I have written here before but not sure where to ask another question so I will post it here. First off thank you so much for all the answers and suggestions. Although this is all overwhelming, gaining knowledge and knowing one is not alone helps me immensely.
My new question is about this IEP. Having gone to a French School I am so unfamiliar with the american school system. With Gabby’s brain injury she has now been diagnosed with aquired non verbal learning disability. I have all the forms that I need to fill out at this point and return to the principal. What should I expect. I have read some pretty discouraging stories and want to go in this meeting completely knowledgeable. They won’t get past me :)
This has been very depressing the last few weeks. Gabby’s accident was on 9/10/99 then there is 9/11 and I am a flight attendant for United Airlines based in Newark where 93 left. So to say that I am overwhelmed is an understatement. I just try and read and read and not miss anything. I want to best for her and for Gabby to just be happy in life. All your help is grately appreciated and I wish you all the very best.
Regards,
Fabienne
Re: Help IEP and Board of Ed in NJ
This is excellent advice and one of the best posts I have read on this board!!! My only added emphasis to what was already posted is that you document everything in writing and send it all certified or get a receipt, as stated in the last post. Do not discuss matters verbally. I wish you much luck and I am glad that we are now past 9/11 and that you can look ahead.
More advice for parents - read my previous post
I just finished meeting with my parent advocate. She told me to write the following at the end of all my summary letters after meetings or phone calls.
State something to the effect….If all or any statements in this letter are disputed please notify me within 10 calendar days, otherwise all statements are considered to be true. This will make your letter legal and binding if you have to pursue this matter in court.
I was also told to contract Trenton to request a copy (sent to you a no cost) of all the approved agencies and clinics in the state that provide special education services. This way you can see if your MD’s are on their list. When they tell you that they need an X assessment you could respond that your MD is on the state list and they can pay the MD for his service.
She also said NEVER EVER sign a consent that allows them to talk to your doctors. Tell them that you will provide the information required. Let them provide you a written statement of exactly what is necessary.
Re: More advice for parents - read my previous post
Thank you for all the information. At this point the school has asked for the intial evaluation. I am going to get the advocate. Yesterday we went to have an EEG to make sure there were no brain seizures. We go to the neurologist today and I will write back with the verdict. I have has some problems with her teacher. All I ask is to have a list of the homework for the week. Gabby is not writing it down properly hence she is getting a couple of bad grades on tests. This is really hard on her because she has always gotten straight A’s. I have suggested so many things to the school so that parents have a phone number to check homework, or a site to check homework online and they are not very excited about it all. They have been good to us I just wish they would get with the times and do these things to make ALL parents and children’s lives easier. It is all about the children isn’t it afterall?????
Re: More advice for parents - read my previous post
Well we went to the doctor and he has put her on Concentra. I have to get blood tests done today and then I will start it with one for four days and then if there is no difference then we will go to two pills. He is not expecting any changes on one pill. I will let you know how it works. We are going to start probably next weekend.
It is very important that you write a letter to the Special Services Department in your school systems. Write that you are formally requesting the school’s special education process begins at once. Tell them that upon receipt of your letter you are expecting to be contacted by at member of the child study team with in 20 days. (This is NJ State Law).
Ask them any other information regarding the school’s assessment process, how eligibility is determined and general IEP process. Ask them for a copy of Parental Rights in Special Education and request a copy of the NJ Administrative Code Title 6A - Chapter 14 Special education - It is a blue booklet that is effective June 5, 2000.
Carbon copy this letter to:
Superintendent of Schools
Asistant Superintendent
Your school’s principal
You may want to send a copy to the Essex County Supervisor of Child Study (their address is in your phone book). and Barbara Gantwerk, Director of Special Ed for the State of NJ. Her address is on the cover of the Parental Rights book.
You will need to make copies of all your correspondence. You will either hand deliver the letter to the Director of Special Services. Bring a copy of the letter and ask the secretary to stamp it received with the date on it. If she says she will sign it. Ask her to sign it then print her name, Make sure it is dated. You will keep this copy. If you mail it to them send it certified, return receipt. It costs about $4.50 a letter at you local office.
Go to the library or amazon .com and get copies of the following books
The Complete IEP Guide: How to Advocate for Your Special Ed Child
by Lawrence M. Siegel
Wrightslaw: Special Education Law
by Peter W. D. Wright, Pamela Darr Wright
The complete IEP Guide will tell you how to set up a binder for your child. Use their forms and their guides. Follow it. Be sure to make up an IEP journal. You will new to keep a record of the dates, time and person you spoke to over the phone.
My parent advocate told me to buy a cassette recorder. You have the right to audio tape all of your meetings. She also told me that after you have been assigned a case worker, send a written summary of your first conversation in a letter back to the case work, and tell them this point on you will be recording all of your conversations. Get a speaker phone. And from now on record all of your telephone calls.Date your tapes and store them in a safe place. Make sure you have fresh batteries and an extra blank tape with you .
This practice will encourage special services to communicate to you in writing - (you will have records) and will also help to prevent any “misunderstandings”.
YOU will send a written letter summarizing all of your telephone conversations to the person who called you. You may wish to cc those to the names listed above.
IF YOU DO THIS THEY WILL KNOW YOU MEAN BUSINESS!
Call the NJ Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN) at 800 654-7726. As if they can help you to find a parent advocate to help you through this process.
I was also told by my advocate to use the words “understand” and “feel” when you communicate with special services. They can’t make value judgements on your feelings and their can always be misunderstandings that need to be cleared up. She also told me that when I sign anything to date my signature.
Before you go to the initial IEP meeting ask them to list the information they want see. Do not assume that they will have you child’s school records, etc. Use the letter guide in Siegel’s book to request the information found in your child’s permanent record before the meeting. Put together a binder with copies of your records, again refer to Siegels book.
The school may or may not choose to accept your independent evaluations. If they do not accept them ask for a written explanation of why your exams to not fit their criteria. You have a right to know which professionals they contract with for services, and you have a right to know their credentials. Do not be over anxious to comply with all of their requests if you think that your information fits their criteria.
The Special Ed. Process starts at the time you send your first written letter. The school has 90 days from the time you have your INITIAL DETERMINATION AND CONSENTT TO EVALUATE meeting to consider your request for special services. Be sure to deduct holidays, etc. from those 90 days. At the end of those 90 days they could tell you that your child is not entitled to special Ed. Then you will have to consider mediation.
After they make the appointment for the 2nd meeting to tell you about their determination, You need to write them and tell them that you are requesting a copy of the evaluation reports , documentation and information they used to determine eligibility 10 calendar days before your meeting. They are supposed to do this by law. Be aware that if your child is classified then Special Services has 30 more days in which to implement that plan. (page 30 in the blue book)
4 months without services is a long time without help. Go to your child’s teachers now and apprise them of your situation. They may be very willing to work with you. Concentrate on 3 points your need to get across. Your goal is for them to know those 3 points before you close your meeting.
Special Services may suggest that you arrange for a 504 plan in the interim period. Just remember your kid needs Special Ed, not a 504! If you agree to a 504 make sure that you word the agreement in such a way as to let them know that this is an interim agreement.
I sure wish I knew all of this before I started. But you’ll be surprised how much you will learn from these posts and posts on other LD sites. I haven’t even gotten to the 2nd meeting yet. I encourage everyone to share their story. Your advice is so important. And please continue to share your victories no matter how small. We all need hope!