Saturday, July 14, 2012
IEP Meetings and Changes to the IEP
Individualized Education Program (IEP),
Team Meetings and Changes to the IEP
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education
IDEA Regulations
INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAM (IEP) TEAM MEETINGS AND CHANGES TO THE IEP
(See also Individualized Education Program (IEP) and Secondary Transition)
The reauthorized Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was signed into law on Dec. 3, 2004, by President George W. Bush. The provisions of the act became effective on July 1, 2005, with the exception of some of the elements pertaining to the definition of a “highly qualified teacher” that took effect upon the signing of the act. The final regulations were published on Aug. 14, 2006. This is one in a series of documents, prepared by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) in the U.S. Department of Education that covers a variety of high-interest topics and brings together the regulatory requirements related to those topics to support constituents in preparing to implement the new regulations.1 This document addresses significant changes in final regulatory requirements from preexisting regulations regarding IEP Team meetings and changes to the IEP.
IDEA Regulations
1. Identify the members of the IEP Team.
The public agency must ensure that the IEP Team for each child with a disability includes:
• The parents of the child;
• Not less than one regular education teacher of the child (if the child is, or may be, participating in the regular education environment);
• Not less than one special education teacher of the child, or where appropriate, not less than one special education provider of the child;
• A representative of the public agency (who has certain specific knowledge and qualifications);
• An individual who can interpret the instructional implications of evaluation results and who may also be one of the other listed members;
• At the discretion of the parent or the agency, other individuals who have knowledge or special expertise regarding the child, including related services personnel as appropriate; and
• Whenever appropriate, the child with a disability.
In accordance with 34 CFR 300.321(a)(7), the public agency must invite a child with a disability to attend the child’s IEP Team meeting if a purpose of the meeting will be the consideration of the postsecondary goals for the child and the transition services needed to assist the child in reaching those goals under 34 CFR 300.320(b).
[34 CFR 300.321(a) and (b)(1)] [20 U.S.C. 1414(d)(1)(B)]
2. Identify instances when an IEP Team member may not need to attend.
A member of the IEP Team described in 34 CFR 300.321(a)(2) through (a)(5) is not required to attend an IEP Team meeting, in whole or in part, if the parent of a child with a disability and the public agency agree, in writing, that the attendance of the member is not necessary because the member's area of the curriculum or related services is not being modified or discussed in the meeting.
A member of the IEP Team described in 34 CFR 300.321(a)(2) through (a)(5) may be excused from attending an IEP Team meeting, in whole or in part, when the meeting involves a modification to or discussion of the member's area of the curriculum or related services, if:
• The parent, in writing, and the public agency consent to the excusal; and
• The member submits, in writing to the parent and the IEP Team, input into the development of the IEP prior to the meeting.
[34 CFR 300.321(e)] [20 U.S.C. 1414(d)(1)(C)]
3. Provide for inviting representatives from the Part C system.
In the case of a child who was previously served under Part C of the IDEA, an invitation to the initial IEP Team meeting must, at the request of the parent, be sent to the Part C service coordinator or other representatives of the Part C system to assist with the smooth transition of services.
[34 CFR 300.321(f)] [20 U.S.C. 1414(d)(1)(D)]
4. Require that the notice inform parents of other IEP Team participants.
The notice required under 34 CFR 300.322(a)(1) (regarding an IEP meeting), among other things, must inform the parents of the provisions in 34 CFR 300.321(a)(6) and (c) (relating to the participation of other individuals on the IEP Team who have knowledge or special expertise about the child), and 34 CFR 300.321(f) (relating to the participation of the Part C service coordinator or other representatives of the Part C system at the initial IEP Team meeting for a child previously served under Part C of the IDEA).
[34 CFR 300.322(b)(1)]
5. Revise requirements for when transition content must be included in an IEP meeting notice.
For a child with a disability beginning not later than the first IEP to be in effect when the child turns 16, or younger if determined appropriate by the IEP Team, the notice required under 34 CFR 300.322(a)(1) (regarding an IEP meeting), among other things, must:
• Indicate that a purpose of the meeting will be the consideration of the postsecondary goals and transition services for the child, in accordance with 34 CFR 300.320(b) and that the agency will invite the student; and
• Identify any other agency that will be invited to send a representative.
[34 CFR 300.322(b)(2)]
6. Set forth provisions regarding consideration of Individualized Family Services Plans (IFSPs) for children aged three through five.
In the case of a child with a disability aged three through five (or, at the discretion of the State educational agency (SEA), a two-year-old child with a disability who will turn age three during the school year), the IEP Team must consider an IFSP that contains the IFSP content (including the natural environments statement) described in section 636(d) of the IDEA and its implementing regulations (including an educational component that promotes school readiness and incorporates pre-literacy, language, and numeracy skills for children with IFSPs under 34 CFR 300.323 who are at least three years of age), and that is developed in accordance with the IEP procedures under Part B.
The IFSP may serve as the IEP of the child, if using the IFSP as the IEP is consistent with State policy and agreed to by the agency and the child’s parents.
In implementing these IFSP provisions, the public agency must provide to the child’s parents, a detailed explanation of the differences between an IFSP and an IEP. If the parents choose an IFSP, the public agency must obtain written informed consent from the parents.
[34 CFR 300.323(b)] [20 U.S.C. 1414(d)(2)(B)]
7. Require that the IEP be accessible to teachers and others responsible for its implementation.
Each public agency must ensure that:
• The child’s IEP is accessible to each regular education teacher, special education teacher, related services provider, and any other service provider who is responsible for its implementation; and
• Each teacher and provider described in this provision, is informed of his or her specific responsibilities related to implementing the child’s IEP and the specific accommodations, modifications, and supports that must be provided for the child in accordance with the IEP.
[34 CFR 300.323(d)]
8. Address the IEP for a student who transfers to a different school district in the state.
If a child with a disability (who had an IEP that was in effect in a previous public agency in the same State) transfers to a new public agency in the same State, and enrolls in a new school within the same school year, the new public agency (in consultation with the parents) must provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to the child (including services comparable to those described in the child’s IEP from the previous public agency), until the new public agency either adopts the child’s IEP from the previous public agency, or develops, adopts, and implements a new IEP that meets the applicable requirements in 34 CFR 300.320 through 300.324.
[34 CFR 300.323(e)] [20 U.S.C. 1414(d)(2)(C)(i)(I)]
9. Address the IEP for a student who transfers from another state.
If a child with a disability (who had an IEP that was in effect in a previous public agency in another State) transfers to a public agency in a new State, and enrolls in a new school within the same school year, the new public agency (in consultation with the parents) must provide the child with FAPE (including services comparable to those described in the child’s IEP from the previous public agency), until the new public agency conducts an evaluation pursuant to 34 CFR 300.304 through 300.306 (if determined to be necessary by the new public agency) and develops, adopts, and implements a new IEP, if appropriate, that meets the applicable requirements in 34 CFR 300.320 through 300.324.
[34 CFR 300.323(f)] [20 U.S.C. 1414(d)(2)(C)(i)(II)]
10. Address transmittal of records for students who transfer.
To facilitate the transition for a child described in 34 CFR 300.323(e) and (f) (who transfers within the State or from another State), the new public agency in which the child enrolls must take reasonable steps to promptly obtain the child’s records, including the IEP and supporting documents and any other records relating to the provision of special education or related services to the child, from the previous public agency in which the child was enrolled, pursuant to 34 CFR 99.31(a)(2) (Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)) and the previous public agency in which the child was enrolled must take reasonable steps to promptly respond to the request from the new public agency.
[34 CFR 300.323(g)] [20 U.S.C. 1414(d)(2)(C)(ii)]
11. Add a new provision for AMENDING the IEP without another meeting.
In making changes to a child’s IEP after the annual IEP Team meeting for a school year, the parent of a child with a disability and the public agency may agree not to convene an IEP Team meeting for the purposes of making those changes, and instead may develop a written document to amend or modify the child’s current IEP.
If changes are made to the child’s IEP in accordance with 34 CFR 300.324(a)(4)(i), the public agency must ensure that the child’s IEP Team is informed of those changes.
[34 CFR 300.324(a)(4)] [20 U.S.C. 1414(d)(3)(D)]
Changes to the IEP may be made either by the entire IEP Team at an IEP Team meeting, or as provided in 34 CFR 300.324(a)(4), by amending the IEP rather than by redrafting the entire IEP. Upon request, a parent must be provided with a revised copy of the IEP with the amendments incorporated.
[34 CFR 300.324(a)(6)] [20 U.S.C. 1414(d)(3)(F)]
12. Encourage consolidation of IEP meetings.
To the extent possible, the public agency must encourage the consolidation of reevaluation meetings for the child and other IEP Team meetings for the child.
[34 CFR 300.324(a)(5)] [20 U.S.C. 1414(d)(3)(E)]
13. Provide for the review and, as appropriate, revision of the IEP.
Each public agency must ensure that, the IEP Team reviews the child’s IEP periodically, but not less than annually, to determine whether the annual goals for the child are being achieved and revises the IEP, as appropriate, to address:
• Any lack of expected progress toward the annual goals and in the general education curriculum, if appropriate;
• The results of any reevaluation;
• Information about the child provided to, or by, the parents, as described under 34 CFR 300.305(a)(2) (related to evaluations and reevaluations);
• The child’s anticipated needs; or
• Other matters.
In conducting a review of the child’s IEP, the IEP Team must consider the special factors described in 34 CFR 300.324(a)(2) (development of the IEP).
A regular education teacher of the child, as a member of the IEP Team, must, consistent with 34 CFR 300.324(a)(3) (participation of regular teacher in development of the IEP), participate in the review and revision of the IEP of the child.
[34 CFR 300.324(b)] [20 U.S.C. 1414(d)(4)]
14. Authorize alternative means of meeting participation.
When conducting IEP Team meetings and placement meetings pursuant to subparts D and E of Part 300, and carrying out administrative matters under section 615 of the IDEA (such as scheduling, exchange of witness lists, and status conferences), the parent of a child with a disability and a public agency may agree to use alternative means of meeting participation, such as video conferences and conference calls.
[34 CFR 300.328] [20 U.S.C. 1414(f)]
1 Topics in this series include: Alignment With the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act; Changes in Initial Evaluation and Reevaluation; Children Enrolled by Their Parents in Private Schools; Discipline; Disproportionality and Overidentification; Early Intervening Services; Highly Qualified Teachers; Identification of Specific Learning Disabilities; Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team Meetings and Changes to the IEP; Individualized Education Program (IEP); Local Funding; Monitoring, Technical Assistance and Enforcement; National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS); Part C Amendments in IDEA 2004; Part C Option: Age 3 to Kindergarten Age; Procedural Safeguards: Surrogates, Notice and Consent; Procedural Safeguards: Mediation; Procedural Safeguards: Resolution Meetings and Due Process Hearings; Secondary Transition; State Complaint Procedures; State Funding; and Statewide and Districtwide Assessments. Documents are available on the IDEA Web site at: http://IDEA.ed.gov.
http://idea.ed.gov/explore/view/p/%2Croot%2Cdynamic%2CTopicalBrief%2C9%2C
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Parenting Special Needs Magazine ~ Pete & Pam Wright = WRIGHTSLAW
Great Magazine with lots of information for all of us!
Read this BIO on Pete & Pam Wright aka WRIGHTSLAW
click on the highlighted link below here:
Bios | Parenting Special Needs Magazine
Read this BIO on Pete & Pam Wright aka WRIGHTSLAW
click on the highlighted link below here:
Bios | Parenting Special Needs Magazine
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Florida State Complaints Reports ~ Great Summer Read!
Here's a web link for interesting Summer time reading on all the different State Complaints from all the different Public School Districts in this wonderful Sunshine State of Florida! This one in particular is a good one, because it involves 5 students! Broward schools ESE Department is now onto other things they do to make life difficult for good parents with wonderful children! But read this one first so you know that they DO HAVE TO DO CORRECTIVE ACTIONS every now and again like in this complaint. Click here to read about the November 25th 2008 - February 15th, 2009 State and Federal Complaints filed on behalf of FIVE (5) students in Broward County!! click on this highlighted link: http:www.fldoe.org/ese/complaints/pdf/2009-008-RES.pdf
STATE COMPLAINTS FILED in FLORIDA over the years
Here is the web-link to the Florida Department of Education website so you can read for yourself from school-year-to-school-year all the different State & Federal Complaints that parents file on throughout the entire State of Florida. Interesting reading for sure! What I find amazing is how our Districts 'get away' with so much nonsense complaint after complaint after complaint! click on this highlighted link:
http://www.fldoe.org/ese/complaints/default.asp
Read for yourself and tell me what you think.............
DUE PROCESS FILINGS ACROSS THE STATE of Florida
If you enjoyed reading about the different State Complaints coming out of the different Florida School Districts you will enjoy reading about the different DUE PROCESSES filed as well. Here is the direct link to all of the Due Processes filed up to the school year Jan.-June 2011. click on this highlighted link:
http://www.fldoe.org/ese/due-order.asp
Friday, June 22, 2012
Critical Shortage in Teacher Certifications LOOK SEE!
http://www.fldoe.org/arm/pdf/ctsa1213.pdf
I found this interesting information pertaining to teacher certifications. Check it out!
I found this interesting information pertaining to teacher certifications. Check it out!
Florida End Of Course (EOC) Exams RESOURCE LINK
http://fcat.fldoe.org/eoc/
Got Questions about the End Of Course Exams? (EOC)
This is the FDOE webpage to guide you so you know what's up! Enjoy!
Got Questions about the End Of Course Exams? (EOC)
This is the FDOE webpage to guide you so you know what's up! Enjoy!
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Broward ESE ~ Did the school FORGET to do the ESY meeting??
I just received a phone call from a dad that has an adorable little boy with Down syndrome who is 5 years old. He will be going into Kindergarten at the start of school in the fall. He was upset not knowing what they were suppose to do for their son to receive his therapy services over the summer. I asked if they had an IEP pertaining to ESY=Extended School Year before school let out. He said they were only told to enroll him in VPK. They went to do just that.....but were told by the VPK Preschool that 'they didn't have any teachers that could work with Down syndrome'. ARE THEY KIDDING ME? Discrimination is alive and well today....
I asked this concerned parent if the school ever did an IEP meeting to talk with them about ESY and they said they didn't think so, they only remember the school telling them to go enroll him in a VPK Program and didn't tell them much about what it was or where to go. He said they basically told he and his wife that the school 'couldn't do anything more for their son'! Really? Would a school IEP team say that?.......I am hoping this isn't really the case but will find out more when he calls on his lunch hour tomorrow. I will be showing this family how to contact the Florida Department of Education on a 3-way telephone conversation so they can talk with the State Education Program Specialist. Maybe I will teach this family how to file their 1st State Complaint on this situation. If more parents filed State Complaints maybe our school district wouldn't make these kinds of mistakes on the backs of our children's education!
Frankly THIS situation does not surprise me that a family is 'left hanging' and without much direction on where to go for help and support for their son or what to expect over the summer break for their little one that is in need of Special Education Supports and Services here in Broward ~ he needs his OT and ST services I'm sure of it!
N o t h i n g surprises me anymore with how parents are left hanging not knowing where to go to for help, so their little one doesn't lose the skills they have been working on all school year long. How could the school not provide ESY services for a little one with Down syndrome? VPK is a great 'plan' but this dad said they weren't provided with any information on what to expect over the summer or where they were suppose to go. They are very concerned about him not getting any of his therapies especially.
I hope to help direct this family to get their beautiful little boy enrolled in a VPK school near their home, that 'wants him' first of all and a VPK that will help him continue to gain the academic skills he will need when he enters Kindergarten in the fall.
Please stay tuned for the outcome of THIS STORY of a young family trying to make sure their little boy doesn't lose the skills they have all worked so hard on with him thus far.
It will be sad if the school never provided an IEP meeting before the school year ended to discuss ESY services for him.
....like I said.... n o t h i n g surprises me anymore here in Broward County Public Schools and how some of our school IEP teams do things anymore! This is showing me more and more with each phone call I receive from yet another ESE Parent needing help and direction.....that our schools and Broward's ESE department just doesn't care about our kiddo's!!
http://instructionaltech.browardschools.com/terms/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/2012ESY-Summer-Manual-4-day.pdf
I asked this concerned parent if the school ever did an IEP meeting to talk with them about ESY and they said they didn't think so, they only remember the school telling them to go enroll him in a VPK Program and didn't tell them much about what it was or where to go. He said they basically told he and his wife that the school 'couldn't do anything more for their son'! Really? Would a school IEP team say that?.......I am hoping this isn't really the case but will find out more when he calls on his lunch hour tomorrow. I will be showing this family how to contact the Florida Department of Education on a 3-way telephone conversation so they can talk with the State Education Program Specialist. Maybe I will teach this family how to file their 1st State Complaint on this situation. If more parents filed State Complaints maybe our school district wouldn't make these kinds of mistakes on the backs of our children's education!
Frankly THIS situation does not surprise me that a family is 'left hanging' and without much direction on where to go for help and support for their son or what to expect over the summer break for their little one that is in need of Special Education Supports and Services here in Broward ~ he needs his OT and ST services I'm sure of it!
N o t h i n g surprises me anymore with how parents are left hanging not knowing where to go to for help, so their little one doesn't lose the skills they have been working on all school year long. How could the school not provide ESY services for a little one with Down syndrome? VPK is a great 'plan' but this dad said they weren't provided with any information on what to expect over the summer or where they were suppose to go. They are very concerned about him not getting any of his therapies especially.
I hope to help direct this family to get their beautiful little boy enrolled in a VPK school near their home, that 'wants him' first of all and a VPK that will help him continue to gain the academic skills he will need when he enters Kindergarten in the fall.
Please stay tuned for the outcome of THIS STORY of a young family trying to make sure their little boy doesn't lose the skills they have all worked so hard on with him thus far.
It will be sad if the school never provided an IEP meeting before the school year ended to discuss ESY services for him.
....like I said.... n o t h i n g surprises me anymore here in Broward County Public Schools and how some of our school IEP teams do things anymore! This is showing me more and more with each phone call I receive from yet another ESE Parent needing help and direction.....that our schools and Broward's ESE department just doesn't care about our kiddo's!!
http://instructionaltech.browardschools.com/terms/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/2012ESY-Summer-Manual-4-day.pdf
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Leader of the Pack web series ~ GLEE Star Lauren Potter
Leader of the Pack web series
Glee star Lauren Potter in comedy Love Triangle. Please Help Us keep her love alive! We self-funded the first 3 episodes for you. Now help us finish the season!
http://www.indiegogo.com/LeaderofthePackwebseriesfunding
click this above link to learn more!
Parents create bucket list for 21-month-old Ryan given weeks to live
Parents create bucket list for 21-month-old given weeks to live
Please keep baby Ryan Roberts in your prayers ~ Join in the Banana Split Party!
Put Diane Roberts and her family on prayer chains and lists to keep her son Ryan prayed up!
Thank you.
Ryan's Banana Split Party YOUR INVITED TO JOIN!
https://www.facebook.com/events/390131587688891/
Please keep baby Ryan Roberts in your prayers ~ Join in the Banana Split Party!
Put Diane Roberts and her family on prayer chains and lists to keep her son Ryan prayed up!
Thank you.
Ryan's Banana Split Party YOUR INVITED TO JOIN!
https://www.facebook.com/events/390131587688891/
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Florida Department of Education / FAMILIES / PARENT INVOLVEMENT Resources
Great Resource link to the Florida Department of Ed for Families to be Involved in their Children's Education.
It's about INDIVIDUALIZED Education for each Child who have their own Unique Educational Needs.
Be sure to SAVE the page and research all the great links on the left and right of FLDOE.org/Families webpage. Good stuff to know!
http://www.fldoe.org/families/
It's about INDIVIDUALIZED Education for each Child who have their own Unique Educational Needs.
Be sure to SAVE the page and research all the great links on the left and right of FLDOE.org/Families webpage. Good stuff to know!
http://www.fldoe.org/families/
~ IEP TidBit ~ GET IT IN WRITING !!!!
Thanks to Steve Moyer for this helpful "IEP TIDBIT"
Original by Steve Moyer:
"Any time something is denied you in an IEP meeting, have the district memorialize what you asked for. Have them make it clear that they refused it and have them state the reason why they refused. Make them be very specific."
"Get it in writing!!"
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tou6wjf3necOvo0qNKMtLwytN0flkO-FhbPrdWYjKjM/edit?pli=1
modelform2_Prior_Written_Notice.pdf
Google Docs
docs.google.com
....and I am going to suggest you make copies of this form and take
this document to your meetings to have 'on hand'.
Share this folks ~ with your friends that are part of IEP meetings and the 'whole IEP process'.
DS Advocate
www.dsadvocate.com
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
24 min/ 8 sec IEP Hostile Take-Over ~ Broward ESE Dept. NONSENSE
Should I post my 24min/8sec iPhone recording of the Hostile take over of my daughter's 5/30/12 IEP on FB?
.....or post it here on my blog?
....just asking................
I'm having a tad bit-o-trouble here in Broward schools.
My daughter Mariah Elizabeth doesn't even know that bad people attend IEP meetings that don't care about her.....they call themselves PROFESSIONALS!
......I'll say!
.....this WAS a Professional job that's for sure!
.....or post it here on my blog?
....just asking................
I'm having a tad bit-o-trouble here in Broward schools.
My daughter Mariah Elizabeth doesn't even know that bad people attend IEP meetings that don't care about her.....they call themselves PROFESSIONALS!
......I'll say!
.....this WAS a Professional job that's for sure!
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Broward County Public Schools ESE Department is NOT for our children!! ~ What has happened to Mariah's Individual Education Plan is PROOF!!
Mariah's ESE Wilson Reading Teacher and ESE Specialist and some STRANGER PROGRAM SPECIALIST all followed the leader of systematically DUMBING DOWN my daughters Individual Educational Plan! THIS IS WHY I DON'T BELIEVE IN ESE TEACHERS TEACHING MY DAUGHTER! THEY HAVE THE LOWEST EXPECTATIONS for children with disabilities ~ the very students they 'serve'. My ESE Specialist became a ROBOT like the rest of the ESE Department in Broward Schools.
My daughter has been LET DOWN from the very staff members that always 'claimed' they cared for Mariah's best interest.
*I know my CAPITAL WRITING is going to OFFEND some really WONDERFUL ESE TEACHERS and I'm sorry for that! I know there are plenty of ESE Teachers that are the BEST Teachers out there working their tails off doing a great job with our children with unique learning challenges ~ Mariah has received SES TUTORING from some really WONDERFUL ESE Certified Teachers.....but I am hurting here by the ESE Teachers/staff that I have had my daughter under their care and they have crapped on me and trampled on Mariah's freedom to continue working hard towards earning a REAL HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA!!! I have every right to be ?FUMING MAD!!
Mariah has taken 4 FCAT's already!! What the heck is going on with so many school staff acting so UNFRIENDLY and COLD HEARTED LATELY? I know the new principal likes to CENSOR all my emails and not allow staff to email me back...that's ok...I can still write my emails and blogs!
If Mariah was being kicked by a group of adults would ANYONE STOP THEM? This is what is happening to her now! But it is all being done on her legal educational documents!
Mariah deserves YOUR HELP & SUPPORT!!
I will get to WHO IS BEHIND all this nonsense!
I need lots of prayers ~ as I fight for my daughter's quality education that I have fought so hard for thus far and don't intend to stop now.
Too bad there are BAD PEOPLE with BAD INTENTIONS that work in our schools to make a paycheck only ~ working for the 6th largest school district in the Country! Teachers & Staff sitting in our IEP meetings saying they are the Professionals? Really....? Mariah's ESE teacher & ESE Specialist spit on my daughter's future educational dreams and expectations!!
...Mariah ~ I will make things right for you ~ I always do...I'm your mother!
The momma tiger is MAD!!
Broward County Public Schools ESE Department is NOT for our children!! The department head does not have the BEST INTEREST of our ESE Children as her highest concern ~ What has happened to Mariah's Individual Education Plan is PROOF there is a SYSTEMATIC WAY OF DUMBING DOWN THE IEP Process & our children's education ~ and sending in ESE Program Specialist to ARGUE RELENTLESSLY with good parents of wonderful children.....if they can get away with it!!...and they do plenty!!
I would like an INTERIM like I have been asking for since MARCH! When will Stephen Foster Elementary School give me a date for my interim IEP? THEY IGNORED setting up a meeting for me till 5/30/12 and then the ESE Department sent in ROBOTS to come sabotage and ARGUE!!
My daughter's Annual was not due till September 22nd, 2012. WHY WAS I BEING FORCED TO HAVE AN ANNUAL and not the IEP update Interim or end of the year IEP I have ALWAYS HAD EACH YEAR?
DISPICABLE & DISGUSTING!!
My daughter has been LET DOWN from the very staff members that always 'claimed' they cared for Mariah's best interest.
*I know my CAPITAL WRITING is going to OFFEND some really WONDERFUL ESE TEACHERS and I'm sorry for that! I know there are plenty of ESE Teachers that are the BEST Teachers out there working their tails off doing a great job with our children with unique learning challenges ~ Mariah has received SES TUTORING from some really WONDERFUL ESE Certified Teachers.....but I am hurting here by the ESE Teachers/staff that I have had my daughter under their care and they have crapped on me and trampled on Mariah's freedom to continue working hard towards earning a REAL HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA!!! I have every right to be ?FUMING MAD!!
Mariah has taken 4 FCAT's already!! What the heck is going on with so many school staff acting so UNFRIENDLY and COLD HEARTED LATELY? I know the new principal likes to CENSOR all my emails and not allow staff to email me back...that's ok...I can still write my emails and blogs!
If Mariah was being kicked by a group of adults would ANYONE STOP THEM? This is what is happening to her now! But it is all being done on her legal educational documents!
Mariah deserves YOUR HELP & SUPPORT!!
I will get to WHO IS BEHIND all this nonsense!
I need lots of prayers ~ as I fight for my daughter's quality education that I have fought so hard for thus far and don't intend to stop now.
Too bad there are BAD PEOPLE with BAD INTENTIONS that work in our schools to make a paycheck only ~ working for the 6th largest school district in the Country! Teachers & Staff sitting in our IEP meetings saying they are the Professionals? Really....? Mariah's ESE teacher & ESE Specialist spit on my daughter's future educational dreams and expectations!!
...Mariah ~ I will make things right for you ~ I always do...I'm your mother!
The momma tiger is MAD!!
Broward County Public Schools ESE Department is NOT for our children!! The department head does not have the BEST INTEREST of our ESE Children as her highest concern ~ What has happened to Mariah's Individual Education Plan is PROOF there is a SYSTEMATIC WAY OF DUMBING DOWN THE IEP Process & our children's education ~ and sending in ESE Program Specialist to ARGUE RELENTLESSLY with good parents of wonderful children.....if they can get away with it!!...and they do plenty!!
I would like an INTERIM like I have been asking for since MARCH! When will Stephen Foster Elementary School give me a date for my interim IEP? THEY IGNORED setting up a meeting for me till 5/30/12 and then the ESE Department sent in ROBOTS to come sabotage and ARGUE!!
My daughter's Annual was not due till September 22nd, 2012. WHY WAS I BEING FORCED TO HAVE AN ANNUAL and not the IEP update Interim or end of the year IEP I have ALWAYS HAD EACH YEAR?
DISPICABLE & DISGUSTING!!
Friday, June 1, 2012
Annual IEP's left open in DRAFT form over the Summer?
How long can a DRAFT of an Annual IEP be left OPEN in the EzIEP system? If an IEP team in Broward has not set up enough time to hold an effective collaborative ANNUAL Transition into Kindergarten IEP for a student, especially a student with significant physical needs entering Kindergarten in the Fall ....does that mean the students IEP is just an "open" document in Draft form over the entire summer or does that mean the required Annual Date of completing the Annual IEP is now out of compliance? ....again...just askin.....any Special Ed lawyers out there? Please comment and let's open this for rich discussion.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
FORCED OUT OF THE IEP PROCESS TODAY!!!
What is with BROWARD ESE DEPARTMENT and pushing their agenda to do what is now being called, "BEST PRACTICES" ~ not a real policy in writing anywhere.....but a 'suggested best practice' ~ if your child's ANNUAL IEP is November 1st or before Nov. 1st, it is suggested...oops I mean it is being FORCED on you that you WILL HAVE TO HAVE AN ANNUAL IEP in May before your child matriculates into the next school level, as my daughter Mariah is going on into the 6th grade to Middle School!
.......but what about the fact in writing that I have been REQUESTING AN INTERiM IEP since like March maybe even late Feb~ yes in many written emails to several of my need and my request to have an interim....all fell on deaf ears or wasn't considered because there was never a RESPONSE to my requesting an interim. With no communication pertaining to when a meeting time would be scheduled ~ NOW TODAY I am all set to have my much awaited interim iep meeting......I have waited long enough! With 5 1/2 school days left of this school year ~ I was all set to have a good meeting with her IEP Team! The time for me to have my meeting today was very accommodating to have it start at 9AM and run till 3PM if we needed. Unheard of by today's standard's, since several of my friends now are only being allowed 30 minutes to an hour to hold their IEP meetings! It was going to be a good day...all was good this morning.
The classroom/meeting room was PERFECT ~ absolutely perfectly set up to be able to work together as a collaborative TEAM! The student desks and chairs were set up in a perfect SEMI-CIRCLE with the projection ready for viewing the electronic Ez-IEP on the white board on the wall. Mariah's IEP TEAM was all sitting around waiting for me to arrive, all nice and relaxed and waiting as I walked in. Just how LONG HAD THEY ALL BEEN SITTING THERE?? Were they sitting there PRE-Discussing anything about my meeting BEFORE I arrived? I wonder as this also seems to be common practice here in Broward, where parents are always the last ones to enter the meeting. I walked in with my 2 advocates, we picked chairs to sit in and I quickly set up my laptop and recorder, pulling out all my paperwork & notes ready to start the meeting. Wait a minute.....I had advocates with me! Why? ~ I AM THE ADVOCATE!
Why did I bring 2 advocates with me today?
...because we all need to take an advocate now and again. Today I didn't want any funny-funny stuff being pulled on me alone, especially with my daughter moving on into middle school. I wanted to make sure Mariah's IEP document stayed SOLID as I felt it was. Mariah's IEP is a darn good one, a well written IEP today, which expires the end of September. This is another reason why I like to set up an interim IEP at the end of every school year to prepare and plan for the first few months of the upcoming new school year, with all new teachers. To me that is the 'best practice' that I have always done over the years.
This morning what happened to me should never have happened...to me or to anyone! ....and it's a 'best practice' thing? Best Practice for WHO? Certainly not for me and or for my daughter's benefit!
I am sickened that a Program Specialist or a "compliance specialist" as they are now sometimes called here in Broward County and even the ESE Specialist, how these people are so quick to suggest and basically force you to FILE for a Due Process Hearing ~ if you don't like what is being done at that moment in our IEP meetings, this is the push! This seems to be our districts quick-fix and the answer to doing things THEIR WAY!! Well heck, Broward public schools has some pretty pricey lawyers don't ya think?? .....and this is all done in the BEST INTEREST of my daughter ~ really??!
FORCING ME to agree that this particular IEP meeting was now going to be Mariah's ANNUAL IEP is how the ESE employee side of Mariah's IEP was going to PUSH ME into moving ahead with this meeting. This was mostly coming from a program specialist that I don't think she even knows what color my daughters eyes are or how long her hair is now! ~ How dare all the ESE EMPLOYEES in attendance of this meeting force and make my daughters teacher-of-the-year and therapists be forced to have to SIT & WATCH and be now be part of AIR GETTING SO THICK like a DARK STORM CLOUD coming over all of us! All done with such a strong sense of, don't know what words to use here to describe the feeling in the air........certainly nothing but W R O N G going on!!! It was all very wrong indeed~!! This was not what I was hoping to accomplish today at my daughter's meeting!
I came prepared to update & make sure things would be in place to run smoothly for her starting in the Fall at her new Middle school. She was accepted in a MAGNET PROGRAM!! The S.T.E.M. Magnet Program!!!! I came prepared to be part of meeting I had been requesting since March - I documented all over the signed PPF that I was NOT agreeing to this meeting being an ANNUAL as had been 'suggested' - guess our district makes up their own "best practices" aka Broward made-up rules (no written policies have ever been provided when I asked) - my school ESE Specialist - Mariah's wonderful Wilson Reading ESE Teacher - and a District ESE "WIND-UP ROBOT" speaking to me like she had a scratch in the CD or like a broken record repeating the same sentences in her monotone voice. She was SENT and sitting there only to strong-arm and BULLY me at my meeting! Sitting there only to force me to agree and turn it into an ANNUAL IEP. Everyone knew in all of my previous emails that I had always been requesting and wanting to hold an interim meeting, since March! What was the BIG DEAL ~ Why now was there this PUSH TO FORCE this meeting to be an ANNUAL IEP? I felt Mariah's IEP was still good to go. She was still working on some pretty solid academic goals that still I felt needed to be carried over into Middle school.
There was no one in attendance from her Middle school, to provide input or information pertaining to the magnet program curriculum. The S.T.E.M. Director from the Middle school was going to be stepping into the meeting a little later.
How can one person that doesn't even KNOW MY DAUGHTER put such spin & create such a negative force on how a meeting WILL NOW MOVE FORWARD and GO? I announced that I wanted to STOP the meeting! I stood up and started gathering all my things ~ She stated, "THEY WILL STILL GO AHEAD WITHOUT ME!" She sounded like a broken record with no emotions to what she was creating all by herself like a ROBOT with a skip in the recording! Really??!! How is this in the BEST INTEREST for my daughter's education and for Mariah going into a new Middle School? WHO or where was this person getting her ORDERS FROM?
This is not how I saw my daughter's interim IEP meeting going this morning when I woke up after so little sleep preparing for a productive meeting for Mariah's educational supports for next year in Middle school.
This was to be Mariah's LAST IEP Team meeting at Stephen Foster Elementary ~ going to this same school since she was 4 years old! She will be 14 years old in September. Thanks for my "going away meeting" I have anticipated for way too long! ~ I have a gut-feeling that this has to do with the new principal in some way. Considering he enjoyed censoring each and everyone of my emails this entire school year! Yes ~ I said ALL of my emails were censored by my school principal this year. Can't wait to see what MESS this will bring!
Thanks for the end-of-the-year PaRtY!! Stephen Foster Elementary School has been good to my daughter! Most of Mariah's teachers were awesome and workable and wonderful to work & talk with and really cared that Mariah was successfully educated and gained higher level skills! There have been a few teachers that certainly have alot to be desired in the stand-off attitude towards me over the years. Some teachers just don't have it in them to work collaboratively with involved, concerned parents like me. But for the most part Mariah has always had WONDERFUL TEACHERS THAT CARED ABOUT MARIAH LEARNING & worked collaboratively with me.
Stephen Foster Elementary has served my daughter well ~ never dreamed or thought her final IEP meeting would be like this one. A total SLAP IN THE FACE to me as her parent and her advocate for her education! I was FORCED OUT OF MY DAUGHTER'S Interim IEP today! They carried on and 'said' they would go ahead and turn it into an ANNUAL IEP without me, if I left! I'm so sorry collaboration didn't take place today and my school didn't want to provide me an opportunity to take a look at the supports and services my girl will be needing on her first day of 6th grade in the Fall! Oh well at least this IEP document wasn't out of compliance because of the 'date' of the annual being held past the annual date.........this time! Her next required annual review will occur on or before: September 22nd, 2012. Mariah still needed time to work on and master some pretty solid IEP goals I had in her document.
I am not a happy camper today! Should I be? Would you be?
Mariah ~ things will be OK ~ you watch things will be OK once your mom fills out a few papers ~ it's like making a phone call.........to the police!
I can not sit back and pretend all is well with how I was treated and forced 'to file' as it was suggested I do from the program specialist this morning. I will not be filing a DUE PROCESS.
Those that are unfamiliar with the IEP process or what just happened to me today at my IEP meeting or what the heck I am upset and unhappy about.......it's about my CIVIL RIGHTS! It's about Mariah and what will be best for her as she leaves her elementary school and goes on into Middle School into the S.T.E.M. Magnet Program in the Fall.
*This is not a reflection on how grateful I am to Mariah's many teachers over the years and therapists that have helped Mariah get to where she is academically today. I'm just sorry we all are now part of what seems like the systematic nonsense and ESE Parent bullying that I have seen happen at many many IEP meetings here in Broward!! What WAS that? ~ What was it that happened so quickly this morning???......grrrrhhh!!!
NOT HAPPY WITH THE "SUGGESTED BEST PRACTICE" IDEA or "the recourse I can take if I'm not agreeing" to 'THE IEP TEAM DECISION!!
I WANT MY DAUGHTER'S INTERIM IEP TO BE A "START OVER" or a "CANCEL ERASE".....can we do that?
NOPE~!!
"THEY HELD THE IEP WITHOUT ME!!!"
....and FORCED me to agree to make it her ANNUAL IEP, which I didn't think was needed at all! She has a well written IEP with solid goals that still need to be worked on.
........and I'm very much involved with my daughter's education and I'm a Special Ed Advocate for others & for my daughter especially! Have to be!
.............
.............................
..................
.............................
THANKS!
.......but what about the fact in writing that I have been REQUESTING AN INTERiM IEP since like March maybe even late Feb~ yes in many written emails to several of my need and my request to have an interim....all fell on deaf ears or wasn't considered because there was never a RESPONSE to my requesting an interim. With no communication pertaining to when a meeting time would be scheduled ~ NOW TODAY I am all set to have my much awaited interim iep meeting......I have waited long enough! With 5 1/2 school days left of this school year ~ I was all set to have a good meeting with her IEP Team! The time for me to have my meeting today was very accommodating to have it start at 9AM and run till 3PM if we needed. Unheard of by today's standard's, since several of my friends now are only being allowed 30 minutes to an hour to hold their IEP meetings! It was going to be a good day...all was good this morning.
The classroom/meeting room was PERFECT ~ absolutely perfectly set up to be able to work together as a collaborative TEAM! The student desks and chairs were set up in a perfect SEMI-CIRCLE with the projection ready for viewing the electronic Ez-IEP on the white board on the wall. Mariah's IEP TEAM was all sitting around waiting for me to arrive, all nice and relaxed and waiting as I walked in. Just how LONG HAD THEY ALL BEEN SITTING THERE?? Were they sitting there PRE-Discussing anything about my meeting BEFORE I arrived? I wonder as this also seems to be common practice here in Broward, where parents are always the last ones to enter the meeting. I walked in with my 2 advocates, we picked chairs to sit in and I quickly set up my laptop and recorder, pulling out all my paperwork & notes ready to start the meeting. Wait a minute.....I had advocates with me! Why? ~ I AM THE ADVOCATE!
Why did I bring 2 advocates with me today?
...because we all need to take an advocate now and again. Today I didn't want any funny-funny stuff being pulled on me alone, especially with my daughter moving on into middle school. I wanted to make sure Mariah's IEP document stayed SOLID as I felt it was. Mariah's IEP is a darn good one, a well written IEP today, which expires the end of September. This is another reason why I like to set up an interim IEP at the end of every school year to prepare and plan for the first few months of the upcoming new school year, with all new teachers. To me that is the 'best practice' that I have always done over the years.
This morning what happened to me should never have happened...to me or to anyone! ....and it's a 'best practice' thing? Best Practice for WHO? Certainly not for me and or for my daughter's benefit!
I am sickened that a Program Specialist or a "compliance specialist" as they are now sometimes called here in Broward County and even the ESE Specialist, how these people are so quick to suggest and basically force you to FILE for a Due Process Hearing ~ if you don't like what is being done at that moment in our IEP meetings, this is the push! This seems to be our districts quick-fix and the answer to doing things THEIR WAY!! Well heck, Broward public schools has some pretty pricey lawyers don't ya think?? .....and this is all done in the BEST INTEREST of my daughter ~ really??!
FORCING ME to agree that this particular IEP meeting was now going to be Mariah's ANNUAL IEP is how the ESE employee side of Mariah's IEP was going to PUSH ME into moving ahead with this meeting. This was mostly coming from a program specialist that I don't think she even knows what color my daughters eyes are or how long her hair is now! ~ How dare all the ESE EMPLOYEES in attendance of this meeting force and make my daughters teacher-of-the-year and therapists be forced to have to SIT & WATCH and be now be part of AIR GETTING SO THICK like a DARK STORM CLOUD coming over all of us! All done with such a strong sense of, don't know what words to use here to describe the feeling in the air........certainly nothing but W R O N G going on!!! It was all very wrong indeed~!! This was not what I was hoping to accomplish today at my daughter's meeting!
I came prepared to update & make sure things would be in place to run smoothly for her starting in the Fall at her new Middle school. She was accepted in a MAGNET PROGRAM!! The S.T.E.M. Magnet Program!!!! I came prepared to be part of meeting I had been requesting since March - I documented all over the signed PPF that I was NOT agreeing to this meeting being an ANNUAL as had been 'suggested' - guess our district makes up their own "best practices" aka Broward made-up rules (no written policies have ever been provided when I asked) - my school ESE Specialist - Mariah's wonderful Wilson Reading ESE Teacher - and a District ESE "WIND-UP ROBOT" speaking to me like she had a scratch in the CD or like a broken record repeating the same sentences in her monotone voice. She was SENT and sitting there only to strong-arm and BULLY me at my meeting! Sitting there only to force me to agree and turn it into an ANNUAL IEP. Everyone knew in all of my previous emails that I had always been requesting and wanting to hold an interim meeting, since March! What was the BIG DEAL ~ Why now was there this PUSH TO FORCE this meeting to be an ANNUAL IEP? I felt Mariah's IEP was still good to go. She was still working on some pretty solid academic goals that still I felt needed to be carried over into Middle school.
There was no one in attendance from her Middle school, to provide input or information pertaining to the magnet program curriculum. The S.T.E.M. Director from the Middle school was going to be stepping into the meeting a little later.
How can one person that doesn't even KNOW MY DAUGHTER put such spin & create such a negative force on how a meeting WILL NOW MOVE FORWARD and GO? I announced that I wanted to STOP the meeting! I stood up and started gathering all my things ~ She stated, "THEY WILL STILL GO AHEAD WITHOUT ME!" She sounded like a broken record with no emotions to what she was creating all by herself like a ROBOT with a skip in the recording! Really??!! How is this in the BEST INTEREST for my daughter's education and for Mariah going into a new Middle School? WHO or where was this person getting her ORDERS FROM?
This is not how I saw my daughter's interim IEP meeting going this morning when I woke up after so little sleep preparing for a productive meeting for Mariah's educational supports for next year in Middle school.
This was to be Mariah's LAST IEP Team meeting at Stephen Foster Elementary ~ going to this same school since she was 4 years old! She will be 14 years old in September. Thanks for my "going away meeting" I have anticipated for way too long! ~ I have a gut-feeling that this has to do with the new principal in some way. Considering he enjoyed censoring each and everyone of my emails this entire school year! Yes ~ I said ALL of my emails were censored by my school principal this year. Can't wait to see what MESS this will bring!
Thanks for the end-of-the-year PaRtY!! Stephen Foster Elementary School has been good to my daughter! Most of Mariah's teachers were awesome and workable and wonderful to work & talk with and really cared that Mariah was successfully educated and gained higher level skills! There have been a few teachers that certainly have alot to be desired in the stand-off attitude towards me over the years. Some teachers just don't have it in them to work collaboratively with involved, concerned parents like me. But for the most part Mariah has always had WONDERFUL TEACHERS THAT CARED ABOUT MARIAH LEARNING & worked collaboratively with me.
Stephen Foster Elementary has served my daughter well ~ never dreamed or thought her final IEP meeting would be like this one. A total SLAP IN THE FACE to me as her parent and her advocate for her education! I was FORCED OUT OF MY DAUGHTER'S Interim IEP today! They carried on and 'said' they would go ahead and turn it into an ANNUAL IEP without me, if I left! I'm so sorry collaboration didn't take place today and my school didn't want to provide me an opportunity to take a look at the supports and services my girl will be needing on her first day of 6th grade in the Fall! Oh well at least this IEP document wasn't out of compliance because of the 'date' of the annual being held past the annual date.........this time! Her next required annual review will occur on or before: September 22nd, 2012. Mariah still needed time to work on and master some pretty solid IEP goals I had in her document.
I am not a happy camper today! Should I be? Would you be?
Mariah ~ things will be OK ~ you watch things will be OK once your mom fills out a few papers ~ it's like making a phone call.........to the police!
I can not sit back and pretend all is well with how I was treated and forced 'to file' as it was suggested I do from the program specialist this morning. I will not be filing a DUE PROCESS.
Those that are unfamiliar with the IEP process or what just happened to me today at my IEP meeting or what the heck I am upset and unhappy about.......it's about my CIVIL RIGHTS! It's about Mariah and what will be best for her as she leaves her elementary school and goes on into Middle School into the S.T.E.M. Magnet Program in the Fall.
*This is not a reflection on how grateful I am to Mariah's many teachers over the years and therapists that have helped Mariah get to where she is academically today. I'm just sorry we all are now part of what seems like the systematic nonsense and ESE Parent bullying that I have seen happen at many many IEP meetings here in Broward!! What WAS that? ~ What was it that happened so quickly this morning???......grrrrhhh!!!
NOT HAPPY WITH THE "SUGGESTED BEST PRACTICE" IDEA or "the recourse I can take if I'm not agreeing" to 'THE IEP TEAM DECISION!!
I WANT MY DAUGHTER'S INTERIM IEP TO BE A "START OVER" or a "CANCEL ERASE".....can we do that?
NOPE~!!
"THEY HELD THE IEP WITHOUT ME!!!"
....and FORCED me to agree to make it her ANNUAL IEP, which I didn't think was needed at all! She has a well written IEP with solid goals that still need to be worked on.
........and I'm very much involved with my daughter's education and I'm a Special Ed Advocate for others & for my daughter especially! Have to be!
.............
.............................
..................
.............................
THANKS!
PUSH TO POTENTIAL ~ for ALL!!! (Inclusion Video's)
http://www.washington.edu/doit/Video/
University of Washington
GREAT VIDEO'S about INCLUSION!!!
Check out this website http://www.washington.edu/doit/Stem/about.html
AccessSTEM implements evidence-based practices to increase the numbers of individuals with disabilities moving through critical junctures to STEM careers.
Interventions: Students with disabilities participate in mentoring and peer support communities, job shadows, informational interviews, internships, leadership events, and other best practices that support STEM education and career transitions.
There is so much support in written word out there to help teachers and administrators with the IDEA of including students like my daughter Mariah into Gen. Ed classrooms and those with any number of disabilities. I speak up most often for individuals with DOWN SYNDROME mainly, because that is what I know best and I know for a fact individuals with Down syndrome are systematically pre-judged and too many have an automatic low expectation of their abilities. I know this for a fact ~ I live it ~ my friends live it!
We want more for them and the next generation!
HIGH EXPECTATIONS ~ Is that too much to ask for them in all they do in school and everyday?
TEACH MY Peeps with Down sydrome and expect MORE from them! PUSH THEM to their potential!
When will there be PEER BUDDIES in every school?
University of Washington
GREAT VIDEO'S about INCLUSION!!!
Check out this website http://www.washington.edu/doit/Stem/about.html
AccessSTEM implements evidence-based practices to increase the numbers of individuals with disabilities moving through critical junctures to STEM careers.
Interventions: Students with disabilities participate in mentoring and peer support communities, job shadows, informational interviews, internships, leadership events, and other best practices that support STEM education and career transitions.
There is so much support in written word out there to help teachers and administrators with the IDEA of including students like my daughter Mariah into Gen. Ed classrooms and those with any number of disabilities. I speak up most often for individuals with DOWN SYNDROME mainly, because that is what I know best and I know for a fact individuals with Down syndrome are systematically pre-judged and too many have an automatic low expectation of their abilities. I know this for a fact ~ I live it ~ my friends live it!
We want more for them and the next generation!
HIGH EXPECTATIONS ~ Is that too much to ask for them in all they do in school and everyday?
TEACH MY Peeps with Down sydrome and expect MORE from them! PUSH THEM to their potential!
When will there be PEER BUDDIES in every school?
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Parent Involvement is VITAL!
I am so glad this school year is 'winding down' ~ I have served my school district well this year ~ I have advocated strongly for what I believe in, sitting on way too many Parent Advisories! (6 total) I will do it all again next school year ~ focusing more on 1 very important "independent" young girl with Down syndrome entering Middle school! My daughter is moving on into the 6th grade. Middle school is a big transition for any student, especially for a student with a disability. My daughter is one lucky girl to have me as her advocate mom!!!
Parent involvement is vital in raising educated children with disabilities more so and ESPECIALLY if your child has Down syndrome! Students with Down syndrome still today in 2012 ~ are being left out and discriminated against so blatantly by not allowing students with Down syndrome to be included and sitting in 'regular' classrooms with non-disabled students. Many schools still are not doing such a hot job of educating our children with disabilities and especially our students with Down syndrome!! Yes there are many schools & teachers doing an awesome job, but for the most part, it takes a persistent advocate parent to make sure our children are truly being educated today, that includes students without any disability as well too!
When I visit schools and I continue to see students with a specific disability type still being separated and segregated, it gets to the core of my being! [aka clustering] When I see fellow Down syndrome young people continue to only be with other students that have the same extra chromosome or grouped in classrooms that are only for students with disabilities hits me right to my core! I have seen with my own eyes that "those students" are moved around the campus so there is absolutely no opportunity or minimal opportunity for them to be included in the society of school campus life, as the rest of the student population are able to do so naturally.
Many students with disabilities are still being hidden away from society! If it is allowed to happen in our schools, it will continue outside of school. Schools are little societies, how are we accept and include those with disabilities in our schools today teach and reflect how we expect our young people and future generations to treat those that may look or act a little differently. Being accepted, included and having high expectations to be successful, contributing members of society starts in our schools with fellow classmates, teachers and district administrators, and yes that means our principals too!. It's that simple!
Students with Down syndrome and any other number of disabilities absolutely need extra academic help and support, no doubt about it! This is why there is extra FUNDING attached to those special needs students, updated at every annual IEP meeting through the students MATRIX number, the higher the MATRIX number the higher the extra funding provided to help educate and take care of them while attending school. Do you know what your child's MATRIX number is and just how much money that actually means for your child's school? Ask the principal and find out now your child's MATRIX money is being spent each school year. Learn all you can about what is a Matrix and how much of your child's MATRIX funds are helping your child. ASK & KNOW all you can.
Teachers today are trained to TEACH ~ they became teachers because they love to teach. That includes teaching a diverse group of students and that includes students with all sorts of learning styles, all sorts of nationalities and all colors of the rainbow, let's not forget to include students with disabilities in that diverse population of students in today's classrooms with general education teachers that went into the profession to teach.
Many students today have ADHD, Autism, CP, Down syndrome and any number of other possible disabilities ~ a diverse group of learners. These students need an open minded teacher that is flexible and willing to think outside-of-the-box and include them in more general education classrooms. Absolutely they may need extra help academically, socially, emotionally, physically. More than anything they need to be treated with respect and provided a quality education alongside their non-disabled classmates! This does not always mean in a separate classroom filled just for students with disabilities. All students learn from one another, everyone needs peer roll models. While I do agree in offering choices to everyone, I do not agree that just because of a persons 'extra needs' that they all should to be taught separately in classrooms away from the general school population and moved around the campus in-between regular class change times. This is 2012 not 1960!!
That's what I believe. No matter what, most students with any number of syndromes, conditions, learning styles and academic issues, everyone needs to feel they are accepted and they are valued! Everyone wants be accepted by others and liked. Everyone wants to be included in things everyone else is doing. Self-esteem is affected when someone is left out, when someone is the last to be picked, when they are excluded from normal school & campus activities. Most student take for granted that there will always be someone that wants to sit with us at lunch time, but our students with disabilities are sitting alone every lunch hour or only with other students with disabilities in the lunch room. This IS happening today at most schools across the country. How can it be good to warehouse students with certain kinds of disabilities into cluster classrooms without any real opportunity to be part of the school community and campus life? Everyone wants to have friends, we all need friends to feel valued.
How can the majority of IEP teams, say students are being included during lunch time, hall walking & recess when all those "special" students walk in between classes & sit only with the exact same students they have been sitting in separated and segregated classrooms all day long with? How can anyone say students with disabilities are being included when for the most part they are not provided any opportunities to form friendships with their neighborhood non-disabled peers while attending school because they are with other classmates that have disabilities only?
How can it be good to continue to treat a group of individuals [and their parents] like their education doesn't matter, pushing too many of them to be on the Special Diploma track, which is basically not working towards a High School Diploma. Parents of Special needs students parents want to be involved in their son or daughters education by volunteering, but many times their parent involvement isn't needed or wanted at our schools.
School site based management aka as our school principals need to get-out-of-the-way and change their mind-set and open their school doors to the most dedicated, concerned involved parents ever! Parents of special needs children are being turned away and told NO to 'parent involvement' more today than ever! I hear from parents all the time about this, I have experienced this personally myself over the years.
Parents of individuals with Down syndrome, CP, ADHD, Autism ~ GET INVOLVED AND STAY INVOLVED! Your child's education depends on it! Don't settle for segregated ~ disability only classrooms. Demand accountability from everyone that teaches and works with your child. Volunteer and have lunch with your child ~ often! Your parent involvement is VITAL!
Schools need to change their mind-set and accept students with all disabilities into the general population and into the 'regular' classrooms. Parents get involved and stay involved with volunteering and helping our schools in any activity. Schools need parents to continue to volunteer. Parent involvement is VITAL for the success of all students!
Here is a recent post on PNJ - Pensacola News Journal http://www.pnj.com/article/20120429/NEWS01/304290021
Comments to this above news article are a good read too!
http://www.pnj.com/comments/article/20120429/NEWS01/304290021/Viewpoint-Integrating-ESE-students-will-mean-success-all
Parent involvement is vital in raising educated children with disabilities more so and ESPECIALLY if your child has Down syndrome! Students with Down syndrome still today in 2012 ~ are being left out and discriminated against so blatantly by not allowing students with Down syndrome to be included and sitting in 'regular' classrooms with non-disabled students. Many schools still are not doing such a hot job of educating our children with disabilities and especially our students with Down syndrome!! Yes there are many schools & teachers doing an awesome job, but for the most part, it takes a persistent advocate parent to make sure our children are truly being educated today, that includes students without any disability as well too!
When I visit schools and I continue to see students with a specific disability type still being separated and segregated, it gets to the core of my being! [aka clustering] When I see fellow Down syndrome young people continue to only be with other students that have the same extra chromosome or grouped in classrooms that are only for students with disabilities hits me right to my core! I have seen with my own eyes that "those students" are moved around the campus so there is absolutely no opportunity or minimal opportunity for them to be included in the society of school campus life, as the rest of the student population are able to do so naturally.
Many students with disabilities are still being hidden away from society! If it is allowed to happen in our schools, it will continue outside of school. Schools are little societies, how are we accept and include those with disabilities in our schools today teach and reflect how we expect our young people and future generations to treat those that may look or act a little differently. Being accepted, included and having high expectations to be successful, contributing members of society starts in our schools with fellow classmates, teachers and district administrators, and yes that means our principals too!. It's that simple!
Students with Down syndrome and any other number of disabilities absolutely need extra academic help and support, no doubt about it! This is why there is extra FUNDING attached to those special needs students, updated at every annual IEP meeting through the students MATRIX number, the higher the MATRIX number the higher the extra funding provided to help educate and take care of them while attending school. Do you know what your child's MATRIX number is and just how much money that actually means for your child's school? Ask the principal and find out now your child's MATRIX money is being spent each school year. Learn all you can about what is a Matrix and how much of your child's MATRIX funds are helping your child. ASK & KNOW all you can.
Teachers today are trained to TEACH ~ they became teachers because they love to teach. That includes teaching a diverse group of students and that includes students with all sorts of learning styles, all sorts of nationalities and all colors of the rainbow, let's not forget to include students with disabilities in that diverse population of students in today's classrooms with general education teachers that went into the profession to teach.
Many students today have ADHD, Autism, CP, Down syndrome and any number of other possible disabilities ~ a diverse group of learners. These students need an open minded teacher that is flexible and willing to think outside-of-the-box and include them in more general education classrooms. Absolutely they may need extra help academically, socially, emotionally, physically. More than anything they need to be treated with respect and provided a quality education alongside their non-disabled classmates! This does not always mean in a separate classroom filled just for students with disabilities. All students learn from one another, everyone needs peer roll models. While I do agree in offering choices to everyone, I do not agree that just because of a persons 'extra needs' that they all should to be taught separately in classrooms away from the general school population and moved around the campus in-between regular class change times. This is 2012 not 1960!!
That's what I believe. No matter what, most students with any number of syndromes, conditions, learning styles and academic issues, everyone needs to feel they are accepted and they are valued! Everyone wants be accepted by others and liked. Everyone wants to be included in things everyone else is doing. Self-esteem is affected when someone is left out, when someone is the last to be picked, when they are excluded from normal school & campus activities. Most student take for granted that there will always be someone that wants to sit with us at lunch time, but our students with disabilities are sitting alone every lunch hour or only with other students with disabilities in the lunch room. This IS happening today at most schools across the country. How can it be good to warehouse students with certain kinds of disabilities into cluster classrooms without any real opportunity to be part of the school community and campus life? Everyone wants to have friends, we all need friends to feel valued.
How can the majority of IEP teams, say students are being included during lunch time, hall walking & recess when all those "special" students walk in between classes & sit only with the exact same students they have been sitting in separated and segregated classrooms all day long with? How can anyone say students with disabilities are being included when for the most part they are not provided any opportunities to form friendships with their neighborhood non-disabled peers while attending school because they are with other classmates that have disabilities only?
How can it be good to continue to treat a group of individuals [and their parents] like their education doesn't matter, pushing too many of them to be on the Special Diploma track, which is basically not working towards a High School Diploma. Parents of Special needs students parents want to be involved in their son or daughters education by volunteering, but many times their parent involvement isn't needed or wanted at our schools.
School site based management aka as our school principals need to get-out-of-the-way and change their mind-set and open their school doors to the most dedicated, concerned involved parents ever! Parents of special needs children are being turned away and told NO to 'parent involvement' more today than ever! I hear from parents all the time about this, I have experienced this personally myself over the years.
Parents of individuals with Down syndrome, CP, ADHD, Autism ~ GET INVOLVED AND STAY INVOLVED! Your child's education depends on it! Don't settle for segregated ~ disability only classrooms. Demand accountability from everyone that teaches and works with your child. Volunteer and have lunch with your child ~ often! Your parent involvement is VITAL!
Schools need to change their mind-set and accept students with all disabilities into the general population and into the 'regular' classrooms. Parents get involved and stay involved with volunteering and helping our schools in any activity. Schools need parents to continue to volunteer. Parent involvement is VITAL for the success of all students!
Here is a recent post on PNJ - Pensacola News Journal http://www.pnj.com/article/20120429/NEWS01/304290021
Comments to this above news article are a good read too!
http://www.pnj.com/comments/article/20120429/NEWS01/304290021/Viewpoint-Integrating-ESE-students-will-mean-success-all
Friday, May 18, 2012
What is Good Customer Service ~ in our Public Schools?
Good customer service ~ What does it mean to each of us? What does good customer service in our Public schools mean to us?
I know for me it means the people that greets me first in a school are friendly and nice. That would be the front office person and the one that picks up and answers the school phone.
Good customer service in a school means all staff LOOK AT YOU and maybe say "hi" to you, even though they aren't even your child's teacher. When on a school campus and most of the ADULT STAFF 'act' like they don't see you like that you are not even there, that is not good customer service! It has always amazed me how so many adult administration, teachers and staff can all act so stand offish and unfriendly. If this is what you are experiencing at your school...you are not alone. This is becoming the norm in many public schools.
Good customer service is about treating Parents as Partners in Education. It's about working together as a community and as a collaborative team, to help educate all our children, our future generation!
When a parent wants to be involved, accept them as partners and give them something to do, especially if they have certain talents for things and they have 'signed up' to be called to volunteer. Allow all kinds of parents into the 'inner circle' of volunteering within our schools. Too many parents are being made to feel they are not wanted on our school campuses anymore. Special Ed Parents especially are being shut out from being on the campus at all sometimes. *Only a special ed parent that has experienced this will agree that this is exactly what is happening more and more....at many schools.
The reason families make decisions to leave the Public School system is because they are being made to feel not welcomed anymore. Parents are not valued as equal partners in our child's education. Parents are tired of the closed doors and the silent treatment from 'site based management' where the principal rules over our schools like a dictatorship.
I used to see our previous principal, Mr. Cassaw just about each and every time I visited the school to have lunch with my children. He always made it a point to say hello and even sat with us on the outside picnic tables and shared a little friendly chat. Nice man that can come out of their office to greet parents and give them some of his time and be interested enough to even get to know the parents of his students at the school. Thank you Mr. Cassaw for being a respected leader of Stephen Foster. Your leadership is missed by this involved parent. Hope you are enjoying the fishing!
Principals are the ones that set the tone of our schools. If the parents are feeling unhappy due to the 'tone' of the campus then the teachers and staff are unhappy as well! If their is an unspoken 'rule' to not be friendly to the parents or don't talk to them unless you have to ~ those are the attitudes of administration. Site based management IS THE PROBLEM most of the time!
I am with heavy heart writing this post, because it is how my wonderful little elementary school; Stephen Foster Elementary school has become lately....many teachers and staff are absolutely the BEST but they are few. For the most part after 11 years at the same school, it is sad to say it has lousy customer service. My daughter's school has become so unfriendly, stand-offish, almost snobbish...a few of the teachers are. Some staff have never had a collaborative conversation with me and they could have and should have in those 11 years. It is sad to know that the school I believed in for so many years has become just another Public school that isn't welcoming parents like they should. ....all parents....especially the pro-active parents raising a child with Special needs. In conversations with others, I have listened to several parents , parents of a gifted students, parents that speak another language, parents of Special needs child and from my own experiences as well. The common feelings are common that....there is a disconnect and the communication is not there.
~ Partner with Parents and open the doors to the positive possibilities of what any and all the parents can provide to the "family-like-community" within our school. Teachers and staff....be friendly and say hi to us even if you don't have our child in your class. We appreciate all of you and what you do for our children throughout the school year.
We want our school back!
I know for me it means the people that greets me first in a school are friendly and nice. That would be the front office person and the one that picks up and answers the school phone.
Good customer service in a school means all staff LOOK AT YOU and maybe say "hi" to you, even though they aren't even your child's teacher. When on a school campus and most of the ADULT STAFF 'act' like they don't see you like that you are not even there, that is not good customer service! It has always amazed me how so many adult administration, teachers and staff can all act so stand offish and unfriendly. If this is what you are experiencing at your school...you are not alone. This is becoming the norm in many public schools.
Good customer service is about treating Parents as Partners in Education. It's about working together as a community and as a collaborative team, to help educate all our children, our future generation!
When a parent wants to be involved, accept them as partners and give them something to do, especially if they have certain talents for things and they have 'signed up' to be called to volunteer. Allow all kinds of parents into the 'inner circle' of volunteering within our schools. Too many parents are being made to feel they are not wanted on our school campuses anymore. Special Ed Parents especially are being shut out from being on the campus at all sometimes. *Only a special ed parent that has experienced this will agree that this is exactly what is happening more and more....at many schools.
The reason families make decisions to leave the Public School system is because they are being made to feel not welcomed anymore. Parents are not valued as equal partners in our child's education. Parents are tired of the closed doors and the silent treatment from 'site based management' where the principal rules over our schools like a dictatorship.
I used to see our previous principal, Mr. Cassaw just about each and every time I visited the school to have lunch with my children. He always made it a point to say hello and even sat with us on the outside picnic tables and shared a little friendly chat. Nice man that can come out of their office to greet parents and give them some of his time and be interested enough to even get to know the parents of his students at the school. Thank you Mr. Cassaw for being a respected leader of Stephen Foster. Your leadership is missed by this involved parent. Hope you are enjoying the fishing!
Principals are the ones that set the tone of our schools. If the parents are feeling unhappy due to the 'tone' of the campus then the teachers and staff are unhappy as well! If their is an unspoken 'rule' to not be friendly to the parents or don't talk to them unless you have to ~ those are the attitudes of administration. Site based management IS THE PROBLEM most of the time!
I am with heavy heart writing this post, because it is how my wonderful little elementary school; Stephen Foster Elementary school has become lately....many teachers and staff are absolutely the BEST but they are few. For the most part after 11 years at the same school, it is sad to say it has lousy customer service. My daughter's school has become so unfriendly, stand-offish, almost snobbish...a few of the teachers are. Some staff have never had a collaborative conversation with me and they could have and should have in those 11 years. It is sad to know that the school I believed in for so many years has become just another Public school that isn't welcoming parents like they should. ....all parents....especially the pro-active parents raising a child with Special needs. In conversations with others, I have listened to several parents , parents of a gifted students, parents that speak another language, parents of Special needs child and from my own experiences as well. The common feelings are common that....there is a disconnect and the communication is not there.
~ Partner with Parents and open the doors to the positive possibilities of what any and all the parents can provide to the "family-like-community" within our school. Teachers and staff....be friendly and say hi to us even if you don't have our child in your class. We appreciate all of you and what you do for our children throughout the school year.
We want our school back!
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
1 HOUR 15 Minute IEP Meetings ~ PURE NONSENSE!!
Why do some schools only allow for just an 1 HOUR & 15 minutes to have an ANNUAL IEP meeting that also needs to include the Matriculation into Kindergarten and now also a Reevaluation Plan meeting???
*That's right all that NEEDED to be covered in just a ONE HOUR & 15 MINUTE IEP MEETING! Who are they kidding?
How can anyone even think so much can be covered and worked on "collaboratively" in an hour & 15 minutes?
BROWARD ESE DEPARTMENT ~ WHY & HOW DO ESE SPECIALIST CONTINUE TO GET AWAY WITH DOING THIS TO FAMILIES YEAR AFTER YEAR?
Pure deliberate nonsense I say!
*That's right all that NEEDED to be covered in just a ONE HOUR & 15 MINUTE IEP MEETING! Who are they kidding?
How can anyone even think so much can be covered and worked on "collaboratively" in an hour & 15 minutes?
BROWARD ESE DEPARTMENT ~ WHY & HOW DO ESE SPECIALIST CONTINUE TO GET AWAY WITH DOING THIS TO FAMILIES YEAR AFTER YEAR?
Pure deliberate nonsense I say!
Monday, May 14, 2012
Tri-Cities Parents Adopt to Give International Disabled Children Hope
More and more little ones sitting in orphanages are coming 'home' ...but it's going to take all of you to share this story with others to raise awareness that too many will live out their entire lives in a place no one should be 'locked up' in. Pray for the many that need to 'come home'. Be sure to check out REECE'S RAINBOW website and view the WAITING CHILDREN!
http://reecesrainbow.org/new-family/thechildren
Tri-Cities Parents Adopt to Give International Disabled Children Hope
http://reecesrainbow.org/new-family/thechildren
Tri-Cities Parents Adopt to Give International Disabled Children Hope
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Utah Family Saves Ukraine Girl | Video - ABC News
Utah Family Saves Ukraine Girl | Video - ABC News
Click on above link to watch a very moving story about a family from Utah that goes to the Ukraine to adopt a little girl with Down syndrome.
Hidden Angels: Two Sisters, One Bright Future | Video - ABC News
Click on the above link to watch a second news clip on little MIA and her new family ~ she now has 3 sisters and lives in Utah, USA
Looking to expand your family? Interested in knowing more about adoption of a child with Down syndrome?
Reece's Rainbow is the leader in making
'Forever Family Dreams' come true!
Thank you Reece's Rainbow for all you do for so many! http://reecesrainbow.org/
Click on above link to watch a very moving story about a family from Utah that goes to the Ukraine to adopt a little girl with Down syndrome.
Hidden Angels: Two Sisters, One Bright Future | Video - ABC News
Click on the above link to watch a second news clip on little MIA and her new family ~ she now has 3 sisters and lives in Utah, USA
Looking to expand your family? Interested in knowing more about adoption of a child with Down syndrome?
Reece's Rainbow is the leader in making
'Forever Family Dreams' come true!
Thank you Reece's Rainbow for all you do for so many! http://reecesrainbow.org/
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Radio Commercial for the MODELING event 4.21.12
Here is the RADIO COMMERCIAL for the Modeling show coming up on SATURDAY at the Double Tree Hotel by Sawgrass. Take a listen! This what my daughter Mariah is part of ~ it's been exciting to have her be involved in this event! Tia Frost & Yesse Leyva are doing a HOT job for this DEBUT EVENT!!
http://whqtfm.media.streamtheworld.com/audio/center_for_independant_101583321.mp3
http://whqtfm.media.streamtheworld.com/audio/center_for_independant_101583321.mp3
Sunday, April 15, 2012
‘Bloom’: One mom's struggle, joy with Down syndrome baby
‘Bloom’: One mom's struggle, joy with Down syndrome baby
Kelle's New Book ~ BLOOM Mom on Down syndrome surprise: ’Out of heartache comes happiness’
*click the lighter words above for the link.
Kelle Cryderman Hampton from Naples, Florida has a new book out called ~ BLOOM Finding Beauty in the Unexpected! Check out her interview with the TODAY Show. She has a blog called: Enjoying the Small Things - Kelle Hampton on Facebook.
Kelle is such an inspiration to many families raising a child with Down syndrome and is helping change the way society 'looks at' our little kiddo's with Down syndrome.
Today the sky is the limit ~ Dreams really do come true!
Kelle's New Book ~ BLOOM Mom on Down syndrome surprise: ’Out of heartache comes happiness’
*click the lighter words above for the link.
Kelle Cryderman Hampton from Naples, Florida has a new book out called ~ BLOOM Finding Beauty in the Unexpected! Check out her interview with the TODAY Show. She has a blog called: Enjoying the Small Things - Kelle Hampton on Facebook.
Kelle is such an inspiration to many families raising a child with Down syndrome and is helping change the way society 'looks at' our little kiddo's with Down syndrome.
Today the sky is the limit ~ Dreams really do come true!
Bloom Where You Are Planted: Why We Chose Public School by Sarah Reimers
Bloom Where You Are Planted: Why We Chose Public School by Sarah Reimers
This blog post is exactly what we ALL should be open to....and that is to BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED! Please click the highlighted underlined link to a wonderful blog posting above by Sarah Reimers.
What are you doing to help your child's neighborhood school? As a mother raising a daughter with Down syndrome and a son with ADHD, I have had to advocate on many levels and for many different things over the years at their little Elementary School ~ Stephen Foster Elementary. I have been a volunteer parent at that same little school for almost 11 years now. I have seen over the years many volunteers come and go and one who has been our star parent volunteer and her son is now in High School. Parents at this school are not volunteering like they used to in years past. I pray parents at Stephen Foster Elementary School will BLOOM WHERE THEY ARE PLANTED and put in some volunteer service hours to help the teachers and staff at this sweet little school with some amazing teachers!
This is my last year at this wonderful little school off Riverland Road in Fort Lauderdale. In a few short weeks my daughter will be graduating and going onto Middle School and my son will be a Junior in High school next year. I will miss this little elementary school they both were provided a solid foundation to their education. I pray parents will step up to the plate and get involved and do all they can to help support this school, volunteers are needed to help the entire school! Fundraising and getting the community to support this school is very much needed. All students in any school where parents are taking the time to volunteer will benefit from the efforts of those that are willing to put in some volunteer hours. It's about EVERY CHILD at all our Public Schools that need parents to volunteer and help with fundraising!
Are you BLOOMING WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED?
Get involved in your child's education by volunteering when you can!
This blog post is exactly what we ALL should be open to....and that is to BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED! Please click the highlighted underlined link to a wonderful blog posting above by Sarah Reimers.
What are you doing to help your child's neighborhood school? As a mother raising a daughter with Down syndrome and a son with ADHD, I have had to advocate on many levels and for many different things over the years at their little Elementary School ~ Stephen Foster Elementary. I have been a volunteer parent at that same little school for almost 11 years now. I have seen over the years many volunteers come and go and one who has been our star parent volunteer and her son is now in High School. Parents at this school are not volunteering like they used to in years past. I pray parents at Stephen Foster Elementary School will BLOOM WHERE THEY ARE PLANTED and put in some volunteer service hours to help the teachers and staff at this sweet little school with some amazing teachers!
This is my last year at this wonderful little school off Riverland Road in Fort Lauderdale. In a few short weeks my daughter will be graduating and going onto Middle School and my son will be a Junior in High school next year. I will miss this little elementary school they both were provided a solid foundation to their education. I pray parents will step up to the plate and get involved and do all they can to help support this school, volunteers are needed to help the entire school! Fundraising and getting the community to support this school is very much needed. All students in any school where parents are taking the time to volunteer will benefit from the efforts of those that are willing to put in some volunteer hours. It's about EVERY CHILD at all our Public Schools that need parents to volunteer and help with fundraising!
Are you BLOOMING WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED?
Get involved in your child's education by volunteering when you can!
Thursday, April 12, 2012
YES YOU CAN! ~ Lloyd Bacharach
April 8, 2012 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- A local motivational and educational speaker is using his story to inspire Chicago Public School students to believe in themselves. Never letting his disability keep him from reaching his goals, Lloyd Bacharach, a former paralympian, has a simple message -- "yes you can."
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
"Natural Inclusion Supported with Peers" FIN ~ PEER SUPPORT MANUAL
FIN ~ Florida Inclusion Network has wonderful programs & services that could be implemented in our schools to help provide natural supports via Peer Supports & Inclusion naturally by providing our schools with a PEER SUPPORT Program.
It's about our District wanting to make a positive change that has to do with how our society thinks about people that are 'different' ~ ALL Students would benefit from a program like this, especially the student that needs positive redirection & maybe a scribe or a note-taker....or a friend even. The student that needs another person some of the time to stay on task and or with mobility help or technology assistance and it's documented on their IEP they need adult and/or peer assistance. Some students needing a 1:1 Aide or Para Professional and the funding not going through for some students for them to have an Aide, PEER SUPPORT Programs should be a priority to continue to help ALL our students be successful.
Friendships, Peer support and reaching out to help others should be a natural thing happening in our schools & society. FIN has programs that can be set up and implemented in our schools fairly quickly.
It's about creating a PEER SUPPORT Program that will provide a way for FELLOW STUDENTS WORKING TOGETHER & BECOMING FRIENDS BY HELPING EACH OTHER. This should be happening naturally....but it's not.
Students both without and with a disability benefit from programs like these.
PEER SUPPORT MANUAL AT-A-GLANCE
http://www.floridainclusionnetwork.com/Uploads/1/docs/PeerSupportManualAtAGlance.pdf
Building Inclusive Schools
http://www.floridainclusionnetwork.com/Uploads/1/docs/Building%20Inclusive%20SchoolsSessionDesc.-Flyer.pdf
FIN ~ Florida Inclusion Network PRODUCTS
http://www.floridainclusionnetwork.com/Research_Centers/CRSRL/Florida_Inclusion_Network/Products/General_Products.asp
Here are a few great web links for your research on FLORIDA ESE & IDEA FUNDS ~ Have fun researching!
FLDOE ESE ~ Direct Links & Resources
http://www.fldoe.org/ese/
FLDOE ESE ~ IDEA PART B
http://www.fldoe.org/ese/pdf/idea-partb-09.pdf
FIN ~ BUILDING INCLUSIVE SCHOOLS
FIN Building Inclusive Schools ~ E-learning Module
It's about our District wanting to make a positive change that has to do with how our society thinks about people that are 'different' ~ ALL Students would benefit from a program like this, especially the student that needs positive redirection & maybe a scribe or a note-taker....or a friend even. The student that needs another person some of the time to stay on task and or with mobility help or technology assistance and it's documented on their IEP they need adult and/or peer assistance. Some students needing a 1:1 Aide or Para Professional and the funding not going through for some students for them to have an Aide, PEER SUPPORT Programs should be a priority to continue to help ALL our students be successful.
Friendships, Peer support and reaching out to help others should be a natural thing happening in our schools & society. FIN has programs that can be set up and implemented in our schools fairly quickly.
It's about creating a PEER SUPPORT Program that will provide a way for FELLOW STUDENTS WORKING TOGETHER & BECOMING FRIENDS BY HELPING EACH OTHER. This should be happening naturally....but it's not.
Students both without and with a disability benefit from programs like these.
PEER SUPPORT MANUAL AT-A-GLANCE
http://www.floridainclusionnetwork.com/Uploads/1/docs/PeerSupportManualAtAGlance.pdf
Building Inclusive Schools
http://www.floridainclusionnetwork.com/Uploads/1/docs/Building%20Inclusive%20SchoolsSessionDesc.-Flyer.pdf
FIN ~ Florida Inclusion Network PRODUCTS
http://www.floridainclusionnetwork.com/Research_Centers/CRSRL/Florida_Inclusion_Network/Products/General_Products.asp
Here are a few great web links for your research on FLORIDA ESE & IDEA FUNDS ~ Have fun researching!
FLDOE ESE ~ Direct Links & Resources
http://www.fldoe.org/ese/
FLDOE ESE ~ IDEA PART B
http://www.fldoe.org/ese/pdf/idea-partb-09.pdf
FIN ~ BUILDING INCLUSIVE SCHOOLS
FIN Building Inclusive Schools ~ E-learning Module
Sunday, April 1, 2012
2012 Summer Camps
So many ideas and great summer camps to choose from, time to start filling out applications now.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/camps/
Broward College Summer Camps
http://www.broward.edu/ied/SupportingContent/Open_House_Flyer.pdf
South Florida Parenting online CAMP Guide
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/south-florida-parenting/camp/
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/camps/
Broward College Summer Camps
http://www.broward.edu/ied/SupportingContent/Open_House_Flyer.pdf
South Florida Parenting online CAMP Guide
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/south-florida-parenting/camp/
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