I would be included...he was WATCHED for any little movement he "might make".....those students in that "inclusion kindergarten' classroom were not BENSON'S friends...a student even said to the mom one time, "Is BENSON ALLOWED TO BE IN HERE?" ....wow.....why would a young kindergarten student even say such a thing? Was BENSON "allowed to be there".......this innocent comment from one of his 'kindergarten inclusion classmates' paints the real picture of the whole MINDSET of this particular kindergarten teacher, the classroom, school administrators & the entire school population!

BENSON WAS NOT INCLUDED like mom was told by staff on the day she enrolled him back on October 8th, 2009. That was BENSON'S first day of school......because the IEP "team" forced BENSON and his mother to have on his Individual Educational Plan without PARENT INPUT on what her concerns and wishes were for her son. Mom knows her son better than anyone that will ever attend his IEP's.

BENSON was LEFT BEHIND this school year. Mom is trying to make sure her son is not left behind again for next year! She wants him to be 'held back' and to have an opportunity to attend KINDERGARTEN like he should have this year! He was only allowed to visit kindergarten for a HALF HOUR....that is NOT being INCLUDED! That is visiting a kindergarten classroom! *Did he even have his own desk in there?

I have permission from BENSON'S mom to write all I want about her son on this BLOG so it can help others. I plan on making sure BENSON'S STORY is told to many...so what has happened to BENSON does not happen to others.

I will be updating and adding to the BENSON STORY...so those that have a personal interest will be updated on how things are working out for him and his mom in trying to create a well written IEP document. I want to be able to provide something for everyone to read and get updates so everyone has something to sleep on & ponder about with the BENSON situation, as I am so very sure there are many many Children and families out there that can relate to BENSON'S IEP process and situation.

Parents:
Tell me if you can relate to the BENSON STORY

Teachers:
Tell me if you can relate to the BENSON STORY

District:
Tell me if you care if BENSON was INCLUDED in Kindergarten or not.

State DOE:
Tell me if you are aware of more situations where certain disabilities are being forced into CLUSTER CLASSROOMS against parents wishes & desires.

BENSON'S IEP was left in a DRAFT FORMAT till the new 2010-2011 school year begins in August!! This was  after just 5 hours over  3 different times to meet and work on his IEP. (2 for 2 hours and 1 for 1 hour over a 2 month time period.) CAN DRAFT IEP's EVEN BE OPEN OVER THE SUMMER BREAK?? How does that really work out?

BENSON deserves to attend KINDERGARTEN like any other small boy!

POST UPDATE: Anonoymous comments are not allowed to this blog. If you want to leave a comment you do have to reveal your identity...thats all.