We as a family are trying to help our grand daughter who has severe learning disabilities. We have had to pay for assessments and the like to have what we knew be affimed by a professional. She was born this way we kept telling every one in authority. Yes, in fact we find out now that she has brain damage from anoxia at birth. ( I digress) We advocate for her all the time…we have been advocating to have the funding for her to recieve rehabilitation at the Aspire Remedial center in Langley and the to get the tomatis method for her sound listening intergration. To now avial . It strikes me though how do other people do this. We are average working people with no real extra money for this expense. Is there not a fund or subsidy that can be applied for. I have even though about taking out a student loan. It is not educatation it is medical and wellness.
thanks for listening and TIA for any information that is out there… Grandy
Grandy,
Couple of thoughts.
Any chance of getting assistance from your medical insurance? If your grand daughter has been diagnosed by independent evaluations (as well as school ones), then ‘maybe’ something could be at the very least initiated by the child’s doctor?
What is the school saying regarding her identification in terms of her ld issues? If they are completely or even partially disputing what the independent evaluations describe, then the next move is possibly mediation and then a hearing.
There are advocacy groups “out there” that can possibly help. Just don’t be so starving for help that you leap before you are sure who you are jumping into bed with (if you know what I mean). You can look for help through the LDA (Learning Disabilities Association), TASK (I forget what they stand for) and other LD non-profit groups. You should be able to find some through your phone book, your internet sourcing etc., and also, funny enough, through your local school district… as they are supposed to inform you and let you know about advocacy opportunities out there (but be very cautious here).
Also, there is a very small population of attorneys out there on the planet who are knowledgable about special education. Of this small population, most work for school districts. Of the minute quantity remaining, the rogue few, they are in the game to help advocate for children.
If; and I mean “if”, you are able to find a good advocate, you then must be well organized, un-emotional, and well documented with the child’s school history and documentation regarding assessments etc… I don’t say “if” to make you feel defeated in advance, on the contrary, finding one won’t be as hard as finding the right one.
To now answer your question. Most of the parents on this bb and those who struggle with their school districts, and we are many, are in the same financial boat. When someone is financially well to do, they don’t need to fight, they hire an attorney if they want to fight; but it makes more sense to simply “hire the tutor”, “pay for the non-public school”, etc…
The rest of us simply must accept what the public school is offering, because “they know what’s best”, “your child is doing fine”, “the problem is coming from home”, “don’t worry he/she will grow out of it”, “they are the experts” etc…
OR,
You know something isn’t write, your child is struggling and in pain, you live with the frustration, you see your child flailing and failing and you know you would do anything to help. Well, option number 2 here doesn’t leave much choice when you meet the stonewall of your local disrict.
Some pointers learned from history, when you dispute what is going on with your child (or grandchild) at school:
1. Document everything. Make all communications in writing and request responses in writing. No phone calls, back up conversations at school with letters of understanding…
2. NEVER sign an IEP or document that you disagree with. EVER!
3. Ask what your rights are and have them explained to you.
4. Don’t “trust” what you hear and research. Knowledge is power. Go to web sites like www.wrightslaw.com, www.edlaw.com and the multitude of others that you can study and research what laws are in place, which ones apply to your situation and arm yourself with knowledge.
5. Never give up. Trust your instincts. Get creative.
6. Hard as this sounds, trust me I used to hate it when people would tell me. Try to not get emotional, it clouds your thinking. I know it’s your child, or your grandchild in your case, and you hate to see the struggling, the tears, the frustrations etc., let alone the school ineptness, cruelty and what appears to be lack of concern/care. It isn’t just directed at you, that’s all; it’s just how it is.
I wish you luck, and as for your grandaughter, she is already lucky; you are there looking out for her. Stay vigilant.
Best regards.
Andy