Hi,
I am a college student studying to become a special education teacher. I have a project due Friday the 19th. I am suppose to interview parents of a child with a learning disability, and I thought a forum like this one would be appropriate. If any parent who reads this would please send me their responses, that would be awesome.
Here are the questions:
1. What can you tell me about:
a.) your legal right to be invited to an ARD meeting.
b.) your legal right to be part of the team that develops the IEP.
c.) your perception about how included you are in your student’s educational planning.
d.) your perception of the school’s desire to include you in their student’s educational program.
e.) your feelings about the role you play in their child’s education.
2. What is the grade level and/or type of placement that your child is in?
Thank you to all who respond.
Kim
Re: school project
1. What can you tell me about:
a.) your legal right to be invited to an ARD meeting.
This is absolutely required (the invite part).
b.) your legal right to be part of the team that develops the IEP.
This is absolutely required (the invite part).
c.) your perception about how included you are in your student’s educational planning.
I was not made to feel “included” in the planning part. Everything my wife and I brought to the table was ignored, belittled, or simply overrun. Basically my “team” wanted me to rubber stamp their substandard program.
d.) your perception of the school’s desire to include you in their student’s educational program.
You have to be kidding (see part “c” above).
e.) your feelings about the role you play in their child’s education.
Then? less than minimal. Now? a fully functioning member (although second string to be sure; see #2 below).
2. What is the grade level and/or type of placement that your child is in?
Homeschooled since week 11 of Sped K (my boy is now 10). We have slowly brought out expressive language and are currently working on reading (very good recognition of words, tho testing comprehension is still beyond us.)
Dad
Re: school project
a.) your legal right to be invited to an ARD meeting.
[i] I am not sure what an ARD meeting is. [/i]
b.) your legal right to be part of the team that develops the IEP.
[i] I know my legal rights to be part of the team. Not only is given in pamphlet form, I looked the information up on the internet and other resources.[/i]
c.) your perception about how included you are in your student’s educational planning.
[i]I am inlcuded in my son’s educational planning. I contact teachers before the school year starts and every week to two weeks to see how my boys are doing. I am responsible for my sons education, as well as, the school district. If I don’t understand something I make them repeat it until I do get it whether it’s an assignment, placement, their behavior, etc., I know teachers talk about students from year to year and I am sure that they tell them how involved I am with my boys education. So, it has actually become easier for me.[/i]
d.) your perception of the school’s desire to include you in their student’s educational program.
[i]In the beginning it was difficult because I didn’t know what was expected from me. I learned quickly. They want to know my opinion because I have the most experience with what works and what doesn’t. I know him better than a set of teachers that change every year. I have an IEP tomorrow AM. I will walk in confident with the information I have regarding my son. After numerous conversations they understand that this is one child that doesn’t get pushed through, his parents are aware of what is going on and trying to be obtained.[/i]
e.) your feelings about the role you play in their child’s education.
[i]I am my sons advocate. I am the voice that asks questions. Barb too funny. The sped supervisor that I was forwarded an E-mail from felt that I was too pushy, because I started quoting NCLB and other documentation. Then spinned it to get what was needed for my son. She also couldn’t understand how I had air tight documentation that my son needed a FM system and district couldn’t get out of taking care of the bill.
Way to go![/i]
2. What is the grade level and/or type of placement that your child is in?
[i]8th grade - LD - full time general education with language arts taught in a co-teaching inclusive classroom.
5th grade - hearing impaired - full day general education[/i]
Thank you to all who respond.
Kind of a short lead time….hope the project goes well!
1. What can you tell me about:
a.) your legal right to be invited to an ARD meeting.
I am not familiar with the abr. ARD. I do know I have the legal right to be at meeting where their placement/accomidations/modifications are discissed. I have the right to be notified of meetings and to attend. I have the right to ask others to attend. The school is to notify me of who-all they invite.
b.) your legal right to be part of the team that develops the IEP.
I am an equal partner. The IEP is develeped by consenses, not majority rule so it doesn’t matter how many educational professionals are there, my opinions count.
c.) your perception about how included you are in your student’s educational planning.
I am included to varying degrees. For the most part, I am very involved.
d.) your perception of the school’s desire to include you in their student’s educational program.
Hehehe. Some people are fine, others have a problem with it. Generally I find that qualified competant people don’t mind explaining options and why they recommend one or the other. Other people seem to feel threatened by the same questions. I have an e-mail from accidently forwarded to me where one special ed supervisor called me difficult and noisy. Another one said I am one amoung her favorite parents.
e.) your feelings about the role you play in their child’s education.
My feelings? I wish I never had to attend another IEP meeting. I wish I could be a “normal” parent who had the option of how involved I want to me. I’m tired that I have to advocate. I’m upset that some people just don’t get it. And I feel satified that I am doing the best for my children that I can.
2. What is the grade level and/or type of placement that your child is in?
Child #1—8th grade ED/dysgraphic child. Mainstreamed 1/2 day ED school 1/2 day.
Child #2—6th grade sever dysgraphic/gifted/SID/NVLD/PDD-NOS child. Mainstreamed expect for pull out with writing/adepted phy ed/and speech therapy.
Barb