OCR~Office of Civil Rights
Assistant Secretary ~ Catherine Ihamon
http://www.ed.gov/blog/2014/02/getting-to-know-assistant-secretary-for-civil-rights-catherine-lhamon/
Showing posts with label Discrimination. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Discrimination. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Friday, February 17, 2012
The Closed Door Policy 1.1
I have a story I want to write....a story that many will be able to relate to. It's about being a mom...or a dad of child that has unique learning challenges and requires special education while at school. Our Public Schools today have lots of students with Special Needs ~ with the increase in students with Autism and many other learning and developmental disabilities and students with Down syndrome attending our local neighborhood schools, our Public School System is not like it was just 20 years ago.
Today if you are a parent with a son or daughter with a disability you pretty much need to go to as many parent trainings, disability support groups, disability specific conferences and national conventions just to learn how to navigate special ed services and the IEP process and basically how to help ensure your son or daughter receives a quality education via the Public School System, and that's no matter where you live!
I became an Advocate first for my own daughter and son and eventually started helping other parents learn how to be a good Advocate for their children. It has been a learning experience to say the least!
One of the things that is starting to really bug me is all this talk about Parent Involvement, especially here in Broward County. Parent Engagement is the new saying, as I have recently been hearing, I like that better. I am an involved parent in both of my children's education! I was an involved parent before I officially became a 'parent' even! My future husband, while I was dating him...I was involved in his 7 year old son's education. I eventually had him tested for possibly being gifted. I attended several of his school events before I officially was his stepmom. Education is important to me and helping children do well in school is very important to me as well!
Today, I am a proud parent to a beautiful & talented 13 year old daughter with Down syndrome and a keenly creative 16 year old son with ADHD. Both require me to always be on top of things when it comes to both of their school grades, assignments, homework and all things! To say the least, I am an involved parent ~ I have to be!
I really became a Special Ed Advocate when my daughter was born 13 years ago. As a parent to a little one with Down syndrome I learned very quickly that I needed to fight for each and every therapy service she needed. She received a great many therapies and services back then, I was a TIGER MOMMA back then as I still am today. I knew I needed to make sure my daughter had her OT, PT and Speech Therapies if I wanted her to be all she could be in the years to come! So I learned quick that it was going to take a lot of my time and dedication to my daughter to help her be her best. I was always making all sorts of phone calls to secure therapy & doctor appointments. I had to drive her to all her many different appointments daily or some came to our home when she was real little. Of course I'm devoted to her well being today as much as I was when I started on my wonderful trip to Holland. It has become my full time 'career'...to help her and others. It is my passion, to help teach parents to become confident advocates for their children. I love what I do!
My son is in the 10th grade and taking High school all in stride, his grades are still consistently inconsistent, but over all he is an amazing talented and creative soul. My daughter will be going into Middle school next year! I am so not ready for a whole new group of teachers, staff, principals and administrators that don't know my daughter at all and will give me a hard time for what I know to be the best educational classrooms settings for my girl! She has only been educated in the regular general education classrooms. This year for the first time she is now receiving an hour of Special Ed services in an ESE classrom. This is for some extra reading help using the Special Ed Wilson program, with an awesome ESE Teacher! This is the only ESE special ed class she has ever attended other than her daily 1/2 hour Speech and Language school based sessions. She is doing well included in General Education aka regular classes....as long as we have teachers & staff that fully support her.....and me too..... things can get sticky & tricky sometimes, especially if the lines of communication are not fluid. There has to be a line of open honest communication with at least ONE staff person, one that can be the 'go to person'...hopefully it's your child's teacher. My daughter has a Gifted endorsed Science teacher as her homeroom & science teacher this year and he was also her teacher last year as well. He is the role-model gen.ed teacher for others to follow in the way that he communicates with all his families on a daily basis. He sends me an email update on what my daughter did in school that day and what pages classroom lessons were on. He is teacher of the year at my daughter's school ~ with good reason! His door is always open for honest parent involvement/engagement and academic collaboration with his student's parents...and special ed parent absolutely benefit from that the most! I started a blog in his honor, because I have been so impressed with his over-the-top way of how he has provided my daughter a full inclusive classroom experience both last year and this school year.
Please take a peek at my other blog in honor of Mr. Jeffery Allagood Mariah's 5th grade teacher:
Down syndrome Inclusive Education www.downsyndromeinclusiveeducation.blogspot.com
Today I want to talk about my friends. My other Special Ed / ESE Parents that are also involved and care very much about their child's education. My friends are involved and caring parents. They may ask more questions because they have a real concern about things happening at school, yet for the most part they seem to get the run around. These same parents ask to volunteer for things and are told those positions are filled. They ask to observe their child's classroom and it takes forever to set up a simple classroom observation or are asked to come into the Principals office for a little talkie-talk. Instead many ESE parents are ambushed with staff members & the principal and then told their child will have be taken out of their teachers classroom and have to go into a different classroom, starting the next day!! This particular parent just wanted to have an opportunity to observe what was going on during her son's math lessons where some behaviors were noted in written notes home to the parent. This mom just asked for a classroom observation, but instead was told her son needed to be pulled out from that classroom and wouldn't even be in that classroom again! ....Really?
Over the years many of us ESE parents have been called to come pick up our child. "Your child has a runny nose" or the best one, the most common one is, "your child has diarrhea". Like good parents, we run to the school to pick up our 'sick child'....only to find out they don't have diarrhea at all!! It seems maybe our child went to the bathroom (poo-poo) three times that day. There must be an unwritten POOP POLICY out there in our school districts that says; if a child poops 3 times while in school, they need to be sent home! Especially if that child has Down syndrome and still needs adult supervision or assistance in toileting for hygiene and wiping themselves! *This is happening way too much in our schools that maybe our top district administrators and school board members or even the superintendent is not aware of.
I'm asking....
IS there a POOP POLICY Broward Public Schools has in place? That if a child poops 3 times, the child needs to be sent home?? ESE parents are called and told their child has diarrhea and it's all down their leg, you have to come pick up your child! Only to get there and the pants are not 'soiled'.....all down their leg!! I am not making this up!
The runny nose one is also a very common one too. The other day a close friend of mine, was called and her daughter was not sick, just her daughter did need to have her nose wiped and blown. Mom had used Saline Solution to clear out her daughters nasal passages, and her nose was draining because of the Saline Solution. (...this is a common thing parents of children with DS do daily at times.) Mom said she was not sick, she just needed her blow her nose and have it wiped and sent back to the classroom. Her daughter did not have a fever and was not sick in anyway. This little girl never had her nose wiped at school that day and was sent home with dried caked on crusted mucus all over her cute little face! The bus aide/helper was amazed at how badly her face looked with all that dried gunk all over her. The school retaliated by not wiping her nose at all while she was in school. The little girl was not sick, she just needed her nose blown & wiped and directed to wash her hands and face or directed to blow her nose even. This is a little girl with Down syndrome and blowing her nose is something that all of us mom's do everyday... several times a day. Children with Down syndrome have low muscle tone and blowing their nose is a learned 'skill' that they need help with and they need to be taught. Our kiddo's need to be told each step of the way to 'blow hard', go wash your hands. With two aids and a certified teacher in this little girls classroom, not 1 of 3 adults would or could wipe her nose? ....Really? Needless to say this ESE mom was not happy how the school retaliated and did not provide just a simple support of wiping her little girls nose that day and instead, neglected her basic needs. ESE parents would never get away with sending our children TO school with a filthy nose or face, we would be reported, but the school gets away with this treatment of our littlest angels?
ESE Parents are wanting to volunteer at the schools to do anything and are being told there is nothing to do, they don't need help. ....Really? ESE Parents are wanting to get involved in SAF (School Advisory Forum) and are told that "that" position has already been filled, "you can attend and participate in the PTA or the PTO." ....Really? ESE Parents request permission to go on class field-trips or as chaperones and are told either we already have our parent volunteers or "no parents are allowed, only staff will be chaperones on the class field-trip."...Really? Some ESE parents want to be the Room Parent, again, "oh sorry...another parent has already gotten that position." ....Really? In my over 11 years at the same elementary school for both of my children, I have never been a room parent. Who are the room parents even? Do schools have room parents anymore?
ESE Parents are met with a CLOSED DOOR and are not talked to like the 'typical parents' that doesn't have a child with a disability. Parents of ESE children know this for a fact. Staff and teachers either are instructed to not talk to us, or if they do, to refer us to an ESE Staff person or "you'll have to speak to Mr. Principal about that." ....Really? Teachers and staff can't have a conversation with ESE parents anymore?If ESE parents want to know how their child is doing in the classroom and that child has a 1:1 aide, or there is a classroom assistant in their child's class, those aides seem to not 'see us' and certainly will not talk to us. For the most part, it seems our aides & the teachers pretend they are just so busy in their jobs that they can't even look our way when we are on the campus. ....Really?
Over the years I have had wonderful aides for my daughter, that respected and gave me their time. Not all ESE Students are even allowed to have 1:1 aides today, being told there is no funding. That is a whole conversation in itself! More of our children are being put into classrooms with several other students that would benefit by having a 1:1 aide but our schools instead will put several students into one classroom and share the aide between several students. That's alot to ask of one teacher and alot on 1 aide, now they are called a teachers assistant. The amount of the MATRIX funds generated from just a few students could actually pay for a few teacher assistants to fully support our children in their classrooms! Your child's Matrix numbers and Matrix funding and how it is actually spent is another topic of future discussion!
ESE Parents ARE INVOLVED Parents! They have to be, their child depends on them to be! Taking their child to endless hours of weekly therapies for years and years makes for a concerned involved parent.
What is going on at our children's schools that more and more ESE Parents are being met with this unspoken rule that they are not to be talked to with a natural honesty and respect? Why are Principals now becoming more the Headmaster that has the final say so on all things to do with our ESE Parents concerns and issues relating to their child in their classrooms?
Where did this unspoken CLOSED DOOR POLICY SOCIETY come from? Why is it happening more and more that our ESE Parents HAVE NO VOICE and ARE NOT BEING HEARD? Is it a bigger problem here in Broward school District? Is is happening throughout our entire State and Nation? ESE Parents are being shut out and held back from being part of the school society. ESE parents are not being allowed to be that involved parent at all grade levels. I was sent an email the other day from a Middle school administrator that I am actually considering for my daughter to attend. This administrator wrote to me and said, "Middle school isn't like Elementary school, things are alot different in Middle school." ....her point is? Parents ~ ALL parents need and should be encouraged to become MORE involved at the Middle school level than ever before! I know I plan on it!
Being a Special Ed Advocate I have clocked my kazillion unclockable hours listening on the phone over the years, all the absolute pure nonsense way too many ESE Parents are being put through today and throughout the entire school year! ESE Parents are good parents, they want to be involved in their child's education and show their child and their school support by being a classroom mom or by volunteering on the yearbook committee or by being a chaperone on the field-trips.
ESE Parents are being discriminated against on many levels sometimes starting with them just wanting to know how things are or what is going on or not going on or happening at the school pertaining to their child. ESE Parents are a valuable group of good parents that care, that really care not only for their own child, but for their child's classmates. These parents are devoted!
ESE Parents are met with a CLOSED DOOR in their faces more times than not and it needs to stop! ESE Parents are not the enemy, they are and can be a great resource to many, they can be a great help to their child's teachers! If principals and staff would just stop all this nonsense of shutting the ESE Parents out and start working with them from the start! Getting off on a good foot at the beginning of a new school year is important to all parents, especially to those ESE Parents!
The CLOSED DOOR POLICY that is practiced throughout the land today and I am talking in particular in Broward County Public Schools. I know this is happening everywhere. This attitude needs to stop and be replaced with something different! Positive parent participation with real communication and a positive partnership of collaboration ~ the child is the focus and the reason, we need not forget this!
ESE Parents can help train teachers and staff. Many times the lowest paid staff person, the 1:1 aide that usually works closest with our unique children, the para professional aide or the classroom aide or teachers aides as they are now called, these employees would benefit by having a closer positive working relationship with the ESE Parents. Parents know their child the best, what a great resource! It seems they are not allowed to talk, communicate or write to the child's parents, if they do..it's the most minimal. Most good parents would never leave their children in the care of babysitters or respite workers that they aren't able to talk with...would they? Why are ESE Parents at schools treated like staff are not suppose to talk to them? This is all too common and it's a shame!
The door is closed at just about every turn we go as ESE Parents wanting to be involved with our child's education. The CLOSED DOOR POLICY needs to stop!
If you are an ESE Parent, please take a moment and comment on this post. Let's hear your personal story. Tell me if your school has open arms for your parent involvement. I know some schools are absolutely doing a fantastic job of making sure all parents are treated with fairness and I know there are many schools out there that are not allowing ESE Parents the same opportunities to volunteer on campus and especially in their own child's classroom as a room parent or the room mom. If you are an ESE Parent and are the room mom...write to me! Tell me the positive, let's hear from you in the comment section below this posting. If you have experienced the CLOSED DOOR POLICY and you can relate to much of what I am posting...let's hear from you too. Post a comment, society needs to know how it really is out there trying to be an Involved ESE Parent at your child's school.
Our schools are like a little society, if the attitude is warm and welcoming for all and yes that includes allowing ESE Parents some wiggle room to volunteer and ask questions, then it creates a positive happy society. If some parents are being treated unfairly, and not allowed to be involved, it creates anger, dissatisfaction and an unhappy society! Schools need to do a better job of being accepting of ALL parent volunteers, especially by allowing ESE Parents the opportunity to Volunteer period!
The CLOSED DOOR POLICY that seems to be a secret society that only fellow ESE Parents know to be true. Time for a change of attitude across the board! Let your local School Board Members know that, Yes this IS happening to you and you want to see it change too! Do your part and help make positive changes within your school, within your school district and State. Be a change-maker and be proud to stand up for what you believe and you know needs to change!
Parents are the child's first teachers, they know every little thing about their child. Parents will always be the best advocates for their child!
Today if you are a parent with a son or daughter with a disability you pretty much need to go to as many parent trainings, disability support groups, disability specific conferences and national conventions just to learn how to navigate special ed services and the IEP process and basically how to help ensure your son or daughter receives a quality education via the Public School System, and that's no matter where you live!
I became an Advocate first for my own daughter and son and eventually started helping other parents learn how to be a good Advocate for their children. It has been a learning experience to say the least!
One of the things that is starting to really bug me is all this talk about Parent Involvement, especially here in Broward County. Parent Engagement is the new saying, as I have recently been hearing, I like that better. I am an involved parent in both of my children's education! I was an involved parent before I officially became a 'parent' even! My future husband, while I was dating him...I was involved in his 7 year old son's education. I eventually had him tested for possibly being gifted. I attended several of his school events before I officially was his stepmom. Education is important to me and helping children do well in school is very important to me as well!
Today, I am a proud parent to a beautiful & talented 13 year old daughter with Down syndrome and a keenly creative 16 year old son with ADHD. Both require me to always be on top of things when it comes to both of their school grades, assignments, homework and all things! To say the least, I am an involved parent ~ I have to be!
I really became a Special Ed Advocate when my daughter was born 13 years ago. As a parent to a little one with Down syndrome I learned very quickly that I needed to fight for each and every therapy service she needed. She received a great many therapies and services back then, I was a TIGER MOMMA back then as I still am today. I knew I needed to make sure my daughter had her OT, PT and Speech Therapies if I wanted her to be all she could be in the years to come! So I learned quick that it was going to take a lot of my time and dedication to my daughter to help her be her best. I was always making all sorts of phone calls to secure therapy & doctor appointments. I had to drive her to all her many different appointments daily or some came to our home when she was real little. Of course I'm devoted to her well being today as much as I was when I started on my wonderful trip to Holland. It has become my full time 'career'...to help her and others. It is my passion, to help teach parents to become confident advocates for their children. I love what I do!
My son is in the 10th grade and taking High school all in stride, his grades are still consistently inconsistent, but over all he is an amazing talented and creative soul. My daughter will be going into Middle school next year! I am so not ready for a whole new group of teachers, staff, principals and administrators that don't know my daughter at all and will give me a hard time for what I know to be the best educational classrooms settings for my girl! She has only been educated in the regular general education classrooms. This year for the first time she is now receiving an hour of Special Ed services in an ESE classrom. This is for some extra reading help using the Special Ed Wilson program, with an awesome ESE Teacher! This is the only ESE special ed class she has ever attended other than her daily 1/2 hour Speech and Language school based sessions. She is doing well included in General Education aka regular classes....as long as we have teachers & staff that fully support her.....and me too..... things can get sticky & tricky sometimes, especially if the lines of communication are not fluid. There has to be a line of open honest communication with at least ONE staff person, one that can be the 'go to person'...hopefully it's your child's teacher. My daughter has a Gifted endorsed Science teacher as her homeroom & science teacher this year and he was also her teacher last year as well. He is the role-model gen.ed teacher for others to follow in the way that he communicates with all his families on a daily basis. He sends me an email update on what my daughter did in school that day and what pages classroom lessons were on. He is teacher of the year at my daughter's school ~ with good reason! His door is always open for honest parent involvement/engagement and academic collaboration with his student's parents...and special ed parent absolutely benefit from that the most! I started a blog in his honor, because I have been so impressed with his over-the-top way of how he has provided my daughter a full inclusive classroom experience both last year and this school year.
Please take a peek at my other blog in honor of Mr. Jeffery Allagood Mariah's 5th grade teacher:
Down syndrome Inclusive Education www.downsyndromeinclusiveeducation.blogspot.com
Today I want to talk about my friends. My other Special Ed / ESE Parents that are also involved and care very much about their child's education. My friends are involved and caring parents. They may ask more questions because they have a real concern about things happening at school, yet for the most part they seem to get the run around. These same parents ask to volunteer for things and are told those positions are filled. They ask to observe their child's classroom and it takes forever to set up a simple classroom observation or are asked to come into the Principals office for a little talkie-talk. Instead many ESE parents are ambushed with staff members & the principal and then told their child will have be taken out of their teachers classroom and have to go into a different classroom, starting the next day!! This particular parent just wanted to have an opportunity to observe what was going on during her son's math lessons where some behaviors were noted in written notes home to the parent. This mom just asked for a classroom observation, but instead was told her son needed to be pulled out from that classroom and wouldn't even be in that classroom again! ....Really?
Over the years many of us ESE parents have been called to come pick up our child. "Your child has a runny nose" or the best one, the most common one is, "your child has diarrhea". Like good parents, we run to the school to pick up our 'sick child'....only to find out they don't have diarrhea at all!! It seems maybe our child went to the bathroom (poo-poo) three times that day. There must be an unwritten POOP POLICY out there in our school districts that says; if a child poops 3 times while in school, they need to be sent home! Especially if that child has Down syndrome and still needs adult supervision or assistance in toileting for hygiene and wiping themselves! *This is happening way too much in our schools that maybe our top district administrators and school board members or even the superintendent is not aware of.
I'm asking....
IS there a POOP POLICY Broward Public Schools has in place? That if a child poops 3 times, the child needs to be sent home?? ESE parents are called and told their child has diarrhea and it's all down their leg, you have to come pick up your child! Only to get there and the pants are not 'soiled'.....all down their leg!! I am not making this up!
The runny nose one is also a very common one too. The other day a close friend of mine, was called and her daughter was not sick, just her daughter did need to have her nose wiped and blown. Mom had used Saline Solution to clear out her daughters nasal passages, and her nose was draining because of the Saline Solution. (...this is a common thing parents of children with DS do daily at times.) Mom said she was not sick, she just needed her blow her nose and have it wiped and sent back to the classroom. Her daughter did not have a fever and was not sick in anyway. This little girl never had her nose wiped at school that day and was sent home with dried caked on crusted mucus all over her cute little face! The bus aide/helper was amazed at how badly her face looked with all that dried gunk all over her. The school retaliated by not wiping her nose at all while she was in school. The little girl was not sick, she just needed her nose blown & wiped and directed to wash her hands and face or directed to blow her nose even. This is a little girl with Down syndrome and blowing her nose is something that all of us mom's do everyday... several times a day. Children with Down syndrome have low muscle tone and blowing their nose is a learned 'skill' that they need help with and they need to be taught. Our kiddo's need to be told each step of the way to 'blow hard', go wash your hands. With two aids and a certified teacher in this little girls classroom, not 1 of 3 adults would or could wipe her nose? ....Really? Needless to say this ESE mom was not happy how the school retaliated and did not provide just a simple support of wiping her little girls nose that day and instead, neglected her basic needs. ESE parents would never get away with sending our children TO school with a filthy nose or face, we would be reported, but the school gets away with this treatment of our littlest angels?
ESE Parents are wanting to volunteer at the schools to do anything and are being told there is nothing to do, they don't need help. ....Really? ESE Parents are wanting to get involved in SAF (School Advisory Forum) and are told that "that" position has already been filled, "you can attend and participate in the PTA or the PTO." ....Really? ESE Parents request permission to go on class field-trips or as chaperones and are told either we already have our parent volunteers or "no parents are allowed, only staff will be chaperones on the class field-trip."...Really? Some ESE parents want to be the Room Parent, again, "oh sorry...another parent has already gotten that position." ....Really? In my over 11 years at the same elementary school for both of my children, I have never been a room parent. Who are the room parents even? Do schools have room parents anymore?
ESE Parents are met with a CLOSED DOOR and are not talked to like the 'typical parents' that doesn't have a child with a disability. Parents of ESE children know this for a fact. Staff and teachers either are instructed to not talk to us, or if they do, to refer us to an ESE Staff person or "you'll have to speak to Mr. Principal about that." ....Really? Teachers and staff can't have a conversation with ESE parents anymore?If ESE parents want to know how their child is doing in the classroom and that child has a 1:1 aide, or there is a classroom assistant in their child's class, those aides seem to not 'see us' and certainly will not talk to us. For the most part, it seems our aides & the teachers pretend they are just so busy in their jobs that they can't even look our way when we are on the campus. ....Really?
Over the years I have had wonderful aides for my daughter, that respected and gave me their time. Not all ESE Students are even allowed to have 1:1 aides today, being told there is no funding. That is a whole conversation in itself! More of our children are being put into classrooms with several other students that would benefit by having a 1:1 aide but our schools instead will put several students into one classroom and share the aide between several students. That's alot to ask of one teacher and alot on 1 aide, now they are called a teachers assistant. The amount of the MATRIX funds generated from just a few students could actually pay for a few teacher assistants to fully support our children in their classrooms! Your child's Matrix numbers and Matrix funding and how it is actually spent is another topic of future discussion!
ESE Parents ARE INVOLVED Parents! They have to be, their child depends on them to be! Taking their child to endless hours of weekly therapies for years and years makes for a concerned involved parent.
What is going on at our children's schools that more and more ESE Parents are being met with this unspoken rule that they are not to be talked to with a natural honesty and respect? Why are Principals now becoming more the Headmaster that has the final say so on all things to do with our ESE Parents concerns and issues relating to their child in their classrooms?
Where did this unspoken CLOSED DOOR POLICY SOCIETY come from? Why is it happening more and more that our ESE Parents HAVE NO VOICE and ARE NOT BEING HEARD? Is it a bigger problem here in Broward school District? Is is happening throughout our entire State and Nation? ESE Parents are being shut out and held back from being part of the school society. ESE parents are not being allowed to be that involved parent at all grade levels. I was sent an email the other day from a Middle school administrator that I am actually considering for my daughter to attend. This administrator wrote to me and said, "Middle school isn't like Elementary school, things are alot different in Middle school." ....her point is? Parents ~ ALL parents need and should be encouraged to become MORE involved at the Middle school level than ever before! I know I plan on it!
Being a Special Ed Advocate I have clocked my kazillion unclockable hours listening on the phone over the years, all the absolute pure nonsense way too many ESE Parents are being put through today and throughout the entire school year! ESE Parents are good parents, they want to be involved in their child's education and show their child and their school support by being a classroom mom or by volunteering on the yearbook committee or by being a chaperone on the field-trips.
ESE Parents are being discriminated against on many levels sometimes starting with them just wanting to know how things are or what is going on or not going on or happening at the school pertaining to their child. ESE Parents are a valuable group of good parents that care, that really care not only for their own child, but for their child's classmates. These parents are devoted!
ESE Parents are met with a CLOSED DOOR in their faces more times than not and it needs to stop! ESE Parents are not the enemy, they are and can be a great resource to many, they can be a great help to their child's teachers! If principals and staff would just stop all this nonsense of shutting the ESE Parents out and start working with them from the start! Getting off on a good foot at the beginning of a new school year is important to all parents, especially to those ESE Parents!
The CLOSED DOOR POLICY that is practiced throughout the land today and I am talking in particular in Broward County Public Schools. I know this is happening everywhere. This attitude needs to stop and be replaced with something different! Positive parent participation with real communication and a positive partnership of collaboration ~ the child is the focus and the reason, we need not forget this!
ESE Parents can help train teachers and staff. Many times the lowest paid staff person, the 1:1 aide that usually works closest with our unique children, the para professional aide or the classroom aide or teachers aides as they are now called, these employees would benefit by having a closer positive working relationship with the ESE Parents. Parents know their child the best, what a great resource! It seems they are not allowed to talk, communicate or write to the child's parents, if they do..it's the most minimal. Most good parents would never leave their children in the care of babysitters or respite workers that they aren't able to talk with...would they? Why are ESE Parents at schools treated like staff are not suppose to talk to them? This is all too common and it's a shame!
The door is closed at just about every turn we go as ESE Parents wanting to be involved with our child's education. The CLOSED DOOR POLICY needs to stop!
If you are an ESE Parent, please take a moment and comment on this post. Let's hear your personal story. Tell me if your school has open arms for your parent involvement. I know some schools are absolutely doing a fantastic job of making sure all parents are treated with fairness and I know there are many schools out there that are not allowing ESE Parents the same opportunities to volunteer on campus and especially in their own child's classroom as a room parent or the room mom. If you are an ESE Parent and are the room mom...write to me! Tell me the positive, let's hear from you in the comment section below this posting. If you have experienced the CLOSED DOOR POLICY and you can relate to much of what I am posting...let's hear from you too. Post a comment, society needs to know how it really is out there trying to be an Involved ESE Parent at your child's school.
Our schools are like a little society, if the attitude is warm and welcoming for all and yes that includes allowing ESE Parents some wiggle room to volunteer and ask questions, then it creates a positive happy society. If some parents are being treated unfairly, and not allowed to be involved, it creates anger, dissatisfaction and an unhappy society! Schools need to do a better job of being accepting of ALL parent volunteers, especially by allowing ESE Parents the opportunity to Volunteer period!
The CLOSED DOOR POLICY that seems to be a secret society that only fellow ESE Parents know to be true. Time for a change of attitude across the board! Let your local School Board Members know that, Yes this IS happening to you and you want to see it change too! Do your part and help make positive changes within your school, within your school district and State. Be a change-maker and be proud to stand up for what you believe and you know needs to change!
Parents are the child's first teachers, they know every little thing about their child. Parents will always be the best advocates for their child!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
To My Old Master ~ A CONFIDENT - Educated SELF ADVOCATE!
This letter is so beautifully crafted and perfectly articulated to get into writing a snapshot of what happened and trying to be collaborative in the process of providing written knowledge of what happened to him as a SLAVE for 32 years to his Old Master.
This is a letter that shows he ~ gets it ~ he understands what his rights are, he sought out getting himself educated on the laws and moved forward with enthusiasm, perserverence and pride to move on and make sure his daughters got the full package of a quality education! He is a proud and confident man!
I love this letter because, this is the sort of letter that shows true strong parent advocacy skills!
If you are a parent working hard to make sure your children are receiving a quality education today and maybe your child has some unique special learning needs, then make sure you do your homework first and know what your rights are! Take the time to learn the policies and laws. Regularly added trainings and conferences to widen your knowledge base. Stay connected to others going through same and similiar things. Learn that if it isn't in writing......it didn't happen or it wasn't said. Document things that happen.
Have you ever heard of writing a letter to a stranger? This is exactly that! Here we are reading something from years ago that provides a look into our History and how things were and the people's true Spirit! Write your letters like this man did, to his Old Master, so your pride and confidence shines through as his does in this letter!
Share this letter, it's worth reading this tiny snippet of history from a true advocate!
http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/01/to-my-old-master.html Click this link or Title of this post to read the letter to My Old Master.
*Follow my Blog! Sign up and follow....on
the right side of this site, see my other Blogs!
This is a letter that shows he ~ gets it ~ he understands what his rights are, he sought out getting himself educated on the laws and moved forward with enthusiasm, perserverence and pride to move on and make sure his daughters got the full package of a quality education! He is a proud and confident man!
I love this letter because, this is the sort of letter that shows true strong parent advocacy skills!
If you are a parent working hard to make sure your children are receiving a quality education today and maybe your child has some unique special learning needs, then make sure you do your homework first and know what your rights are! Take the time to learn the policies and laws. Regularly added trainings and conferences to widen your knowledge base. Stay connected to others going through same and similiar things. Learn that if it isn't in writing......it didn't happen or it wasn't said. Document things that happen.
Have you ever heard of writing a letter to a stranger? This is exactly that! Here we are reading something from years ago that provides a look into our History and how things were and the people's true Spirit! Write your letters like this man did, to his Old Master, so your pride and confidence shines through as his does in this letter!
Share this letter, it's worth reading this tiny snippet of history from a true advocate!
http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/01/to-my-old-master.html Click this link or Title of this post to read the letter to My Old Master.
*Follow my Blog! Sign up and follow....on
the right side of this site, see my other Blogs!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
WOW!!! Such Discrimination stories!! *it's 2011 folks!
MyVSY.com http://myvsy.com/The%20Story.htm
Click on the link above here to read some pretty incredible and upsetting stories from parents and their Children trying to obtain an education.
I never really knew how much this was really happening around me! I have a son with ADHD and a daughter with Down syndrome, it hasn't been easy getting the two of them educated. I have had my own situations I could discuss here, but would rather have you check out this website called: My VSY.com ~ check it out!
Click on the link above here to read some pretty incredible and upsetting stories from parents and their Children trying to obtain an education.
I never really knew how much this was really happening around me! I have a son with ADHD and a daughter with Down syndrome, it hasn't been easy getting the two of them educated. I have had my own situations I could discuss here, but would rather have you check out this website called: My VSY.com ~ check it out!
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Family Hires Attorney After Police Scuffle With Special Needs Man
Family Hires Attorney After Police Scuffle With Special Needs Man
Gilberto Powell ~ 22 years old
I AM SO SORRY THIS HAS HAPPENED TO YOU!!!
You remind me of any number of my friends sons....all my friends have a son or daughter with Down syndrome just like you Gilberto.
I am so sad for you and your mom & dad and your entire family that all love you very much!
The police officers that did this to you, should be ashamed of themselves for BEATING you up and being POLICE BULLIES!!
I PRAY this will be a catalyst for not only the Miami-Police Department to make sure all their officers receive DISABILITY TRAINING but for us as a community that serves a large population of individuals with disabilities that ALL POLICE DEPARTMENTS provide DISABILITY SENSITIVITY TRAINING.
You remind me of any number of my friends sons....all my friends have a son or daughter with Down syndrome just like you Gilberto.
I am so sad for you and your mom & dad and your entire family that all love you very much!
The police officers that did this to you, should be ashamed of themselves for BEATING you up and being POLICE BULLIES!!
I PRAY this will be a catalyst for not only the Miami-Police Department to make sure all their officers receive DISABILITY TRAINING but for us as a community that serves a large population of individuals with disabilities that ALL POLICE DEPARTMENTS provide DISABILITY SENSITIVITY TRAINING.
Gilberto............I am so sorry this happened to you!
HUGS-2-YOU~!!!
PODS Angels ~ Down syndrome family support
Sunday, August 21, 2011
BUS Schedules??...did YOU get one?
Did you get BUS info in the mail this week or last? I got a postcard in the mail for my high school son and a second reminder I received a Robo-Call reminding again of my son's bus scheduled time of pick up and what corner he needed to be at.
My daughter, well.....anxiously I have been looking in the mail box everyday waiting.....I even called the school a couple of times last week to let them know I was concerned because I had received my son's BUS info but hadn't heard anything about my daughter's BUS info for the start of the new school year.
Funny thing.....I spoke with 3 other mom's with Children that have Down syndrome and all three said they hadn't received any postcard in the mail or a robo-call or anything about time and place of pick up. One mom has a son that got his info a week ago...just exactly like I did for my son. Her son and daughter will be attending the exact same school that starts at the same time. When she called her school about her little girl, she was told by her ESE person....that because her daughter had DD=Developmental Disability that she would need to take a short bus....a SHORT BUS??!!! Did she really say that? I thought maybe my friend was retelling me what she thought she heard the lady say....and that she was retelling me wrong...but she assured me that yes the lady DID say to her that her daughter would have to take THE SHORT BUS!!!!
What is wrong with people!!...What is wrong with the very 'professionals' that work with our families and our Children and they continue to use such OUT-DATED terminology?
Why have 3 of us mom's not gotten our BUS info and we all have other siblings that also ride buses and the the other family members all received their BUS schedule but our Children with Down syndrome did not! What is going on with our kiddo's NOT GETTING our BUS schedule postcards in the mail or even the robo-caller that has gone out to our other Children? I just don't get it....how can it be such a coincident that 3 of us families all with a Child with Down syndrome have not gotten any info about their BUS SCHEDULES???...We all are WONDERING........WHAT'S UP?!!
My daughter, well.....anxiously I have been looking in the mail box everyday waiting.....I even called the school a couple of times last week to let them know I was concerned because I had received my son's BUS info but hadn't heard anything about my daughter's BUS info for the start of the new school year.
Funny thing.....I spoke with 3 other mom's with Children that have Down syndrome and all three said they hadn't received any postcard in the mail or a robo-call or anything about time and place of pick up. One mom has a son that got his info a week ago...just exactly like I did for my son. Her son and daughter will be attending the exact same school that starts at the same time. When she called her school about her little girl, she was told by her ESE person....that because her daughter had DD=Developmental Disability that she would need to take a short bus....a SHORT BUS??!!! Did she really say that? I thought maybe my friend was retelling me what she thought she heard the lady say....and that she was retelling me wrong...but she assured me that yes the lady DID say to her that her daughter would have to take THE SHORT BUS!!!!
What is wrong with people!!...What is wrong with the very 'professionals' that work with our families and our Children and they continue to use such OUT-DATED terminology?
Why have 3 of us mom's not gotten our BUS info and we all have other siblings that also ride buses and the the other family members all received their BUS schedule but our Children with Down syndrome did not! What is going on with our kiddo's NOT GETTING our BUS schedule postcards in the mail or even the robo-caller that has gone out to our other Children? I just don't get it....how can it be such a coincident that 3 of us families all with a Child with Down syndrome have not gotten any info about their BUS SCHEDULES???...We all are WONDERING........WHAT'S UP?!!
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Our school may not have the "program" YOUR Child needs.....
A parent with a young Child goes to enroll her very sweet little girl.....in her neighborhood school today....at SHUTTLE Elementary in Tamarac, Florida. (Not really the name of the school....) The office person that was there to help with registering new students was a nice lady I'm sure and just doing her job. My friend was asked about her 2 Children that she was registering today. She tells the nice lady behind the desk that her daughter has Down syndrome. Oh boy.....THAT was mommies first mistake because once you mention you are REGISTERING YOUR CHILD WITH DOWN SYNDROME, then things are handled differently for sure! The office person told my friend, "Have you had an IEP meeting with anyone from OUR school? OUR school might not have "the program" needed for your daughter.
My friend is a good Advocate for her two Children and moved to a new apartment over the summer just to make sure her Children would be in the boundry of that really NICE school! She also made sure this NICE school had what she knew her two Children needed and one is an ESE PreSchool Program for her little girl! Her little girl attends a Special Needs Developmental PreSchool now, called UCP in Fort Lauderdale. UCP knows that her little girl would be transitioning onto that particular Elementary school, one that UCP has told this mommie yes that school does have the ESE PreSchool program or PLACE as it has been called in recent years. Seems our School District here wants to call our 3-5 year old Special Ed PreSchool Programs something different every year...just to confuse parents....and some school staff people even! Some of the 3-5 year old ESE PreSchool Programs are 'secretly' NOT for our little ones with Down syndrome it seems...........I said....it seems....let's get the DATA so we know. That would be nice to know for sure!
OK Folks.....What IS this particular PROGRAM all these people are always talking about....for OUR little kiddos with Down syndrome????
There is an ESE PreK Program at Shuttle Elementary in Tamarac (aka as the PLACE Program) and the little girl is absolutely ELIGIBLE to ATTEND that program because of her AGE and her ESE Eligibility! So what gives when they find out there is a student with DOWN SYNDROME wanting to enroll and attend the school that is down the street from the parents house?
This IS an ongoing problem here in Broward County and lots of places around the entire Country! I know for a fact this IS a very common problem with the MIND-SET and 'secret policy maybe' here in Broward Public Schools! This is not the first time a parent has contacted me and asked me for help and what to do. Parents are being told something that just isn't TRUE when it comes to enrolling their Child *with Down syndrome into their neighborhood schools!
What CAN BE DONE about this ongoing DISCRIMINATION that parents are being told......?
SEEKING ADVICE about this all too common problem here in Broward County!
Would be nice to find out where MOST students with Down syndrome are attending school and what sorts of classrooms they are being educated in. Is there a way to find out this information? Someone please help make this "situation" right.....it is just not right! How would YOU feel if you were told oh no your Child can't come to THIS SCHOOL.......we may not be able to "meet your Child's needs here."
Really......just want schools to ACCEPT our Children and TEACH THEM! Is that asking too much?
This annoys me more than a little................................
Have a delightful day!
*Become a FOLLOWER of this Blog and share it with others. Thanks!
My friend is a good Advocate for her two Children and moved to a new apartment over the summer just to make sure her Children would be in the boundry of that really NICE school! She also made sure this NICE school had what she knew her two Children needed and one is an ESE PreSchool Program for her little girl! Her little girl attends a Special Needs Developmental PreSchool now, called UCP in Fort Lauderdale. UCP knows that her little girl would be transitioning onto that particular Elementary school, one that UCP has told this mommie yes that school does have the ESE PreSchool program or PLACE as it has been called in recent years. Seems our School District here wants to call our 3-5 year old Special Ed PreSchool Programs something different every year...just to confuse parents....and some school staff people even! Some of the 3-5 year old ESE PreSchool Programs are 'secretly' NOT for our little ones with Down syndrome it seems...........I said....it seems....let's get the DATA so we know. That would be nice to know for sure!
OK Folks.....What IS this particular PROGRAM all these people are always talking about....for OUR little kiddos with Down syndrome????
There is an ESE PreK Program at Shuttle Elementary in Tamarac (aka as the PLACE Program) and the little girl is absolutely ELIGIBLE to ATTEND that program because of her AGE and her ESE Eligibility! So what gives when they find out there is a student with DOWN SYNDROME wanting to enroll and attend the school that is down the street from the parents house?
This IS an ongoing problem here in Broward County and lots of places around the entire Country! I know for a fact this IS a very common problem with the MIND-SET and 'secret policy maybe' here in Broward Public Schools! This is not the first time a parent has contacted me and asked me for help and what to do. Parents are being told something that just isn't TRUE when it comes to enrolling their Child *with Down syndrome into their neighborhood schools!
What CAN BE DONE about this ongoing DISCRIMINATION that parents are being told......?
SEEKING ADVICE about this all too common problem here in Broward County!
Would be nice to find out where MOST students with Down syndrome are attending school and what sorts of classrooms they are being educated in. Is there a way to find out this information? Someone please help make this "situation" right.....it is just not right! How would YOU feel if you were told oh no your Child can't come to THIS SCHOOL.......we may not be able to "meet your Child's needs here."
Really......just want schools to ACCEPT our Children and TEACH THEM! Is that asking too much?
This annoys me more than a little................................
Have a delightful day!
*Become a FOLLOWER of this Blog and share it with others. Thanks!
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!
\
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!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Our 3 year olds...what are the PROFESSIONALS thinking??
I can tell it's a week before school starts! I received several phone calls just yesterday! ALL the calls were about the same exact thing...parents being TOLD (without it yet ever being discussed in any IEP meeting!!!) ...that their little one with Down syndrome HAS just one PLACEMENT OPTION and can ONLY attend a Disability only Developmental Preschool instead of the neighborhood elementary school that is nearest to the parents home!
What is wrong with people??! I just don't get those few professionals that speak up the most at these initial eligibility and PLACEMENT meetings! The oh so prejudgemental professionals read their wonderfully word-smithed initial evaluation reports and the parents are hearing these professional 'reports' for the very first time with lots of emotions and concern. Most of the time it's these new parents to the whole ESE 'ballgame'...that really don't have a clue what is happening! Hopefully they have taken another family member, friend or better yet an experienced advocate with them.
The professional PLACEMENT TEAMS seem to think that it is only their professional opinions that matter the most when making the PLACEMENT decisions about a 3 year old youngsters FUTURE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS!! What about what the PARENTS THINK IS BEST FOR THEIR OWN CHILD??? How can anyone really know what classroom set up is really going to be BEST, especially for a little guy just turning 3 years old? THERE IS NO DATA TO SUPPORT that a little 3 year old absolutely needs a more restrictive classroom with fewer student to teacher ratio. WHAT IS THE NATIONAL TREND AND WHAT DOES THE NATIONAL RESEARCH SAY? WHAT DO DISABILITY SPECIFIC NATIONAL EXPERTS RECOMMEND AS BEST PRACTICES?
Our PROFESSIONAL PLACEMENT TEAMS in Broward want parents to believe that it is only the PROFESSIONALS that KNOW WHAT IS BEST for their Child!! Please....give me a break!! From what I am being told by several parents, now that have recently taken their little ones to be evaluated... that those professionals have only met, seen and worked with their Child for maybe 10 - 15 minutes total!!! Of course if asked they will tell everyone they took a WHOLE HALF HOUR with the Child and now they KNOW BEST for that young child! NOT!!! (WOW a whole 10 to sometimes maybe
30 minutes...maybe.....to do an individualized evaluation for Speech, Occupational and Physical Therapy.)
The professionals not ever thinking to consider contacting and COLLABORATING with the private family therapist these little ones have been seeing for years! The private Speech, Occupational or Physical Therapist that has been working with the little one for over 3 years and actually KNOWS the Child really well!! Yes professional Part B therapist that do evaluations on youngsters with developmental delays are professionals, but when they start only listening to themselves and not ever taking into consideration what the parents concerns and what they as the Child parents feel will be BEST. It is the PARENTS THAT ARE THE REAL EXPERTS here at this point when it comes to where they would like to have their child educated and which school and why. I'm a firm believer that it's the parents that know THEIR CHILD THE BEST.
When there are IEP TEAMS of 8 plus professionals sitting around a conference table and pretty much all of the school system side of INITIAL PLACEMENT TEAMS have a predetermined mind set on where and how a certain child with a particular or certain kind of disability should go to school...and not one of those people speak up and SUGGEST that maybe it would be ok and fine to have this little one attend the neighborhood school that is just a few blocks away from their parents home that actually has the 3-5 year old "disability" program (PreK ESE Programs) designed just for little kiddo's that need a little extra help in their development.
I find it very sad that NOT ONE of those professionals thought the PreK ESE classroom MIGHT be a good placement for many of our 3 year old students with DOWN SYNDROME?? First of all when they don't even provide and discuss out in the open all the classroom and program options available...that seems then like it is a systematic decision that all students with a certain type of disability, like Down syndrome for example are only to be suggested to attend certain classrooms or certain types of placement decisions are already PREDETERMINED before ever meeting with the family! THIS IS DISCRIMINATION AT ITS FINEST and yes it is happening still today....but today it's not so much about race as it is about DISABILITIES today, and it is also about certain kinds of disabilities....Plain and simple it's about DISCRIMINATION AND IT NEEDS TO STOP!!
When IEP teams pre-determine placement before the actual meeting this is when their professional opinions and their PERSONAL FEELINGS to what they think is BEST for that child or how they usually do it...their feelings and their opinions don't mean a hill-o-beans! When there isn't and hasn't been professional collaboration going with the Child's private therapists and/or the
parents and there never was....they lose their creditability as the professionals they should be respected for! Personally they loose the repect they deserve as professionals...women usually...because they don't BELIEVE IN OUR CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME!! It is obvious by the well rehearsed same ol comments they provide to parent after parent after parent.
Why is it that placement after placement of our young Children with Down syndrome between the ages of 3 to 5 years old are more likely than not....to be recommended placement in one of several Broward County School PROVIDER DEVELOPMENTAL PRESCHOOLS? These schools are not usually near to the Childs home and most times requires a long bus ride to attend them as well. Why are these little ones being PUSHED TO ONLY BE ABLE TO ATTEND ARC, ANN STORK, UCP or Broward Children's Center? Why are these Children not being offered the PreK ESE classrooms that are at our neighborhood schools? Someone please give me the data that supports the placement at a developmental preschool only as the best placement option always for so many Children with Down syndrome especially!
OUR LITTLE CUTIES WITH DOWN SYNDROME NEED SO MUCH CLASSROOM SUPPORT ABSOLUTELY AND LOTS OF POSITIVE PRAISE AND ENCOURAGEMENT, ESE SUPPORTS AND SERVICES!
What I heard today during the initial evaluation and placement IEP "TEAM" MEETING for a particular cutie cute and oh so yummy sweet and delicious little boy....was that this team of Broward Public Schools Initial Placement Professionals INSISTED (almost dictated!) that he attend the very developmental preschool the parents had just pulled him out from just 2 months previous! THEY SAW THINGS THEY DID NOT LIKE AND DID NOT FEEL THIS PLACE WAS DOING WHAT THEY REALLY SHOULD BE DOING FOR THEIR SON, SO THEY PULLED HIM FROM THAT SCHOOL NEVER TO HAVE HIM GO THERE EVER AGAIN! So....tell me....why would parents want their little boy to go back to a place they knew to NOT BE THE BEST PLACEMENT OPTION for him?
I am sadden that we have so much PREJUDGEMENT AND PRE-DETERMINED PLACEMENT DECISIONS without parents having any say so in what they think might be best for their Child...so much of this is happening in our Broward school district! Our youngest and most vulnerable of students are being discriminated against and it needs to stop and quick! A STATE COMPLAINT MIGHT BE THE ONLY WAY TO HAVE OUR DISTRICT WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE WITH THIS ON GOING SITUATION THAT HAPPENS TO CHILD AFTER CHILD AFTER CHILD WITH NOT JUST DOWN SYNDROME BUT OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS!
If you or someone you know has had a similar situation happen to you at your Child's Initial 3 year old placement TRANSITION IEP, please write me an email telling me your story. I want to help make a positive change and I need your help!
Email me your story: AngelKids4me@gmail.com
What is wrong with people??! I just don't get those few professionals that speak up the most at these initial eligibility and PLACEMENT meetings! The oh so prejudgemental professionals read their wonderfully word-smithed initial evaluation reports and the parents are hearing these professional 'reports' for the very first time with lots of emotions and concern. Most of the time it's these new parents to the whole ESE 'ballgame'...that really don't have a clue what is happening! Hopefully they have taken another family member, friend or better yet an experienced advocate with them.
The professional PLACEMENT TEAMS seem to think that it is only their professional opinions that matter the most when making the PLACEMENT decisions about a 3 year old youngsters FUTURE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS!! What about what the PARENTS THINK IS BEST FOR THEIR OWN CHILD??? How can anyone really know what classroom set up is really going to be BEST, especially for a little guy just turning 3 years old? THERE IS NO DATA TO SUPPORT that a little 3 year old absolutely needs a more restrictive classroom with fewer student to teacher ratio. WHAT IS THE NATIONAL TREND AND WHAT DOES THE NATIONAL RESEARCH SAY? WHAT DO DISABILITY SPECIFIC NATIONAL EXPERTS RECOMMEND AS BEST PRACTICES?
Our PROFESSIONAL PLACEMENT TEAMS in Broward want parents to believe that it is only the PROFESSIONALS that KNOW WHAT IS BEST for their Child!! Please....give me a break!! From what I am being told by several parents, now that have recently taken their little ones to be evaluated... that those professionals have only met, seen and worked with their Child for maybe 10 - 15 minutes total!!! Of course if asked they will tell everyone they took a WHOLE HALF HOUR with the Child and now they KNOW BEST for that young child! NOT!!! (WOW a whole 10 to sometimes maybe
30 minutes...maybe.....to do an individualized evaluation for Speech, Occupational and Physical Therapy.)
The professionals not ever thinking to consider contacting and COLLABORATING with the private family therapist these little ones have been seeing for years! The private Speech, Occupational or Physical Therapist that has been working with the little one for over 3 years and actually KNOWS the Child really well!! Yes professional Part B therapist that do evaluations on youngsters with developmental delays are professionals, but when they start only listening to themselves and not ever taking into consideration what the parents concerns and what they as the Child parents feel will be BEST. It is the PARENTS THAT ARE THE REAL EXPERTS here at this point when it comes to where they would like to have their child educated and which school and why. I'm a firm believer that it's the parents that know THEIR CHILD THE BEST.
When there are IEP TEAMS of 8 plus professionals sitting around a conference table and pretty much all of the school system side of INITIAL PLACEMENT TEAMS have a predetermined mind set on where and how a certain child with a particular or certain kind of disability should go to school...and not one of those people speak up and SUGGEST that maybe it would be ok and fine to have this little one attend the neighborhood school that is just a few blocks away from their parents home that actually has the 3-5 year old "disability" program (PreK ESE Programs) designed just for little kiddo's that need a little extra help in their development.
I find it very sad that NOT ONE of those professionals thought the PreK ESE classroom MIGHT be a good placement for many of our 3 year old students with DOWN SYNDROME?? First of all when they don't even provide and discuss out in the open all the classroom and program options available...that seems then like it is a systematic decision that all students with a certain type of disability, like Down syndrome for example are only to be suggested to attend certain classrooms or certain types of placement decisions are already PREDETERMINED before ever meeting with the family! THIS IS DISCRIMINATION AT ITS FINEST and yes it is happening still today....but today it's not so much about race as it is about DISABILITIES today, and it is also about certain kinds of disabilities....Plain and simple it's about DISCRIMINATION AND IT NEEDS TO STOP!!
When IEP teams pre-determine placement before the actual meeting this is when their professional opinions and their PERSONAL FEELINGS to what they think is BEST for that child or how they usually do it...their feelings and their opinions don't mean a hill-o-beans! When there isn't and hasn't been professional collaboration going with the Child's private therapists and/or the
parents and there never was....they lose their creditability as the professionals they should be respected for! Personally they loose the repect they deserve as professionals...women usually...because they don't BELIEVE IN OUR CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME!! It is obvious by the well rehearsed same ol comments they provide to parent after parent after parent.
Why is it that placement after placement of our young Children with Down syndrome between the ages of 3 to 5 years old are more likely than not....to be recommended placement in one of several Broward County School PROVIDER DEVELOPMENTAL PRESCHOOLS? These schools are not usually near to the Childs home and most times requires a long bus ride to attend them as well. Why are these little ones being PUSHED TO ONLY BE ABLE TO ATTEND ARC, ANN STORK, UCP or Broward Children's Center? Why are these Children not being offered the PreK ESE classrooms that are at our neighborhood schools? Someone please give me the data that supports the placement at a developmental preschool only as the best placement option always for so many Children with Down syndrome especially!
OUR LITTLE CUTIES WITH DOWN SYNDROME NEED SO MUCH CLASSROOM SUPPORT ABSOLUTELY AND LOTS OF POSITIVE PRAISE AND ENCOURAGEMENT, ESE SUPPORTS AND SERVICES!
What I heard today during the initial evaluation and placement IEP "TEAM" MEETING for a particular cutie cute and oh so yummy sweet and delicious little boy....was that this team of Broward Public Schools Initial Placement Professionals INSISTED (almost dictated!) that he attend the very developmental preschool the parents had just pulled him out from just 2 months previous! THEY SAW THINGS THEY DID NOT LIKE AND DID NOT FEEL THIS PLACE WAS DOING WHAT THEY REALLY SHOULD BE DOING FOR THEIR SON, SO THEY PULLED HIM FROM THAT SCHOOL NEVER TO HAVE HIM GO THERE EVER AGAIN! So....tell me....why would parents want their little boy to go back to a place they knew to NOT BE THE BEST PLACEMENT OPTION for him?
I am sadden that we have so much PREJUDGEMENT AND PRE-DETERMINED PLACEMENT DECISIONS without parents having any say so in what they think might be best for their Child...so much of this is happening in our Broward school district! Our youngest and most vulnerable of students are being discriminated against and it needs to stop and quick! A STATE COMPLAINT MIGHT BE THE ONLY WAY TO HAVE OUR DISTRICT WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE WITH THIS ON GOING SITUATION THAT HAPPENS TO CHILD AFTER CHILD AFTER CHILD WITH NOT JUST DOWN SYNDROME BUT OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS!
If you or someone you know has had a similar situation happen to you at your Child's Initial 3 year old placement TRANSITION IEP, please write me an email telling me your story. I want to help make a positive change and I need your help!
Email me your story: AngelKids4me@gmail.com
Monday, June 14, 2010
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
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
Friday, May 14, 2010
INCLUSION or EXCLUSION
The word inclusion from the dictionary means: to belong or part of. At school I think most of us would want to 'belong and be part of'.....but today, yup still today there is thinking out there that some people shouldn't belong or be part of, it's called exclusion, discrimination and segregation.
I have been part of many IEP teams in several Florida counties, my home is Broward County and I have to say I am witnessing what seems like a real push to segragate our children with Down syndrome from the general education classrooms and making parents feel like their Child has to go only into special education classrooms or what is commonly known as the cluster classrooms instead of allowing them to be educated side-by-side their neighborhood friends and be taught in the general education classrooms with the support and services they would need to be successful. What I am seeing on a more regular basis is an increase in discrimination towards certain individuals, in particular our little 3 years olds with Down syndrome that are transitioning into what is called the Part B services (Dept of Education) with providing all the different educational options for our children with Down syndrome specifically. Busing children with disabilities to miles away from their neighborhood schools is still common practice today!
Today those with Down syndrome are being EXCLUDED from attending their neighborhood schools and in not being allowed to be educated in regular classrooms more and more! They are being pushed into or pulled out to leave and go to special education classrooms that are filled only with students that have a disability! Full Inclusion is not the first option on the minds of the educational professionals that are evaluating our Children and the certainly not the principals running our schools! There are some principals and schools that are doing a fantastic job of including students with disabilities, but the majority of our society still does not allow 'those kids' to go to all classes with everyone else!
I am sadden to know that there is still such discrimination happening in our county and in our world. There are many schools that don't even let those with disabilities use the front door of our Public schools....they use the back or a side entrance on another side of the school building!! Many time where the garbage dumpsters are located and the big garbage trucks come to pick up the school garbage! Yes the same door that was created for taking out the garbage!
WHY IS THIS DISCRIMINATION & SEGREGATION STILL HAPPENING TODAY?? I SEE IT WITH MY OWN EYES RIGHT HERE IN BROWARD COUNTY FLORIDA TODAY IN 2010!
WHY ARE OUR SCHOOLS HIDING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND MAKING THEM HAVE TO USE THE BACK OR SIDE DOORS?
WHY ARE PARENTS ALLOWING THEIR CHILDREN TO BE TREATED WITH SUCH DISRESPECT BY MAKING THEM HAVE TO USE A DIFFERENT DOOR THAN THE REST OF THE STUDENTS! STAND UP PARENTS AND DON'T ALLOW SUCH DISCRIMINATION AGAINST YOUR PRECIOUS CHILD! THIS IS ONE REASON WHY IT CONTINUES!
ROSA PARKS MADE A STAND ON WHAT SHE BELIEVED TO BE RIGHT! SHE PAVED THE WAY FOR MANY! DO THIS FOR YOUR OWN CHILD!
I have been part of many IEP teams in several Florida counties, my home is Broward County and I have to say I am witnessing what seems like a real push to segragate our children with Down syndrome from the general education classrooms and making parents feel like their Child has to go only into special education classrooms or what is commonly known as the cluster classrooms instead of allowing them to be educated side-by-side their neighborhood friends and be taught in the general education classrooms with the support and services they would need to be successful. What I am seeing on a more regular basis is an increase in discrimination towards certain individuals, in particular our little 3 years olds with Down syndrome that are transitioning into what is called the Part B services (Dept of Education) with providing all the different educational options for our children with Down syndrome specifically. Busing children with disabilities to miles away from their neighborhood schools is still common practice today!
Today those with Down syndrome are being EXCLUDED from attending their neighborhood schools and in not being allowed to be educated in regular classrooms more and more! They are being pushed into or pulled out to leave and go to special education classrooms that are filled only with students that have a disability! Full Inclusion is not the first option on the minds of the educational professionals that are evaluating our Children and the certainly not the principals running our schools! There are some principals and schools that are doing a fantastic job of including students with disabilities, but the majority of our society still does not allow 'those kids' to go to all classes with everyone else!
I am sadden to know that there is still such discrimination happening in our county and in our world. There are many schools that don't even let those with disabilities use the front door of our Public schools....they use the back or a side entrance on another side of the school building!! Many time where the garbage dumpsters are located and the big garbage trucks come to pick up the school garbage! Yes the same door that was created for taking out the garbage!
WHY IS THIS DISCRIMINATION & SEGREGATION STILL HAPPENING TODAY?? I SEE IT WITH MY OWN EYES RIGHT HERE IN BROWARD COUNTY FLORIDA TODAY IN 2010!
WHY ARE OUR SCHOOLS HIDING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND MAKING THEM HAVE TO USE THE BACK OR SIDE DOORS?
WHY ARE PARENTS ALLOWING THEIR CHILDREN TO BE TREATED WITH SUCH DISRESPECT BY MAKING THEM HAVE TO USE A DIFFERENT DOOR THAN THE REST OF THE STUDENTS! STAND UP PARENTS AND DON'T ALLOW SUCH DISCRIMINATION AGAINST YOUR PRECIOUS CHILD! THIS IS ONE REASON WHY IT CONTINUES!
ROSA PARKS MADE A STAND ON WHAT SHE BELIEVED TO BE RIGHT! SHE PAVED THE WAY FOR MANY! DO THIS FOR YOUR OWN CHILD!
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Tell the Board of Education it is DISCRIMINATION....
Tell the Board of Education it is DISCRIMINATION to deny alternative
Posted by: "Rosemary N. Palmer" floridalawlady@gmail.com askthelawlady
Fri Dec 18, 2009 11:40 am (PST)
Please forward this email as widely as possible, asking your friends and
friends of those who oppose discrimination to write the Board of Education
in opposition to excluding alternative schools from the same accountability
as other schools.
https://www.flrules.org/gateway/readFile.asp?sid=2&tid=8045585&type=1&File=6A-1.099811.htm
FLDOE has just announced its differential accountability rule, which is set
for public hearing January 19, 2010 in Tampa (unknown time and place,
contact lynn.abbott@fldoe.org). The rule sets out what schools where
students aren't learning have to do to fix it. The rule excludes
alternative schools, including special education day schools, second chance
schools which are disproportionately populated by students of color and
students with disabilities, whether or not identified under IDEA or 504, who
have typically been sent there because school districts have failed to
provide research proven interventions in less restrictive environments, and
similar schools, from full accountability when they continue to fail
students . (See
http://info.fldoe.org/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-5588/dps-2009-215.pdf )
Apparently school districts have argued that the populations are too fragile
and and too mobile for school districts to be required to close them when
they cannot fix the problems after 1 year in Intervene status (which follows
multiple years in prevent and correct status --- most of the ESE schools are
now in Correct or Correct II status throughout the state).
However we know that students with disabilities whether or not identified
and students of color ought to be equally entitled to the benefits of
differentiated accountability. After years of knowing that such schools do
not implement research proven interventions with fidelity and do not produce
results (not to mention assigning personnel to such schools after they have
failed in some way in non-alternative schools), we all know that school
districts will NOT have any incentive to fix the problems until they know
that they must implement interventions that actually educate in those
schools too, and they are subject to ultimate sanctions of disbanding the
schools if they cannot find a way to successfully educated the students
there assigned, just like other schools are. Indeed, exempting alternative
schools gives districts additional incentives to throw away students with
disabilities rather than educate them, and also continues practices of using
more restrictive environments that clearly don't work any way, which are
also in violation of the law..
I say that students with disabilities (and students of color to the extent
that they are disproportionately represented in alternative schools) deserve
to be in schools that teach. Let's tell FLDOE and the Florida Board of
Education that passing a rule exempting alternative schools from Intervenor
status is discrimination, pure and simple.
Dr. Eric J. Smith Commissioner of Education Commissioner@fldoe.org
Office of the Commissioner Turlington Building, Suite 1514
325 West Gaines Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
*Phone:* (850) 245-0505
*Fax:* (850) 245-9667
STATE BOARD of EDUCATION
(850) 245-9661
325 W. Gaines Street
Suite 1520
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
T. WILLARD FAIR, Chairman
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Urban League of Greater Miami,
Inc.
PETER BOULWARE, Vice president of Legacy Toyota, Tallahassee FL
DR. AKSHAY DESAI, President, CEO and Chairman of Universal Health Care, St.
Petersburg, FL
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ , Colson, Hicks, Eidson, Coral Gables FL
JOHN R. PADGET , Key West FL
KATHLEEN SHANAHAN, CEO WRSCompass,
LINDA K. TAYLOR, Ft. Myers, FL
Thank you for your help. It will take us all writing and calling to make a
difference.
--
Rosemary N. Palmer
Attorney at Law
FBN 070904 UBN 005004
5260 Pimlico Drive
Tallahassee FL 32309
floridalawlady@gmail.com
850 668 9203
Posted by: "Rosemary N. Palmer" floridalawlady@gmail.com askthelawlady
Fri Dec 18, 2009 11:40 am (PST)
Please forward this email as widely as possible, asking your friends and
friends of those who oppose discrimination to write the Board of Education
in opposition to excluding alternative schools from the same accountability
as other schools.
https://www.flrules.org/gateway/readFile.asp?sid=2&tid=8045585&type=1&File=6A-1.099811.htm
FLDOE has just announced its differential accountability rule, which is set
for public hearing January 19, 2010 in Tampa (unknown time and place,
contact lynn.abbott@fldoe.org). The rule sets out what schools where
students aren't learning have to do to fix it. The rule excludes
alternative schools, including special education day schools, second chance
schools which are disproportionately populated by students of color and
students with disabilities, whether or not identified under IDEA or 504, who
have typically been sent there because school districts have failed to
provide research proven interventions in less restrictive environments, and
similar schools, from full accountability when they continue to fail
students . (See
http://info.fldoe.org/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-5588/dps-2009-215.pdf )
Apparently school districts have argued that the populations are too fragile
and and too mobile for school districts to be required to close them when
they cannot fix the problems after 1 year in Intervene status (which follows
multiple years in prevent and correct status --- most of the ESE schools are
now in Correct or Correct II status throughout the state).
However we know that students with disabilities whether or not identified
and students of color ought to be equally entitled to the benefits of
differentiated accountability. After years of knowing that such schools do
not implement research proven interventions with fidelity and do not produce
results (not to mention assigning personnel to such schools after they have
failed in some way in non-alternative schools), we all know that school
districts will NOT have any incentive to fix the problems until they know
that they must implement interventions that actually educate in those
schools too, and they are subject to ultimate sanctions of disbanding the
schools if they cannot find a way to successfully educated the students
there assigned, just like other schools are. Indeed, exempting alternative
schools gives districts additional incentives to throw away students with
disabilities rather than educate them, and also continues practices of using
more restrictive environments that clearly don't work any way, which are
also in violation of the law..
I say that students with disabilities (and students of color to the extent
that they are disproportionately represented in alternative schools) deserve
to be in schools that teach. Let's tell FLDOE and the Florida Board of
Education that passing a rule exempting alternative schools from Intervenor
status is discrimination, pure and simple.
Dr. Eric J. Smith Commissioner of Education Commissioner@fldoe.org
Office of the Commissioner Turlington Building, Suite 1514
325 West Gaines Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
*Phone:* (850) 245-0505
*Fax:* (850) 245-9667
STATE BOARD of EDUCATION
(850) 245-9661
325 W. Gaines Street
Suite 1520
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
T. WILLARD FAIR, Chairman
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Urban League of Greater Miami,
Inc.
PETER BOULWARE, Vice president of Legacy Toyota, Tallahassee FL
DR. AKSHAY DESAI, President, CEO and Chairman of Universal Health Care, St.
Petersburg, FL
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ , Colson, Hicks, Eidson, Coral Gables FL
JOHN R. PADGET , Key West FL
KATHLEEN SHANAHAN, CEO WRSCompass,
LINDA K. TAYLOR, Ft. Myers, FL
Thank you for your help. It will take us all writing and calling to make a
difference.
--
Rosemary N. Palmer
Attorney at Law
FBN 070904 UBN 005004
5260 Pimlico Drive
Tallahassee FL 32309
floridalawlady@gmail.com
850 668 9203
Thursday, October 8, 2009
"It's an IEP Team Decision"......ever hear that?
Ever heard this before? "It's an IEP Team Decision"... What does it really mean? When you are at your Child's IEP meeting, have you ever heard this said before? Yes parents are part of the IEP team, it's good when you speak up and provide your input, concerns and suggestions....but when it comes to having the document really say exactly what your input or your suggestions are, it's like a knockdown drag out fight to get the simplest of support or service actually written in. Even the SUPPORT & TRAINING FOR PERSONNEL piece of the document...egads those working closest to and with our Child, should be "required" to receive some training!...how do we parents ever know if teachers and para professionals have actually been trained? We never do! Where does it say specifically that they actually have to 'be trained' and by what date?...usually....this too shall become nothing on that IEP document...it's a legal document right?
I can not believe how the majority of IEP team members are usually on the 'opposing team' to what the parent is advocating for. There is no "IEP team decision"...it's a district wide decision many times ESPECIALLY when it comes to PLACEMENT of our Children with certain 'eligibilities' into a certain type of classroom environment!...only to hear repeated like it's the mantra 'they all chat' while brushing their teeth in the morning before going off to attend yet another one of 'those meetings' with one of 'those parents'....they get paid for attending these IEP 'team' meetings day in and day out! These meetings don't give them diarrhea like it does the mom's of those Children! Parents are STRESSED OUT and fighting hard to have their Child provided a good classroom with good supports to help them be successful! Parents know best, but are never really heard and often times their suggestions or concerns are not really 'taken into consideration'......usually shot down at every corner they turn...every real concern or support the parent suggest many times falls on deaf ears of the entire IEP team!
The majority of our 'school society', and that means teachers, principals and especially district administrators and staff, schoolboard members and Superintendents even....still do not really believe our Children with disabilities should be 'allowed' to be taught in a GENERAL EDUCATION CLASSROOM with their friends that live in the same neighborhood! I am sickened by the uneducated and outdated way of thinking that so many running our schools have today in 2009!
They call themselves professionals and say it "at us" in a degrading sort of way...during our IEP meetings, as a way to talk down to parents! Because 'they have' this or that degree in Speech and Language Pathology ~ THEY ARE THE PROFESSIONALS!!! Of all people that should understand the most about fine motor delays in speech and language and communication....some of the so called 'most educated' from a BOOK...have NOT-A-CLUE what it means to provide a support or service to a Child that needs it the most! (They have been instructed from their 'higher ups' on what to say and provide!..do not go over!!! Everyone wants to keep their job and that paycheck coming in!) Most times the highest degreed IEP 'team members' are the very ones that have no idea what it's like to really help a Child be all they can be! Mainly because they don't believe certain individuals will ever really amount to much....they went to school to get that degree for?...for what? To deny the very support or service they could provide to help a young mind learn skills they struggle with, so they can be better at it in the long run..for life!
Why do people go for the Professional degrees they have, to work with Children with disabilities in the first place? IMHO: To make money OFF the delays and disabilities of the very students they don't 'really believe in'? I think our Children with Disabilities are a COMMODITY...seen only as a means to earn a living off of them! If this is not true to some degree...why are the professionals providing MINIMAL support across the board and only giving out a one size fits all service, no matter how hard it is to understand a person 'communicate' or 'write'.....needing OT-Occupational Therapy...or how funny they may walk because of certain genetic conditions...if they can stand up and walk and they ''can navigate the school campus''...what more do we want from those professionals during the school day?
I see too many IEP 'teams' act as though they haven't a clue about doing the right thing in providing WHAT THE CHILD NEEDS and only go by what 'they are instructed' to carry out by the end of that IEP 'team' meeting...us against them....who's gonna win.....well certainly not the Child!! Two opposing teams...certainly not all on the same team, but out to deny!!
It's been a stressful day of advocating for the rights a Child to be educated in a General Education Classroom today. Trying to secure the needed supports and services so the Child can be successful....I am up against 'the district'.....THE DISTRICT wants this student where they WANT THAT STUDENT and that's the bottom line! THEY WANT TO SEPARATE and put this Child in of 'those cluster classrooms' without ever once providing an opportunity or chance to attend a regular general education classroom with all the supports and services to be successful...why???...because for one..."it's an IEP Team Decision"!! and THE TEAM believe that Child "NEEDS" that type of most restrictive setting! Do they even care what the parent wants and knows their Child needs? NO THEY DO NOT CARE WHAT THE PARENT WANTS FOR THEIR CHILD!!.....The Professionals...THEY HAVEN'T A CLUE!!.....many times they aren't even a parent.....and of course they aren't raising a Child with Down syndrome or Autism or any number of unique learning challenges...how could they possible know what we know....we didn't get our EXPERT KNOWLEDGE from attending college....we shed our blood for these Children!!!
Our 'school society' is pushing our Children with Down syndrome especially, away and into SEPARATED and out of sight SPECIAL classrooms...usually in a portable or a back classroom, away away away from the general population! Oh let's not forget they will "INCLUDE THEM" during lunch and recess and specials!...might get lucky and get an entire 15 minutes of GEN.ED time during a REGULAR KINDERGARTEN CLASS CIRCLE TIME!...15 WHOLE MINUTES!!!....and that's ONLY if the Child BEHAVES for those 15 minutes!! Oh assuring the student would get ALL THE SUPPORT he needs!!...We should be grateful we have such caring and knowledgable professionals making Individual Education Plan Placement decisions for our Children! We are GRATEFUL!
I will wake up again tomorrow to fight the good fight all over again....certainly not making a regular paycheck doing it either! I am trying to contribute financially to our family expenses, but am I doing these 'advocacy fights' for the money....for the most part no! I work for FREE much of the time! I do this with a passion because I believe in the Children that need us the most! I believe in their futures and their abilities to do great and wonderful things...so I fight for them! They can't.....many times their parents can't.....but everyone is learning. I see myself as a coach to parents! I love what I do, I love the little kiddo's I am speaking up for, I believe in their futures and I believe in their RIGHTS TO AN EDUCATION! I am a parent to a Child with Down syndrome, all of my friends have a Child with Down syndrome or Autism or Prader Wili or CP or any number of things...these Children are NORMAL to me and my friends...they are our Children!
I hope...when it's all said and done at the end of the day, everyone that sits in on an IEP team meeting...that they can honestly say....they spoke up and supported the parents hopes and dreams for their Child. That they believed in that Child and did the right thing. What would you want if it was YOUR CHILD we were talking about? You would want the IEP team, to do the right thing! You would want your Child going to 'regular' classes....like everyone else!
I know more than anything, bottom line...everyone wants to keep their jobs and they have their instructions to carry out from their 'bosses'....it is so obvious that it's a district wide 'thing'....nothing is going to change unless those running the entire school district open their minds to 'doing the right thing'!!!
Elections for Schoolboard members when those come up....get to know who you will be voting for! Do we need schoolboard members that still call our Children MONGOLOIDS?! I think not!
I can not believe how the majority of IEP team members are usually on the 'opposing team' to what the parent is advocating for. There is no "IEP team decision"...it's a district wide decision many times ESPECIALLY when it comes to PLACEMENT of our Children with certain 'eligibilities' into a certain type of classroom environment!...only to hear repeated like it's the mantra 'they all chat' while brushing their teeth in the morning before going off to attend yet another one of 'those meetings' with one of 'those parents'....they get paid for attending these IEP 'team' meetings day in and day out! These meetings don't give them diarrhea like it does the mom's of those Children! Parents are STRESSED OUT and fighting hard to have their Child provided a good classroom with good supports to help them be successful! Parents know best, but are never really heard and often times their suggestions or concerns are not really 'taken into consideration'......usually shot down at every corner they turn...every real concern or support the parent suggest many times falls on deaf ears of the entire IEP team!
The majority of our 'school society', and that means teachers, principals and especially district administrators and staff, schoolboard members and Superintendents even....still do not really believe our Children with disabilities should be 'allowed' to be taught in a GENERAL EDUCATION CLASSROOM with their friends that live in the same neighborhood! I am sickened by the uneducated and outdated way of thinking that so many running our schools have today in 2009!
They call themselves professionals and say it "at us" in a degrading sort of way...during our IEP meetings, as a way to talk down to parents! Because 'they have' this or that degree in Speech and Language Pathology ~ THEY ARE THE PROFESSIONALS!!! Of all people that should understand the most about fine motor delays in speech and language and communication....some of the so called 'most educated' from a BOOK...have NOT-A-CLUE what it means to provide a support or service to a Child that needs it the most! (They have been instructed from their 'higher ups' on what to say and provide!..do not go over!!! Everyone wants to keep their job and that paycheck coming in!) Most times the highest degreed IEP 'team members' are the very ones that have no idea what it's like to really help a Child be all they can be! Mainly because they don't believe certain individuals will ever really amount to much....they went to school to get that degree for?...for what? To deny the very support or service they could provide to help a young mind learn skills they struggle with, so they can be better at it in the long run..for life!
Why do people go for the Professional degrees they have, to work with Children with disabilities in the first place? IMHO: To make money OFF the delays and disabilities of the very students they don't 'really believe in'? I think our Children with Disabilities are a COMMODITY...seen only as a means to earn a living off of them! If this is not true to some degree...why are the professionals providing MINIMAL support across the board and only giving out a one size fits all service, no matter how hard it is to understand a person 'communicate' or 'write'.....needing OT-Occupational Therapy...or how funny they may walk because of certain genetic conditions...if they can stand up and walk and they ''can navigate the school campus''...what more do we want from those professionals during the school day?
I see too many IEP 'teams' act as though they haven't a clue about doing the right thing in providing WHAT THE CHILD NEEDS and only go by what 'they are instructed' to carry out by the end of that IEP 'team' meeting...us against them....who's gonna win.....well certainly not the Child!! Two opposing teams...certainly not all on the same team, but out to deny!!
It's been a stressful day of advocating for the rights a Child to be educated in a General Education Classroom today. Trying to secure the needed supports and services so the Child can be successful....I am up against 'the district'.....THE DISTRICT wants this student where they WANT THAT STUDENT and that's the bottom line! THEY WANT TO SEPARATE and put this Child in of 'those cluster classrooms' without ever once providing an opportunity or chance to attend a regular general education classroom with all the supports and services to be successful...why???...because for one..."it's an IEP Team Decision"!! and THE TEAM believe that Child "NEEDS" that type of most restrictive setting! Do they even care what the parent wants and knows their Child needs? NO THEY DO NOT CARE WHAT THE PARENT WANTS FOR THEIR CHILD!!.....The Professionals...THEY HAVEN'T A CLUE!!.....many times they aren't even a parent.....and of course they aren't raising a Child with Down syndrome or Autism or any number of unique learning challenges...how could they possible know what we know....we didn't get our EXPERT KNOWLEDGE from attending college....we shed our blood for these Children!!!
Our 'school society' is pushing our Children with Down syndrome especially, away and into SEPARATED and out of sight SPECIAL classrooms...usually in a portable or a back classroom, away away away from the general population! Oh let's not forget they will "INCLUDE THEM" during lunch and recess and specials!...might get lucky and get an entire 15 minutes of GEN.ED time during a REGULAR KINDERGARTEN CLASS CIRCLE TIME!...15 WHOLE MINUTES!!!....and that's ONLY if the Child BEHAVES for those 15 minutes!! Oh assuring the student would get ALL THE SUPPORT he needs!!...We should be grateful we have such caring and knowledgable professionals making Individual Education Plan Placement decisions for our Children! We are GRATEFUL!
I will wake up again tomorrow to fight the good fight all over again....certainly not making a regular paycheck doing it either! I am trying to contribute financially to our family expenses, but am I doing these 'advocacy fights' for the money....for the most part no! I work for FREE much of the time! I do this with a passion because I believe in the Children that need us the most! I believe in their futures and their abilities to do great and wonderful things...so I fight for them! They can't.....many times their parents can't.....but everyone is learning. I see myself as a coach to parents! I love what I do, I love the little kiddo's I am speaking up for, I believe in their futures and I believe in their RIGHTS TO AN EDUCATION! I am a parent to a Child with Down syndrome, all of my friends have a Child with Down syndrome or Autism or Prader Wili or CP or any number of things...these Children are NORMAL to me and my friends...they are our Children!
I hope...when it's all said and done at the end of the day, everyone that sits in on an IEP team meeting...that they can honestly say....they spoke up and supported the parents hopes and dreams for their Child. That they believed in that Child and did the right thing. What would you want if it was YOUR CHILD we were talking about? You would want the IEP team, to do the right thing! You would want your Child going to 'regular' classes....like everyone else!
I know more than anything, bottom line...everyone wants to keep their jobs and they have their instructions to carry out from their 'bosses'....it is so obvious that it's a district wide 'thing'....nothing is going to change unless those running the entire school district open their minds to 'doing the right thing'!!!
Elections for Schoolboard members when those come up....get to know who you will be voting for! Do we need schoolboard members that still call our Children MONGOLOIDS?! I think not!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Subject: Benson still not in school yet
From: BENSON'S MOM
Sent: Wed., Sept. 30, 2009 3:50 PM
To: nancy.harris@dsadvocate.com
Subject: Benson still not in school yet
Hi Nancy
I would like to express my frustration to you regarding this ridiculous time Benson is out of school, because seems that the county doesn't care. He is the one that suppose be in kindergarten and what I see is people from broward county schools acting like kindergartners and try to blame you and you are the only person that is trying to help us from their nonsense, like she say, he say, I have a date for his meeting, no I don't have a date, when I called Ms. Bennett most of the time I hear she is busy or in a meeting, what is that? Where are the professionals they should see that this is not right.
I am not asking for anything that they don't know that is what the law specific says A CHILD SHOULD BE IN THE LESS RESTRICT ENVIRONMENT. I know they have a lot schools to deal with, but it has been 5 almost 6 weeks that Benson is out of school and nobody cares.
When he was at Ann Storck Preschool and I question the reason for him to be in summer school extended year, they told me he could not be without school for this long period of time, that he would only benefit from that, they tell me how important was for him to be that extra month in school so he would be ready for kindergarten and bla, bla, bla, and now it is ok for him to sit at home without any "professional instruction?" That is another reason I am fed up with special programs, they just talk and say how important and beautiful the program is. Do you want to know how many times I go to any of those special schools and my son was sitting there by himself without any activity? why? they don't care, the kid can't tell the parents anyways right? Once when I questioned them they told me he didn't want to participate on the activity, ok so where was the professional that he deeply need as it says in the IEP to use their knowledge, and get him involved. What any of the regular kindergarten can't offer him more than a special cluster could? What services and care does Benson need that can not be achieved in a regular kindergarten? I been asking this question in those IEP meetings since he starts and nobody can answer me. After a while I realize this is the way it works: well the kid doesn't want to participate for whatever reason so leave him alone there doing something else. There is no effort from anyone at all.
Where is the one on one they talk about when they first meet you? Where are the experienced with our special kids? Where is the beauty of those programs? I don't need a babysitter Benson, I want a place for my son to learn, to have good role models, a place where he feels comfortable staying and I feel comfortable leaving him. Not a place where I see him everyday losing good skills, getting odd behaviors, being sad and withdrawn.
And for people to say they have very busy schedules to make a meeting to put him in school it is nonsense, they are just postpone and denying his rights to do and be a little kid in a regular kindergarten school and for me this is discrimination. Thank you Nancy for helping me, you have my permission to put this on your blog about my son.
Sent: Wed., Sept. 30, 2009 3:50 PM
To: nancy.harris@dsadvocate.com
Subject: Benson still not in school yet
Hi Nancy
I would like to express my frustration to you regarding this ridiculous time Benson is out of school, because seems that the county doesn't care. He is the one that suppose be in kindergarten and what I see is people from broward county schools acting like kindergartners and try to blame you and you are the only person that is trying to help us from their nonsense, like she say, he say, I have a date for his meeting, no I don't have a date, when I called Ms. Bennett most of the time I hear she is busy or in a meeting, what is that? Where are the professionals they should see that this is not right.
I am not asking for anything that they don't know that is what the law specific says A CHILD SHOULD BE IN THE LESS RESTRICT ENVIRONMENT. I know they have a lot schools to deal with, but it has been 5 almost 6 weeks that Benson is out of school and nobody cares.
When he was at Ann Storck Preschool and I question the reason for him to be in summer school extended year, they told me he could not be without school for this long period of time, that he would only benefit from that, they tell me how important was for him to be that extra month in school so he would be ready for kindergarten and bla, bla, bla, and now it is ok for him to sit at home without any "professional instruction?" That is another reason I am fed up with special programs, they just talk and say how important and beautiful the program is. Do you want to know how many times I go to any of those special schools and my son was sitting there by himself without any activity? why? they don't care, the kid can't tell the parents anyways right? Once when I questioned them they told me he didn't want to participate on the activity, ok so where was the professional that he deeply need as it says in the IEP to use their knowledge, and get him involved. What any of the regular kindergarten can't offer him more than a special cluster could? What services and care does Benson need that can not be achieved in a regular kindergarten? I been asking this question in those IEP meetings since he starts and nobody can answer me. After a while I realize this is the way it works: well the kid doesn't want to participate for whatever reason so leave him alone there doing something else. There is no effort from anyone at all.
Where is the one on one they talk about when they first meet you? Where are the experienced with our special kids? Where is the beauty of those programs? I don't need a babysitter Benson, I want a place for my son to learn, to have good role models, a place where he feels comfortable staying and I feel comfortable leaving him. Not a place where I see him everyday losing good skills, getting odd behaviors, being sad and withdrawn.
And for people to say they have very busy schedules to make a meeting to put him in school it is nonsense, they are just postpone and denying his rights to do and be a little kid in a regular kindergarten school and for me this is discrimination. Thank you Nancy for helping me, you have my permission to put this on your blog about my son.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
The MONGOLOID word was used today!!
Today I made so many phone calls on BENSON'S behalf. I called this person and that person. This area person and her secretary only to be told to call this person and then always to be told by so many nice secretaries that the person I wanted to talk to... "SHE'S IN A MEETING"!! I would say I called about 10 different Broward County school district people today and every single one of them was, "IN A MEETING"! Gosh maybe I need to find out where this meeting is so I can be there to talk to all of them in the same room!
I was finally able to speak to one of our schoolboard members for the Area that over sees all of the Nova schools. She apparently was out of her meeting and able to take my call. I introduced myself and told her I was advocating for BENSON. She was aware of BENSON and what mom was trying to do.
In the few minutes of talking on the phone with her, she used the word, MONGOLOID and I just couldn't believe I just heard this professional woman say that word. I actually gasped and quickly said to her, "You did not just use that word!!??" She had a non-chelant attitude about her using that word, and commented on how she had recently had a discussion with someone else about the correct term to use today. She also went on to provide me with her age as the excuse for using it saying that's the term they used when she was growing up. I was jolted by her brazen lacsidaisical attitude or that it even really mattered.....!! Do you believe this?
I know this word was used alot back in the 60's....but this is almost 2010, that's pretty much 50 YEARS AGO!! The word mongoloid is JUST NOT USED TODAY LIKE IT WAS USED BACK IN 1960! I do not buy her answer that it has to do with 'her age' and what "THEY" were called....unless she is 80 years old and showing signs of dementia! She MUST be using this terminology on a regular basis if she could so coldly use it in a telephone conversation with me within 5-10 minutes of meeting me on the phone! She knew what she was saying! I will make sure she doen't get my vote or my friends vote next time re-elections come up!
This is an ELECTED Schoolboard member that is a highly paid professional that is suppose to represent many school age families here in Broward! I told her that her age is not a good enough reason not to use the acceptable terminology when referring to an entire group of unique individuals. I told her, "you wouldn't call a person a '_igger' just because that word was used alot back in her day would you!??" I went on to tell her, "...it doesn't make her sound very professional by continuing to use that word either...!" We also chatted about PEOPLE FIRST LANGUAGE and the current politically correct way when speaking about an individual or group of individuals, such as: Children with Down syndrome, or a young man WITH Down syndrome, not a Down syndrome Child or a Downs kid.....She said, "it's hard to remember that all the time!!"....WHAT IS SHE SAYING?? That she doesn't care how she sounds or what word to use...like it doesn't matter!?
I was absolutely shocked to hear this word even being used today, especially when SHE KNOWS I was calling her about little 5 year old BENSON and why he wasn't being allowed to attend Kindergarten at the very school mom signed him up at....remember, BENSON WON THE NOVA LOTTERY! Now they (all sorts of district personnel) are trying to say he is NOT registered at any Broward County school! Mom registered him at Nova Eisenhower Elementary school, but for some unknown, untold reason...now several district people are saying he is NOT registered at any school in all of Broward County! How can that be, when she had the paperwork and information to attend the Kindergarten Round-Up? Something smells like a rat.......
I am stunned that this word is still being used by any American in the year 2009 as a descriptive of a person having Down syndrome. I am even more disgusted that a professional who claims to be serving the best interest of our children, PROFESSIONALLY can't remember how to use PEOPLE FIRST LANGUAGE and we VOTED for her to be one of our schoolboard members? RE-ELECTIONS folks...remember who your schoolboard members are and do they really represent YOU?
She doesn't want to know what my Facebook friends had to say about a schoolboard member using that word today!!
MONGOLOID.......is that a good name or word to use today? You tell me what you think....................I know it's an outdated word and used much like the word retard or retarded.......used by a schoolboard member? Something just isn't right here.....
I was finally able to speak to one of our schoolboard members for the Area that over sees all of the Nova schools. She apparently was out of her meeting and able to take my call. I introduced myself and told her I was advocating for BENSON. She was aware of BENSON and what mom was trying to do.
In the few minutes of talking on the phone with her, she used the word, MONGOLOID and I just couldn't believe I just heard this professional woman say that word. I actually gasped and quickly said to her, "You did not just use that word!!??" She had a non-chelant attitude about her using that word, and commented on how she had recently had a discussion with someone else about the correct term to use today. She also went on to provide me with her age as the excuse for using it saying that's the term they used when she was growing up. I was jolted by her brazen lacsidaisical attitude or that it even really mattered.....!! Do you believe this?
I know this word was used alot back in the 60's....but this is almost 2010, that's pretty much 50 YEARS AGO!! The word mongoloid is JUST NOT USED TODAY LIKE IT WAS USED BACK IN 1960! I do not buy her answer that it has to do with 'her age' and what "THEY" were called....unless she is 80 years old and showing signs of dementia! She MUST be using this terminology on a regular basis if she could so coldly use it in a telephone conversation with me within 5-10 minutes of meeting me on the phone! She knew what she was saying! I will make sure she doen't get my vote or my friends vote next time re-elections come up!
This is an ELECTED Schoolboard member that is a highly paid professional that is suppose to represent many school age families here in Broward! I told her that her age is not a good enough reason not to use the acceptable terminology when referring to an entire group of unique individuals. I told her, "you wouldn't call a person a '_igger' just because that word was used alot back in her day would you!??" I went on to tell her, "...it doesn't make her sound very professional by continuing to use that word either...!" We also chatted about PEOPLE FIRST LANGUAGE and the current politically correct way when speaking about an individual or group of individuals, such as: Children with Down syndrome, or a young man WITH Down syndrome, not a Down syndrome Child or a Downs kid.....She said, "it's hard to remember that all the time!!"....WHAT IS SHE SAYING?? That she doesn't care how she sounds or what word to use...like it doesn't matter!?
I was absolutely shocked to hear this word even being used today, especially when SHE KNOWS I was calling her about little 5 year old BENSON and why he wasn't being allowed to attend Kindergarten at the very school mom signed him up at....remember, BENSON WON THE NOVA LOTTERY! Now they (all sorts of district personnel) are trying to say he is NOT registered at any Broward County school! Mom registered him at Nova Eisenhower Elementary school, but for some unknown, untold reason...now several district people are saying he is NOT registered at any school in all of Broward County! How can that be, when she had the paperwork and information to attend the Kindergarten Round-Up? Something smells like a rat.......
I am stunned that this word is still being used by any American in the year 2009 as a descriptive of a person having Down syndrome. I am even more disgusted that a professional who claims to be serving the best interest of our children, PROFESSIONALLY can't remember how to use PEOPLE FIRST LANGUAGE and we VOTED for her to be one of our schoolboard members? RE-ELECTIONS folks...remember who your schoolboard members are and do they really represent YOU?
She doesn't want to know what my Facebook friends had to say about a schoolboard member using that word today!!
MONGOLOID.......is that a good name or word to use today? You tell me what you think....................I know it's an outdated word and used much like the word retard or retarded.......used by a schoolboard member? Something just isn't right here.....
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Blatant Socially Accepted Discrimination @ SUMMER READING CAMP?
Blatant Socially Accepted Discrimination @ SUMMER READING CAMP?
Blatant Socially Accepted Discrimination
3rd Grade Reading Camp June 22 - July 24, 2009
Riversand Elementary School - Broward School District FLORIDA
*Yesterday I received a phone call from Mariah's 3rd grade reading camp teacher, his name is Mr.R. He has such a nice strong friendly articulate voice and was glad to meet me, asked me if I was still planning having Mariah attend the 3rd grade reading camp. To be honest I completely had forgotten and hadn't logged the date and times into my fancy iPhone calendar to remind me! Of course I was still planning on Mariah attending the 3rd grade reading camp I told him...we talked on the phone a bit as I had lots of questions for him. He has this wonderful booming voice that just makes you want to sit and listen to him, as I was listening to him on the phone, I was envisioning how my daughter would like him and how his strong voice was going to be a positive influence on her for the few short weeks that this 3rd grade reading camp is for. He has that kind of "wonderful story telling voice" that would make anyone want to sit and listen to him read them a story!
After a little bit of a conversation on what the reading program is about and how it is presented to the students, I just knew this was going to be a positive experience for my daughter. I told him about the Headsprout reading program www.headsprout.com Mariah has been using since the 1st grade at home and how she has been accessing the Odyssey program aka the Compass Learning Odyssey Online Program her entire 3rd grade year. http://compasslearningodyssey.broward.k12.fl.us/childu/index.html I also mentioned that her ESY was just a 'home packet' this summer, instead of her attending the Extended School Year program aka ESY. Telling him how she is very computer literate and enjoys using several computer and online reading programs that documents her academic progress. He was thrilled to hear how involved I have been in working with my Child and at one point even suggested that maybe she didn't need to attend the reading camp! Oh...no...she WANTS to attend school and meet new 'friends' and go to a new school for the summer....I was flattered he thought that I was 'doing all I can' to help my daughter learn to read..that's when I asked him if he knew she had Down syndrome..."no", he said he did not know that...well of course he didn't...that doesn't need to be written all over her paperwork to attend! He didn't seem to be too overly concerned about it, so we moved on with our conversation. Brain Pop Jr. is another wonderful online program that Mariah really likes too. www.brainpopjr.com
I gave him some more information on the home reading programs Mariah has been using. Told him I would send in a few of her little books that can be printed out from the Headsprout program just so he could see and get an idea on what she is using. I asked him for his email so he could be sent email updates after she completes a lesson, he agreed and gave me his email. He said it would be good and was looking forward to meeting Mariah in the morning at school. I told Mariah about her going to school in the morning, she was happy and excited about meeting her new teacher and making some new friends.
Mariah and I woke up wayyyyy too early for a 'summer vacation day'....the alarm went off at 6:15AM. The coffee was brewing, we both got dressed, brushed our teeth, combed our hair and I poured my cup of coffee and out the door we skedaddled into the wet overcast morning to the car...looks like a long raining day today! Mariah was very excited to be going a different way in the car and to a "new school". I told her this was the school that her brother James went to and her Aunt Barbie did too! That made her so happy to know her brother James went to this same school! The things that make her smile!
We were one of the first to be out front of the school so early! A lady came out and even commented how early a few of us were and directed me to go to the office since today was her first day. We went to the office, met the nice office ladies and had a nice chit chat with them and were directed to go to the cafeteria for the breakfast. We didn't get any 'slip of yellow paper' with her name or teacher info on it at that time, but now know in hindsight that's what I was suppose to receive from those nice office ladies.
We went to the cafeteria and got in the breakfast line, she put the few breakfast items on her tray, of course I had to let the kitchen staff know that she can't have milk, so she got the dry cereal, applesauce and biscuits with jelly. We found our way to the table and met some of the other students and enjoyed some conversation. Mariah was quiet and slowly was eating her breakfast, when she was done she threw her stuff away and then went to sit at the table that had her teacher's name on it...we looked for Mr.R's name card on a table and sat down with the other students.
Other parents were waiting with some of their Children until it was time for them to go to class, so I stuck around and waited too. Mariah was so excited to be there and sat waiting like everyone else...a little anxious for the start of a new 'school day'! Everyone was just waiting for 7:45AM...then I saw a previous years ESY Principal Ms.L, she recognized me too and said, hi to me from across the room and then the same lady that met us outside the school when we first got there, came up to the table that Mariah was sitting at and started talking to Ms.L and said something like why was Mariah sitting there isn't she suppose to be in Ms.T's class, not Mr. R's class? I spoke to Mr.R and knew who the teacher that was assigned to her was and it was NOT Ms.T! This was all so odd the way this person was talking about which teacher Mariah was suppose to have!...I even said to her, "no she's not in Ms.T's class...she's in Mr.R's classroom, we spoke on the phone yesterday!" She strongly stated that I needed to "step outside' with her.......what??? I needed to step outside with her?! This sounded like she was looking to fight with me by the tone of her voice and the stern look on her face!Ok....I followed these two women just outside the cafeteria doors and the discussion went like this....The lady that was a tad stern with me, started telling me in a confrontational tone that my daughter was suppose to be in Ms.T's ESY classroom! Ms.L was standing right next to this lady that I had no idea who she was, but she obviously was a person in authority...I am guessing now that maybe she the summer school Principal??...there was no introduction or shaking of hands....like when I met Mr.R for the first time in the front office a moment ago...no decent polite respect for one adult to another....she was trying to pull the rug out from under my daughters right to ATTEND THE 3rd GRADE READING CAMP...right now and right here!!
There was an intense exchange of words from this person that I still had no idea who she was or why she was acting so out of line and somewhat mad about the fact that Mariah was in Mr.R's reading camp classroom! She said several times something about Mariah's reading level and what is BEST FOR THE CHILD...and what was her reading level? That is where I looked at Ms.L, who I do know and she is somewhat familiar with my daughter, but does NOT know my daughters reading levels or anything about her other than she is a student with Down syndrome that attended an ESY school that she was the Principal of a few years back...neither one of these women know my daughter at all....and yet here I am on our first day of 3rd GRADE READING CAMP and I now part of a conversation that sounds just a tad confrontational to me in the fact that she is 'in the wrong program' and that "we" needed to do what was going to be in the "best interest of her".....absolutely...I agreed and absolutely want what's best for Mariah more than these two will ever know!!!...Gosh....I didn't know I would have to wake up so early only to be met with such a 'resistant combative person' over my daughter attending A 3RD GRADE READING CAMP?!
The person that was being confrontational to me, finally told me, "SHE IS THE Principal of THIS program and if she NEEDS to be IN ESY than that is where she will be attending!".....I calmly said that my daughters ESY "program" is a HOME PACKET that included the Odyssey computer program and that it is NOT written on her IEP that she attend an ESY 'site', but just a 'home packet'....which is the computer academic program. I had to remind "this Principal"...who I still did not know her name....I had to remind her that it was an IEP team decision that she have a "home packet' for ESY this year. I asked her, "why was she being so confrontational with me on this", she said she didn't believe she was!! Is this how professional Principals 'meet' parents on the first & second day of school? She was so rude and disrespectful to me as another adult and especially as a parent bringing my child to school for the first time to attend the 3rd Grade Reading CAMP over the summer! We did talk about her IEP and what it says about her 'attending ESY'....I mentioned that if my daughter was put into the ESY program and not be part of the READING CAMP that I would file for a DUE PROCESS because what she was saying was wrong and I wasn't going to stand there and be BULLIED BY HER either! Mariah was signed up to attend the READING CAMP not ESY this year!
I had to walk away from this woman before I lost my composure as she was already showing towards me....I was shaking inside and had to feel good about leaving my precious little girl on this campus, to know that she was going to be safe and in the class she was suppose to be in! I walked away from 'this person' down the hallway a little bit and prayed a little prayer that I could stay calm and think clear. I turned around and went to go back into the cafeteria to stay with my daughter till it was time for her to go to class...all the other parents were still there...and I would be too!
I asked "the Principal" what was her name and she told me, "Ms. T". I reached out my hand to shake her hand and introduce myself...to start on a different foot? I dunno...don't think her 'mind-set' will ever change...as she seems to have the 'majority mind-set' of what many Principals and many General Education teachers still have today....I'd like to call it: BLATANT SOCIALLY ACCEPTED DISCRIMINATION!
Because my daughter has Down syndrome...she was being SINGLED OUT by this PRINCIPAL to NOT be part of the 3rd Grade Reading Camp today!!!...because why? She certainly didn't know my daughter AT ALL or her abilities...she certainly has never laid eyes on her IEP...her IEP was not part of this 3rd Grade Reading Camp! BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER "HAS THE LOOK"....SHE WANTED HER TO GO TO THE "SPECIAL ED CLASSROOM" WHICH WAS NOT PART OF THE 3RD GRADE READING CAMP PROGRAM!After I reached out to shake her hand, I asked what is her name, she told me, "T". I asked her what was the READING PROGRAM they would be using in the ESY Program? She said she didn't know anything about ESY!!! (...and she has been standing there saying that's where my daughter is suppose to be and she doesn't know anything about what curriculum they use in ESY for reading?!) She earlier had asked me 'what level' was my daughter in reading and my reply was that she was, "BELOW GRADE LEVEL" that's why she's here for the reading camp! I asked, "if all these students were reading on grade level?" "Of course they're not...that's why they are all here attending this reading program!" "...well that is why my daughter is here too!" "...and what was the reading program they would be using?"..."a district approved reading program"...I asked, "if I could see how the program works so that I can have a better idea on what would be BEST for my Child...." She said, "I could observe anytime." I will absolutely be coming for a few visits to see how this wonderful "district approved reading program is being delivered to MY GIRL"...also just to make sure she is in the correct classroom with Mr.R!
Why do some school administrators have to act the way they do because of their own outdated thinking? Ok...so now what....how is a mother suppose to feel at this point? It's not even 7:30AM in the morning and I have already been asked to, "step outside"....almost sounded and felt like a bar room brawl was about to happen to me!...the way she asked me to "step outside"! Dang...what is with people anymore...where is the decent human respect for one another? My daughter and myself didn't do anything to be 'singled out' and be treated with such BLATANT DISCRIMINATION to have my daughter attend the 3rd GRADE READING CAMP!!! She is allowed to be there like any other Child!!...SO WHAT SHE HAS DOWN SYNDROME!!! SO WHAT!!???
My daughter was so excited to GO TO SCHOOL today! I was excited for her and to have her be part of a wonderful READING PROGRAM with a new teacher that had called and talked to me on the phone the night before...he's the new teacher that I was looking forward to meeting and getting to know. He's the teacher with the wonderful voice...he's a teacher that has been teaching for years and enjoys teaching Children how to read! He had already told me it was a small group of about 7 students that showed up on the first day and he was looking forward to meeting my daughter. He knows I am working with her at home and she is using the Odyssey computer program...he even said to me...."you seem to be pretty involved with helping her, maybe your daughter doesn't need to attend the program, since you are doing so much with her at home already."... Mariah loves going to school and being around new people, she likes to make new friends. She wants and needs all the extra help she can get, especially in regards to reading....all academics really...as she needs all the opportunities available to her to help her be her personal best!
Mariah loves books, she is learning to read and reading simple stories independently. She just needs those in the teaching profession to BELIEVE IN HER and provide her with whatever it takes to help her move to the next level........to automatically say that a person is suppose to be in a certain classroom because of 'how they look'...or because of a certain type of disability...is wrong and society...our schools are a 'society'....our Principals and teachers are part of that school society....they need to STOP THE BLATANT SOCIALLY ACCEPTED DISCRIMINATION that continues to happen everyday...student after student....MY CHILD HAS A RIGHT TO BE....a right to be taught how to read, a right to be included in general education classrooms, a right to attend whatever program everyone else attends, a right to participate in extracurricular programs and clubs, a right to a FREE AND APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION and more than anything a right to be RESPECTED!!!Show some respect to not only my daughter....but to all those parents that are raising beautiful Children that 'need a little extra' BELIEF in them that they CAN DO...what everyone else can do...just give em the chance and be respectful of their RIGHTS!I picked up Mariah at noon, she was standing next to Mr.R her wonderful summer reading camp teacher! He is friendly, nice and more than anything...he is respectful! I like that in a teacher especially!
Thank you Mr.R for making Mariah HaPpY today!!...by INCLUDING her in your class today...she LOVES her new class, her new teacher and her new school...for the summer!
Tuesday June 23rd, 2009Nancy Linley-HarrisParent and Inclusion Advocate for my daughter Mariah
*Actual names of those involved in my stories are changed, the name of the school I change to be a made up school name. I do post the name of the district the story took place. I can use my own daughters name, because she is my daughter and this is her BLOG. Please post comments if you have a similar story or can relate, would love to know what you think! If you have a similar story that you would like to see posted to my BLOG send me an email at: podsangels@bellsouth.net
Blatant Socially Accepted Discrimination
3rd Grade Reading Camp June 22 - July 24, 2009
Riversand Elementary School - Broward School District FLORIDA
*Yesterday I received a phone call from Mariah's 3rd grade reading camp teacher, his name is Mr.R. He has such a nice strong friendly articulate voice and was glad to meet me, asked me if I was still planning having Mariah attend the 3rd grade reading camp. To be honest I completely had forgotten and hadn't logged the date and times into my fancy iPhone calendar to remind me! Of course I was still planning on Mariah attending the 3rd grade reading camp I told him...we talked on the phone a bit as I had lots of questions for him. He has this wonderful booming voice that just makes you want to sit and listen to him, as I was listening to him on the phone, I was envisioning how my daughter would like him and how his strong voice was going to be a positive influence on her for the few short weeks that this 3rd grade reading camp is for. He has that kind of "wonderful story telling voice" that would make anyone want to sit and listen to him read them a story!
After a little bit of a conversation on what the reading program is about and how it is presented to the students, I just knew this was going to be a positive experience for my daughter. I told him about the Headsprout reading program www.headsprout.com Mariah has been using since the 1st grade at home and how she has been accessing the Odyssey program aka the Compass Learning Odyssey Online Program her entire 3rd grade year. http://compasslearningodyssey.broward.k12.fl.us/childu/index.html I also mentioned that her ESY was just a 'home packet' this summer, instead of her attending the Extended School Year program aka ESY. Telling him how she is very computer literate and enjoys using several computer and online reading programs that documents her academic progress. He was thrilled to hear how involved I have been in working with my Child and at one point even suggested that maybe she didn't need to attend the reading camp! Oh...no...she WANTS to attend school and meet new 'friends' and go to a new school for the summer....I was flattered he thought that I was 'doing all I can' to help my daughter learn to read..that's when I asked him if he knew she had Down syndrome..."no", he said he did not know that...well of course he didn't...that doesn't need to be written all over her paperwork to attend! He didn't seem to be too overly concerned about it, so we moved on with our conversation. Brain Pop Jr. is another wonderful online program that Mariah really likes too. www.brainpopjr.com
I gave him some more information on the home reading programs Mariah has been using. Told him I would send in a few of her little books that can be printed out from the Headsprout program just so he could see and get an idea on what she is using. I asked him for his email so he could be sent email updates after she completes a lesson, he agreed and gave me his email. He said it would be good and was looking forward to meeting Mariah in the morning at school. I told Mariah about her going to school in the morning, she was happy and excited about meeting her new teacher and making some new friends.
Mariah and I woke up wayyyyy too early for a 'summer vacation day'....the alarm went off at 6:15AM. The coffee was brewing, we both got dressed, brushed our teeth, combed our hair and I poured my cup of coffee and out the door we skedaddled into the wet overcast morning to the car...looks like a long raining day today! Mariah was very excited to be going a different way in the car and to a "new school". I told her this was the school that her brother James went to and her Aunt Barbie did too! That made her so happy to know her brother James went to this same school! The things that make her smile!
We were one of the first to be out front of the school so early! A lady came out and even commented how early a few of us were and directed me to go to the office since today was her first day. We went to the office, met the nice office ladies and had a nice chit chat with them and were directed to go to the cafeteria for the breakfast. We didn't get any 'slip of yellow paper' with her name or teacher info on it at that time, but now know in hindsight that's what I was suppose to receive from those nice office ladies.
We went to the cafeteria and got in the breakfast line, she put the few breakfast items on her tray, of course I had to let the kitchen staff know that she can't have milk, so she got the dry cereal, applesauce and biscuits with jelly. We found our way to the table and met some of the other students and enjoyed some conversation. Mariah was quiet and slowly was eating her breakfast, when she was done she threw her stuff away and then went to sit at the table that had her teacher's name on it...we looked for Mr.R's name card on a table and sat down with the other students.
Other parents were waiting with some of their Children until it was time for them to go to class, so I stuck around and waited too. Mariah was so excited to be there and sat waiting like everyone else...a little anxious for the start of a new 'school day'! Everyone was just waiting for 7:45AM...then I saw a previous years ESY Principal Ms.L, she recognized me too and said, hi to me from across the room and then the same lady that met us outside the school when we first got there, came up to the table that Mariah was sitting at and started talking to Ms.L and said something like why was Mariah sitting there isn't she suppose to be in Ms.T's class, not Mr. R's class? I spoke to Mr.R and knew who the teacher that was assigned to her was and it was NOT Ms.T! This was all so odd the way this person was talking about which teacher Mariah was suppose to have!...I even said to her, "no she's not in Ms.T's class...she's in Mr.R's classroom, we spoke on the phone yesterday!" She strongly stated that I needed to "step outside' with her.......what??? I needed to step outside with her?! This sounded like she was looking to fight with me by the tone of her voice and the stern look on her face!Ok....I followed these two women just outside the cafeteria doors and the discussion went like this....The lady that was a tad stern with me, started telling me in a confrontational tone that my daughter was suppose to be in Ms.T's ESY classroom! Ms.L was standing right next to this lady that I had no idea who she was, but she obviously was a person in authority...I am guessing now that maybe she the summer school Principal??...there was no introduction or shaking of hands....like when I met Mr.R for the first time in the front office a moment ago...no decent polite respect for one adult to another....she was trying to pull the rug out from under my daughters right to ATTEND THE 3rd GRADE READING CAMP...right now and right here!!
There was an intense exchange of words from this person that I still had no idea who she was or why she was acting so out of line and somewhat mad about the fact that Mariah was in Mr.R's reading camp classroom! She said several times something about Mariah's reading level and what is BEST FOR THE CHILD...and what was her reading level? That is where I looked at Ms.L, who I do know and she is somewhat familiar with my daughter, but does NOT know my daughters reading levels or anything about her other than she is a student with Down syndrome that attended an ESY school that she was the Principal of a few years back...neither one of these women know my daughter at all....and yet here I am on our first day of 3rd GRADE READING CAMP and I now part of a conversation that sounds just a tad confrontational to me in the fact that she is 'in the wrong program' and that "we" needed to do what was going to be in the "best interest of her".....absolutely...I agreed and absolutely want what's best for Mariah more than these two will ever know!!!...Gosh....I didn't know I would have to wake up so early only to be met with such a 'resistant combative person' over my daughter attending A 3RD GRADE READING CAMP?!
The person that was being confrontational to me, finally told me, "SHE IS THE Principal of THIS program and if she NEEDS to be IN ESY than that is where she will be attending!".....I calmly said that my daughters ESY "program" is a HOME PACKET that included the Odyssey computer program and that it is NOT written on her IEP that she attend an ESY 'site', but just a 'home packet'....which is the computer academic program. I had to remind "this Principal"...who I still did not know her name....I had to remind her that it was an IEP team decision that she have a "home packet' for ESY this year. I asked her, "why was she being so confrontational with me on this", she said she didn't believe she was!! Is this how professional Principals 'meet' parents on the first & second day of school? She was so rude and disrespectful to me as another adult and especially as a parent bringing my child to school for the first time to attend the 3rd Grade Reading CAMP over the summer! We did talk about her IEP and what it says about her 'attending ESY'....I mentioned that if my daughter was put into the ESY program and not be part of the READING CAMP that I would file for a DUE PROCESS because what she was saying was wrong and I wasn't going to stand there and be BULLIED BY HER either! Mariah was signed up to attend the READING CAMP not ESY this year!
I had to walk away from this woman before I lost my composure as she was already showing towards me....I was shaking inside and had to feel good about leaving my precious little girl on this campus, to know that she was going to be safe and in the class she was suppose to be in! I walked away from 'this person' down the hallway a little bit and prayed a little prayer that I could stay calm and think clear. I turned around and went to go back into the cafeteria to stay with my daughter till it was time for her to go to class...all the other parents were still there...and I would be too!
I asked "the Principal" what was her name and she told me, "Ms. T". I reached out my hand to shake her hand and introduce myself...to start on a different foot? I dunno...don't think her 'mind-set' will ever change...as she seems to have the 'majority mind-set' of what many Principals and many General Education teachers still have today....I'd like to call it: BLATANT SOCIALLY ACCEPTED DISCRIMINATION!
Because my daughter has Down syndrome...she was being SINGLED OUT by this PRINCIPAL to NOT be part of the 3rd Grade Reading Camp today!!!...because why? She certainly didn't know my daughter AT ALL or her abilities...she certainly has never laid eyes on her IEP...her IEP was not part of this 3rd Grade Reading Camp! BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER "HAS THE LOOK"....SHE WANTED HER TO GO TO THE "SPECIAL ED CLASSROOM" WHICH WAS NOT PART OF THE 3RD GRADE READING CAMP PROGRAM!After I reached out to shake her hand, I asked what is her name, she told me, "T". I asked her what was the READING PROGRAM they would be using in the ESY Program? She said she didn't know anything about ESY!!! (...and she has been standing there saying that's where my daughter is suppose to be and she doesn't know anything about what curriculum they use in ESY for reading?!) She earlier had asked me 'what level' was my daughter in reading and my reply was that she was, "BELOW GRADE LEVEL" that's why she's here for the reading camp! I asked, "if all these students were reading on grade level?" "Of course they're not...that's why they are all here attending this reading program!" "...well that is why my daughter is here too!" "...and what was the reading program they would be using?"..."a district approved reading program"...I asked, "if I could see how the program works so that I can have a better idea on what would be BEST for my Child...." She said, "I could observe anytime." I will absolutely be coming for a few visits to see how this wonderful "district approved reading program is being delivered to MY GIRL"...also just to make sure she is in the correct classroom with Mr.R!
Why do some school administrators have to act the way they do because of their own outdated thinking? Ok...so now what....how is a mother suppose to feel at this point? It's not even 7:30AM in the morning and I have already been asked to, "step outside"....almost sounded and felt like a bar room brawl was about to happen to me!...the way she asked me to "step outside"! Dang...what is with people anymore...where is the decent human respect for one another? My daughter and myself didn't do anything to be 'singled out' and be treated with such BLATANT DISCRIMINATION to have my daughter attend the 3rd GRADE READING CAMP!!! She is allowed to be there like any other Child!!...SO WHAT SHE HAS DOWN SYNDROME!!! SO WHAT!!???
My daughter was so excited to GO TO SCHOOL today! I was excited for her and to have her be part of a wonderful READING PROGRAM with a new teacher that had called and talked to me on the phone the night before...he's the new teacher that I was looking forward to meeting and getting to know. He's the teacher with the wonderful voice...he's a teacher that has been teaching for years and enjoys teaching Children how to read! He had already told me it was a small group of about 7 students that showed up on the first day and he was looking forward to meeting my daughter. He knows I am working with her at home and she is using the Odyssey computer program...he even said to me...."you seem to be pretty involved with helping her, maybe your daughter doesn't need to attend the program, since you are doing so much with her at home already."... Mariah loves going to school and being around new people, she likes to make new friends. She wants and needs all the extra help she can get, especially in regards to reading....all academics really...as she needs all the opportunities available to her to help her be her personal best!
Mariah loves books, she is learning to read and reading simple stories independently. She just needs those in the teaching profession to BELIEVE IN HER and provide her with whatever it takes to help her move to the next level........to automatically say that a person is suppose to be in a certain classroom because of 'how they look'...or because of a certain type of disability...is wrong and society...our schools are a 'society'....our Principals and teachers are part of that school society....they need to STOP THE BLATANT SOCIALLY ACCEPTED DISCRIMINATION that continues to happen everyday...student after student....MY CHILD HAS A RIGHT TO BE....a right to be taught how to read, a right to be included in general education classrooms, a right to attend whatever program everyone else attends, a right to participate in extracurricular programs and clubs, a right to a FREE AND APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION and more than anything a right to be RESPECTED!!!Show some respect to not only my daughter....but to all those parents that are raising beautiful Children that 'need a little extra' BELIEF in them that they CAN DO...what everyone else can do...just give em the chance and be respectful of their RIGHTS!I picked up Mariah at noon, she was standing next to Mr.R her wonderful summer reading camp teacher! He is friendly, nice and more than anything...he is respectful! I like that in a teacher especially!
Thank you Mr.R for making Mariah HaPpY today!!...by INCLUDING her in your class today...she LOVES her new class, her new teacher and her new school...for the summer!
Tuesday June 23rd, 2009Nancy Linley-HarrisParent and Inclusion Advocate for my daughter Mariah
*Actual names of those involved in my stories are changed, the name of the school I change to be a made up school name. I do post the name of the district the story took place. I can use my own daughters name, because she is my daughter and this is her BLOG. Please post comments if you have a similar story or can relate, would love to know what you think! If you have a similar story that you would like to see posted to my BLOG send me an email at: podsangels@bellsouth.net
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
