BENSON HaPpY!!! Priceless!!!!!!
Awe Mommie!!!! I am so HaPpY for Benson and You!!! This is what has been needed for so long for Benson......SUPPORT!!!!
Thank you Community!!
Showing posts with label BENSON. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BENSON. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
BENSON goes to NOVA E ~ finally!!
(Below is an email I received from BENSON'S mom - just had to post here!)
Well I like to thank you Nancy for finally making it happen.... Benson is in Nova E Elem. like he was suppose to be last year because his name was picked out of the lottery. His 3 older sisters attend Nova too! He wasted a whole school year in a cluster program at another school in Broward! Oh sorry, not a whole school year, I forgot the 2 months that Broward County schools district left him behind without being in any school! I refused to let them force me to put my son in school I did not want him to go...his name was picked from the Nova E Lottery...that is where he was registered to go for Kindergarten...I went to the Kindergarten Round Up! Funny Nancy how they kept telling you and me how they had no record of him being registered there. How do they lose registrations of children after school starts?
I learned many things this past year:
1.) 90% of the people that say they know what is best for Benson, had never meet him.
2) there are beautiful laws that look good on paper, but make them work it is almost impossible.
3) definition of inclusion in broward county schools is a special need child inside a regular classroom as a guest and if possible far away from his peers.
4) discrimination from students toward special needs children starts with the way teachers introduce them to the peers.
5) if we could have more like "Nancy Harris" to advocate for our kids, cluster classrooms would be history, well maybe not for all but for those with Down syndrome anyway...
I don't really know how it will be at Nova E this year, I don't know how inclusion works in this school, what is the level of acceptance, but at least Benson is happy for now and that counts a lot for me and my family. I know we still have a long way to go, because while ignorance predominates the fight never ends for me to have good help for Benson to get an education in Broward Public schools. I am hopeful soon they will get it right and help me with my Benson because everyday is important for his education and his future success.
Thank you Nancy for not giving up on me or my son this past year!
Daniele ~ Benson's Mom
Well I like to thank you Nancy for finally making it happen.... Benson is in Nova E Elem. like he was suppose to be last year because his name was picked out of the lottery. His 3 older sisters attend Nova too! He wasted a whole school year in a cluster program at another school in Broward! Oh sorry, not a whole school year, I forgot the 2 months that Broward County schools district left him behind without being in any school! I refused to let them force me to put my son in school I did not want him to go...his name was picked from the Nova E Lottery...that is where he was registered to go for Kindergarten...I went to the Kindergarten Round Up! Funny Nancy how they kept telling you and me how they had no record of him being registered there. How do they lose registrations of children after school starts?
I learned many things this past year:
1.) 90% of the people that say they know what is best for Benson, had never meet him.
2) there are beautiful laws that look good on paper, but make them work it is almost impossible.
3) definition of inclusion in broward county schools is a special need child inside a regular classroom as a guest and if possible far away from his peers.
4) discrimination from students toward special needs children starts with the way teachers introduce them to the peers.
5) if we could have more like "Nancy Harris" to advocate for our kids, cluster classrooms would be history, well maybe not for all but for those with Down syndrome anyway...
I don't really know how it will be at Nova E this year, I don't know how inclusion works in this school, what is the level of acceptance, but at least Benson is happy for now and that counts a lot for me and my family. I know we still have a long way to go, because while ignorance predominates the fight never ends for me to have good help for Benson to get an education in Broward Public schools. I am hopeful soon they will get it right and help me with my Benson because everyday is important for his education and his future success.
Thank you Nancy for not giving up on me or my son this past year!
Daniele ~ Benson's Mom
Monday, August 23, 2010
Where is BENSON? ~ You remember BENSON....
For those of you that have been following my blog for awhile...you may remember a little 6 year old boy named, BENSON. He has Down syndrome and was being totally discriminated against in the fact that our school district would not allow him to attend a regular general education Kindergarten classroom. Why not? Because our wonderful IEP team members that are hired by our Broward School District insisted on having certain district 'assigned' individuals DICTATE to the mom exactly how much time her son would be removed from general education classrooms, it was written in stone that he needed to be 100% ESE Special Education classroom...we call that a CLUSTER classroom.
This little guy has 3 older sisters that attend a NOVA school and another older sister that graduated from a NOVA school. BENSON'S mom of course wanted her son to attend the same NOVA school all her other Children go to, so she signed BENSON up to be on the NOVA LOTTERY! He was put on the 'sibling Nova lottery list' and guess what....HIS NAME WAS PICKED!!! BENSON'S name was picked from the lottery and mom was delighted! It was a HaPpY time for the mom, his sisters and others that knew how much it meant to this family that BENSON be able to attend the same school and ride the same bus as his 3 older sisters! It was cause for celebration for sure! To be picked from the NOVA LOTTERY SYSTEM was an accomplishment few get! She registered him at NOVA and then attended the KINDERGARTEN ROUND-UP at the beginning of last year...just 2 days before she was told that the school did not have a 100% ESE ROOM for BENSON to be in, so mom was told he could not attend their school now...that was such a blow to everyone's plan for BENSON and his sisters!
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Back at the beginning of the school year last year, I did several BLOG postings pertaining to BENSON and the stories that pertain to all the shenanigans that he and his mother had been put thru this last 2009-2010 school year at SNEAGLE RIDGE ELEMENTARY School. So much NONSENSE that no parent should ever have to put up with when dealing with the school we entrust our Child to!! That school absolutely needs to have some disability specific trainings and certainly needs to have the entire administration and its general education teachers taught POSITIVE INCLUSION TECHNIQUES AND STRATEGIES. The Gen. Ed. "nice" Kindergarten teacher BENSON was assigned, refused to even make simple EYE CONTACT with him on a regular basis, this was observed on several occassions. That teacher absolutely refused to INCLUDE BENSON to even the smallest degree...her attitude was carried over to her young students in that they all were 'on the look-out' for any little thing BENSON might do....those students followed her 'fine example' to DISCRIMINATE and not accept BENSON, just because he was different and had Down syndrome. The opportunity and the lessons that teacher missed teaching all her students is lost...his 'regular Kindergarten classroom peers' missed out on a very valuable lesson called....ACCEPTANCE...acceptance for those that are a little different than you and me. BENSON WAS NOT INCLUDED IN GEN. ED KINDERGARTEN this last school year at Sneagle Ridge...because his Gen. Ed teacher and the staff and administrators mind-set is behind the times in that they just don't get it...they are not interested in getting it either!! How do I know this? Because I was by this mom's side the entire school year with trying to communicate to BENSON'S school and trying to create a well written IEP and trying to get the supports and services BENSON needed! This school very much BELIEVES in clustering students with disabilities into seperate classrooms and when they on occassion blend two Kindergarten classrooms together I saw with my own eyes the attitude not only from the administration, but more importantly from the other classroom students. They did not want to sit 'too close to those students' on the carpet during a blended class time inside the library for Media Special.
The students with disabilities are pretty much taught all together in their own Special Needs classroom, not mainstreamed or included. BENSON'S mom wanted her son to be given the opportunity to learn along side typically developing classmates so he could learn from them....so he could copy what they were doing. She knew that....yes he absolutely needed help and assistance especially to help him to follow classroom rules and to keep his hands to himself and not touch others. The assistant and the ESE teacher at this school very much believed in frequently giving fish crackers and/or Cheetos throughout his entire 'school day' as the way to get BENSON to 'learn'.....this was sickening to watch being done...YES BENSON liked the food treats, but it so wasn't written on his IEP whatsoever to use food reinforcements to get him to comply! Did anyone read his IEP? Where did that come from or is that a way some teachers were taught they had to do for certain individuals to motivate them to stay on task? I think that way is great for DOG TRAINING for sure!
Since BENSON had only been provided the most minimal of opportunities to be part of a General Education Class room, I saw with my own eyes that not much of any real Inclusion was practiced at this school. NEVER would I ever recommend this particular school to anyone ....especially for a child with a disability like Down syndrome! The Administration's mindset is out dated and discriminatory. Inclusion is not encouraged or understood at SNEAGLE RIDGE ELEMENTARY, and because of that I would absolutely request that this school be provided with QUALITY Disability Specific Training and also to have FIN-Florida Inclusion Network provide all the teachers and staff with POSITIVE INCLUSION STATEGIES Sessions! Oh and I absolutely would never recommend this particular school to anyone!!
This school is only one of many across our Country that have this same outdated way of thinking about our little kiddo's and their ABILITIES to learn to READ, WRITE & DO MATH! I am a firm believer that with the right teacher with an open mind and lots of room for flexibility to the way they have always 'taught' classes...our kiddo's require a lot of being flexible yet being firm with what your expectations are about each Child....the point is....TREAT OUR CHILDREN WITH RESPECT AND TEACH OUR CHILDREN TO READ AND DO MATH AND ALL THE OTHER WONDERFUL THINGS A CHILD ATTENDS SCHOOL FOR!
The time is now, our Children's future depends on everyone DOING THEIR PART in providing a FAPE and BELIEVING in them that they absolutely are capable and able to learn just as anyone else....yes it might be at a slower pass or a different way. Bottom line is...everyone has the right to be taught along side their neighborhood friends, in their neighborhood school. Let's start doing the right thing for the future of our Children!
This little guy has 3 older sisters that attend a NOVA school and another older sister that graduated from a NOVA school. BENSON'S mom of course wanted her son to attend the same NOVA school all her other Children go to, so she signed BENSON up to be on the NOVA LOTTERY! He was put on the 'sibling Nova lottery list' and guess what....HIS NAME WAS PICKED!!! BENSON'S name was picked from the lottery and mom was delighted! It was a HaPpY time for the mom, his sisters and others that knew how much it meant to this family that BENSON be able to attend the same school and ride the same bus as his 3 older sisters! It was cause for celebration for sure! To be picked from the NOVA LOTTERY SYSTEM was an accomplishment few get! She registered him at NOVA and then attended the KINDERGARTEN ROUND-UP at the beginning of last year...just 2 days before she was told that the school did not have a 100% ESE ROOM for BENSON to be in, so mom was told he could not attend their school now...that was such a blow to everyone's plan for BENSON and his sisters!
\
Back at the beginning of the school year last year, I did several BLOG postings pertaining to BENSON and the stories that pertain to all the shenanigans that he and his mother had been put thru this last 2009-2010 school year at SNEAGLE RIDGE ELEMENTARY School. So much NONSENSE that no parent should ever have to put up with when dealing with the school we entrust our Child to!! That school absolutely needs to have some disability specific trainings and certainly needs to have the entire administration and its general education teachers taught POSITIVE INCLUSION TECHNIQUES AND STRATEGIES. The Gen. Ed. "nice" Kindergarten teacher BENSON was assigned, refused to even make simple EYE CONTACT with him on a regular basis, this was observed on several occassions. That teacher absolutely refused to INCLUDE BENSON to even the smallest degree...her attitude was carried over to her young students in that they all were 'on the look-out' for any little thing BENSON might do....those students followed her 'fine example' to DISCRIMINATE and not accept BENSON, just because he was different and had Down syndrome. The opportunity and the lessons that teacher missed teaching all her students is lost...his 'regular Kindergarten classroom peers' missed out on a very valuable lesson called....ACCEPTANCE...acceptance for those that are a little different than you and me. BENSON WAS NOT INCLUDED IN GEN. ED KINDERGARTEN this last school year at Sneagle Ridge...because his Gen. Ed teacher and the staff and administrators mind-set is behind the times in that they just don't get it...they are not interested in getting it either!! How do I know this? Because I was by this mom's side the entire school year with trying to communicate to BENSON'S school and trying to create a well written IEP and trying to get the supports and services BENSON needed! This school very much BELIEVES in clustering students with disabilities into seperate classrooms and when they on occassion blend two Kindergarten classrooms together I saw with my own eyes the attitude not only from the administration, but more importantly from the other classroom students. They did not want to sit 'too close to those students' on the carpet during a blended class time inside the library for Media Special.
The students with disabilities are pretty much taught all together in their own Special Needs classroom, not mainstreamed or included. BENSON'S mom wanted her son to be given the opportunity to learn along side typically developing classmates so he could learn from them....so he could copy what they were doing. She knew that....yes he absolutely needed help and assistance especially to help him to follow classroom rules and to keep his hands to himself and not touch others. The assistant and the ESE teacher at this school very much believed in frequently giving fish crackers and/or Cheetos throughout his entire 'school day' as the way to get BENSON to 'learn'.....this was sickening to watch being done...YES BENSON liked the food treats, but it so wasn't written on his IEP whatsoever to use food reinforcements to get him to comply! Did anyone read his IEP? Where did that come from or is that a way some teachers were taught they had to do for certain individuals to motivate them to stay on task? I think that way is great for DOG TRAINING for sure!
Since BENSON had only been provided the most minimal of opportunities to be part of a General Education Class room, I saw with my own eyes that not much of any real Inclusion was practiced at this school. NEVER would I ever recommend this particular school to anyone ....especially for a child with a disability like Down syndrome! The Administration's mindset is out dated and discriminatory. Inclusion is not encouraged or understood at SNEAGLE RIDGE ELEMENTARY, and because of that I would absolutely request that this school be provided with QUALITY Disability Specific Training and also to have FIN-Florida Inclusion Network provide all the teachers and staff with POSITIVE INCLUSION STATEGIES Sessions! Oh and I absolutely would never recommend this particular school to anyone!!
This school is only one of many across our Country that have this same outdated way of thinking about our little kiddo's and their ABILITIES to learn to READ, WRITE & DO MATH! I am a firm believer that with the right teacher with an open mind and lots of room for flexibility to the way they have always 'taught' classes...our kiddo's require a lot of being flexible yet being firm with what your expectations are about each Child....the point is....TREAT OUR CHILDREN WITH RESPECT AND TEACH OUR CHILDREN TO READ AND DO MATH AND ALL THE OTHER WONDERFUL THINGS A CHILD ATTENDS SCHOOL FOR!
The time is now, our Children's future depends on everyone DOING THEIR PART in providing a FAPE and BELIEVING in them that they absolutely are capable and able to learn just as anyone else....yes it might be at a slower pass or a different way. Bottom line is...everyone has the right to be taught along side their neighborhood friends, in their neighborhood school. Let's start doing the right thing for the future of our Children!
Saturday, June 5, 2010
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.
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.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
BENSON WON THE NOVA LOTTERY!!!
My phone started ringing off the hook a week before school began on 8/24/09. Why? The beginning of new school year means many things to different people, if your a teacher, it means a classroom full of new minds to help inspire and teach. To parents, it means a new teacher for their child and early morning routines and homework struggles. To a parent raising a child with unique learning challenges, it means wanting to make sure proper help and support will be in place at school to help their child learn this year.
My phone started ringing daily exactly a week before August 24th with calls for help in advocating for their child and needing to know some advice on "what to do" and "what to expect" next week on the first day of school.
One mom has a little girl that is entering Kindergarten and is suppose to have a Para to ensure she recieves her G-tube feedings 2 times a day and also for help in the classroom with redirection and safety concerns. The Para was never hired and it didn't look like one would be anytime soon. This mom has spent the first 2 weeks of school on her daughters campus, to do her G-tube feedings and to make sure her daughter was SAFE doing well. She lost 2 weeks of work (so far) being on campus to help her daughter with what the IEP was suppose to provide.
Her daughter had been attending ARC BROWARD DEVELOPMENTAL PRE-SCHOOL for 2 years and at the TRANSITION IEP meeting which only had 19 people sitting around one of the biggest conference tables I have ever seen for a Broward School District IEP meeting. Mom and dad attended this meeting prepared and ready to have an IEP document written up with all the supports and services they knew their daughter needed to be safe and successful in Kindergarten. It was important for her health and safety that she have a PARA on the first day of school when she started in Kindergarten on August 24th. No matter how many district personnell show up and attend IEP meetings it's amazing sometimes how little gets done when it really comes time for the child to receive the supports and services the IEP "TEAM" had rich discussion about. Parents go thru so much stress at these IEP meetings!
Another mom, her son won the NOVA Lottery!! She applied and filled out all the papers to have her son attend the same school all his 4 sisters attend, one sister has already graduated and 3 are still attending there. Mom registered and turned in all the correct forms the school asked for, the BLUE & YELLOW medical records forms had been turned in, all the other forms & cards were filled out and turned in. On one form she even put on it that her son BENSON had Down syndrome. Everything was completed and the Kindergarten Round-Up date was next. She called me 2 days before school started upset that she was now being told her son wouldn't be able to attend Nova at all!! She never recieved anything in the mail or a letter stating this sad news. She was told that because of how his IEP document that was created on June 1st, 2009 was completed, saying he needed to be in a SEPERATE CLASS 100% that they didn't have 'the program' that was on his IEP! She was hurt and angry that this was never told to her...ever...all the way up to just 2 days before school was about to begin. How could this be? How could it go for so long that everything seemed to be going smoothly with getting her son signed up and started in Kindergarten at Nova Eisenhower Elementary? Why wasn't she notified that there was a 'glitch' with what was on his IEP!?
Mom needed me to help make sure her son BENSON attended NOVA and to help make things right. First things first...there needed to be an INTERIM IEP immediately to go over it with a fine tooth comb. She attended the last IEP on June 1st and it was completed then, it was only good for 2 days till June 3rd. Then the dates of the IEP started back up on August 24th, 2009 with his placement being 100% in a SEPERATE CLASS. (Mom did not have anyone or an advocate attend this very important transition IEP meeting with her!) This is NOT what the mom wanted for her son and let it be known at that meeting on June 1st, she said she told everyone at that June 1st meeting he had been accepted as a student at NOVA, and her desire to have him attend a 'regular Kindergarten' classroom and was not interested in anything that had to do with a 'special classroom' for BENSON because she was DONE WITH SPECIAL CLASSROOMS!
BENSON since the age of 3 years old had been attending 3 of the 4 DEVELOPMENTAL PRE-SCHOOLS in Broward County. I asked her why had he gone to 3 different DEVELOPMENTAL PRE-SCHOOLS in 2 years time? She said that too many 'things' happened to her son BENSON in those 2 years time and now she only wanted to protect him from yet another SPECIAL classroom that would not be good for him! I asked her what she felt he gained from going to all three of those SPECIAL DEVELOMENTAL SCHOOLS and she very quickly said to me:
"HE GOT BITE MARKS"
"REGRESSION"
"DEPRESSION"
"BEHAVIORS NOT RELATED TO DOWN SYNDROME'
This conversation was all within the first 10 minutes of just meeting her on the phone and her reaching out to find help for her son!
Of course I was upset to hear this, who wouldn't be upset...no one wants to hear of a child 'being hurt' in anyway...especially at places we entrust our precious little ones to everyday 'for school'!
In our world of raising a child with Down syndrome, we look for the best place to have them to go so they will learn and do well, not a place that is going to make their 'disability worse'!!
I want to help BENSON, I want to help this mom, I want to help BENSON get into a Kindergarten classroom that will ACCEPT and help him progress. I want to make sure that what has possibly happened to BENSON is known about and doesn't happen to another. I WANT TO HELP BENSON and his mom. I am going to do the best I can to help get BENSON into Kindergarten at NOVA Eisenhower or even NOVA Blanche Elementary. It doesn't matter which NOVA, but he won't be 100% IN A SEPERATE CLASS according to his mom! This is the school her 4 daughters, BENSON'S 4 older sisters go to. Three of them will be able to ride the morning bus with BENSON! His sister's are excited about that! They were arguing about who was going to get to video tape BENSON on his first day of going to a REAL SCHOOL! That day never came for this family...BENSON wasn't allowed to go to Kindergarten on the first day of school, or the next day or even the next week...BENSON IS STILL AT HOME WAITING....BENSON didn't get to have his first day of Kindergarten like anyone else. BENSON sits at home everyday with his mom. BENSON'S mom has lost her job because of this! She is a single mom and now has to watch him instead of going to work! What has happened to BENSON and his family should never happen to anyone! Why did things turn out like this for BENSON and his mom? Because mom just didn't know how important it was to have the IEP 'document' say the right things for BENSON'S sake. Now BENSON didn't get to experience the first day of Kindergarten like most 5 year olds.
BENSON HAS BEEN LEFT BEHIND before the his first day of school!!
BENSON WON THE NOVA LOTTERY!!!
*I have permission from BENSON'S mom to retell this story and to use his REAL NAME.
Thank you BENSON'S mom!
My phone started ringing daily exactly a week before August 24th with calls for help in advocating for their child and needing to know some advice on "what to do" and "what to expect" next week on the first day of school.
One mom has a little girl that is entering Kindergarten and is suppose to have a Para to ensure she recieves her G-tube feedings 2 times a day and also for help in the classroom with redirection and safety concerns. The Para was never hired and it didn't look like one would be anytime soon. This mom has spent the first 2 weeks of school on her daughters campus, to do her G-tube feedings and to make sure her daughter was SAFE doing well. She lost 2 weeks of work (so far) being on campus to help her daughter with what the IEP was suppose to provide.
Her daughter had been attending ARC BROWARD DEVELOPMENTAL PRE-SCHOOL for 2 years and at the TRANSITION IEP meeting which only had 19 people sitting around one of the biggest conference tables I have ever seen for a Broward School District IEP meeting. Mom and dad attended this meeting prepared and ready to have an IEP document written up with all the supports and services they knew their daughter needed to be safe and successful in Kindergarten. It was important for her health and safety that she have a PARA on the first day of school when she started in Kindergarten on August 24th. No matter how many district personnell show up and attend IEP meetings it's amazing sometimes how little gets done when it really comes time for the child to receive the supports and services the IEP "TEAM" had rich discussion about. Parents go thru so much stress at these IEP meetings!
Another mom, her son won the NOVA Lottery!! She applied and filled out all the papers to have her son attend the same school all his 4 sisters attend, one sister has already graduated and 3 are still attending there. Mom registered and turned in all the correct forms the school asked for, the BLUE & YELLOW medical records forms had been turned in, all the other forms & cards were filled out and turned in. On one form she even put on it that her son BENSON had Down syndrome. Everything was completed and the Kindergarten Round-Up date was next. She called me 2 days before school started upset that she was now being told her son wouldn't be able to attend Nova at all!! She never recieved anything in the mail or a letter stating this sad news. She was told that because of how his IEP document that was created on June 1st, 2009 was completed, saying he needed to be in a SEPERATE CLASS 100% that they didn't have 'the program' that was on his IEP! She was hurt and angry that this was never told to her...ever...all the way up to just 2 days before school was about to begin. How could this be? How could it go for so long that everything seemed to be going smoothly with getting her son signed up and started in Kindergarten at Nova Eisenhower Elementary? Why wasn't she notified that there was a 'glitch' with what was on his IEP!?
Mom needed me to help make sure her son BENSON attended NOVA and to help make things right. First things first...there needed to be an INTERIM IEP immediately to go over it with a fine tooth comb. She attended the last IEP on June 1st and it was completed then, it was only good for 2 days till June 3rd. Then the dates of the IEP started back up on August 24th, 2009 with his placement being 100% in a SEPERATE CLASS. (Mom did not have anyone or an advocate attend this very important transition IEP meeting with her!) This is NOT what the mom wanted for her son and let it be known at that meeting on June 1st, she said she told everyone at that June 1st meeting he had been accepted as a student at NOVA, and her desire to have him attend a 'regular Kindergarten' classroom and was not interested in anything that had to do with a 'special classroom' for BENSON because she was DONE WITH SPECIAL CLASSROOMS!
BENSON since the age of 3 years old had been attending 3 of the 4 DEVELOPMENTAL PRE-SCHOOLS in Broward County. I asked her why had he gone to 3 different DEVELOPMENTAL PRE-SCHOOLS in 2 years time? She said that too many 'things' happened to her son BENSON in those 2 years time and now she only wanted to protect him from yet another SPECIAL classroom that would not be good for him! I asked her what she felt he gained from going to all three of those SPECIAL DEVELOMENTAL SCHOOLS and she very quickly said to me:
"HE GOT BITE MARKS"
"REGRESSION"
"DEPRESSION"
"BEHAVIORS NOT RELATED TO DOWN SYNDROME'
This conversation was all within the first 10 minutes of just meeting her on the phone and her reaching out to find help for her son!
Of course I was upset to hear this, who wouldn't be upset...no one wants to hear of a child 'being hurt' in anyway...especially at places we entrust our precious little ones to everyday 'for school'!
In our world of raising a child with Down syndrome, we look for the best place to have them to go so they will learn and do well, not a place that is going to make their 'disability worse'!!
I want to help BENSON, I want to help this mom, I want to help BENSON get into a Kindergarten classroom that will ACCEPT and help him progress. I want to make sure that what has possibly happened to BENSON is known about and doesn't happen to another. I WANT TO HELP BENSON and his mom. I am going to do the best I can to help get BENSON into Kindergarten at NOVA Eisenhower or even NOVA Blanche Elementary. It doesn't matter which NOVA, but he won't be 100% IN A SEPERATE CLASS according to his mom! This is the school her 4 daughters, BENSON'S 4 older sisters go to. Three of them will be able to ride the morning bus with BENSON! His sister's are excited about that! They were arguing about who was going to get to video tape BENSON on his first day of going to a REAL SCHOOL! That day never came for this family...BENSON wasn't allowed to go to Kindergarten on the first day of school, or the next day or even the next week...BENSON IS STILL AT HOME WAITING....BENSON didn't get to have his first day of Kindergarten like anyone else. BENSON sits at home everyday with his mom. BENSON'S mom has lost her job because of this! She is a single mom and now has to watch him instead of going to work! What has happened to BENSON and his family should never happen to anyone! Why did things turn out like this for BENSON and his mom? Because mom just didn't know how important it was to have the IEP 'document' say the right things for BENSON'S sake. Now BENSON didn't get to experience the first day of Kindergarten like most 5 year olds.
BENSON HAS BEEN LEFT BEHIND before the his first day of school!!
BENSON WON THE NOVA LOTTERY!!!
*I have permission from BENSON'S mom to retell this story and to use his REAL NAME.
Thank you BENSON'S mom!
INCLUSION VIDEO
Nova Lottery Window Opens to the Public Nova Schools applications will be accepted through March 31 for the 2009/10 school year. An online application is available on the District’s Web site homepage at (www.browardschools.com) or accessible directly at (www.broward.k12.fl.us/casdl/reassignmentproject/checkstdt.asp). Copies of the application are also available at the NCLB & Reassignments Department at 7770 W Oakland Park Blvd. in Sunrise. Applying online is recommended. When applying online, print confirmation page to acknowledge processed application. Only one application per student can be submitted during the window.
For additional information, contact:
NCLB & Reassignments Department, 754-321-3035.
FAQ ~ NOVA LOTTERY
http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/educationalprograms/pdf/NovaSchoolsFAQs09v2.pdf
FAQ ~ NOVA LOTTERY
http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/educationalprograms/pdf/NovaSchoolsFAQs09v2.pdf
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