Hello everyone!
I have a question if I may? Our son’s hearing is being tested again by his audiologist. He had tubes put in his ears last year and we are verifying that his hearing is still in check. We suspect that CAPD might be a factor after that, so we will be referred for testing for CAPD. I am contiplating doing a full blown evaluation at the children’s hospital, hoping that we can get a correct diagonosis on all aspects.CAPD being my first priority.I already have an evaluation that was performed by the school about a year and a half ago, but I am finding that the evaluation is not too helpful in being specific. I am trying to seek proper remediation, modifications,accomodations and services.
Having said that, my goal for this August is to speak with some advocates after the testing is completed.I have talked to two different organizations. One consults with parents only and the other one collaborates with the parents and the schools. Both are Federally funded and free of charge. Any advice on the quality of these types of advocates? Or do you think I should seek private advocates and pay for the service? I know money is a deciding factor, I could probably handle paying a price tag that is on the lower end of the scale.
Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Sue
Re: Federally Funded Advocates
I have contacted the location that was listed for my state and arranged to have a consultation. She will be looking over my son’s current IEP.It is federally funded and free of charge.
I also was referred to SECC by the Child Advocacy Center. They explained to me that they do more along the lines of collaborating between the parents and the school.It is federally funded and free of charge.I was planning on meeting with them after I have more test results.
I was just wondering if you get what you pay for I guess.
Thanks,
Sue
Re: Federally Funded Advocates
It’s not so much getting what you pay for,it’s really about having a hidden agenda. If their livelyhood depends on the public school system,where will their loyalties lie,ultimately. I don’t know where your from,but I would look for a volunteer group,family Network on disablities,while getting federal grant money,is pretty good about hooking people up.
Re: Federally Funded Advocates (Long)
The organization that collaborates with the families and the schools, is the Special Education Regional Resource Center for Southwest Ohio.In your opinion, is it likely that their livleyhood relies on the public School systems?
The other organization is The Child Advocacy Center for Southwestern Ohio and Northern Kentucky. They consult with the parents only. Do you think my time would be better spent with them?
How does one go about finding a volunteer group? I have a CHADD office close to me. Would their interest be more so for the parents and the child, than the school system?
My son’s situation is that he had a teacher last year that had experience with learning disibilities. After we fixed his hearing, sight, and ADD he did great. Was able to achieve B’s.
This year in fifth grade, the focus has been that “he needs to be reponsible for himself”, “LD kids need retaught in the evening”, ” There are going to be goals that we will be working on for a long time” “He is a different kid at school than what he is at home” “We just do not have the time” “Maybe his medication is not enough”“It sounds like you are helping him too much at home” ” We cannot supply and extra set of texts to every parent that asks for them” in addition to all that. It took us all year long just to get updates on his grades so that we weren’t suprised with F’s agian.
His grades have declined to low D’s and low C’s and I hope not F’s. The school or his teacher has not been supportive.I know that if I can get what he needs in his IEP, I will be able to persuade them into providing the help he needs. Public School is all that we can afford and they are letting him slip through the cracks, when he has the ability to be helped.We revised his IEP and I did get the grade thing taken care of. I got copies of outlines and notes provided and they suggested pulling him out of math or language. That was our call. I decided to leave him in and try to get help in the mainstream before we resort to pulling him out. Math is his better class.
That’s a run down on where I am now. I just know that I can’t fight them alone or my son will suffer more.
Thanks for the help.
Sue
Re: Federally Funded Advocates (Long)
I would contact Parent to Parent. They are in Marion Ohio if this rings a bell.
(800) 374-2806.
If you are interested in advocates who will be in your corner, and not beholden to the bullies, then check out the link below. Just click on your state to get the local chapters of the PTI. These are paid parent-advocates, nearly always the parent of a special needs child who has been down the road before you, so they know what to expect.
Good luck to you!
http://www.fcsn.org/ptis/ptilist.htm