How do I get my son’s school to properly implement the Kurzweil 3000, which I bought and donated to the school? According to his IEP, they are supposed to scan books ahead of time. However, his class is up to Chapter 15 and they haven’t even scanned in the first chapter.
Patricia
First, congratulate yourself for being such an involved and supportive parent! Unfortunately, even with parent support, schools don’t always implement IEPs appropriately for a variety of reasons. For example, there is often not enough time for adequate teacher training, particularly when it comes to using technology.
However, IDEA legislation mandates that if the IEP team determines that a child requires assistive technology in order to receive an appropriate public education, such services must be provided. As a first step to ensure that your son receives the services outlined in his IEP, I suggest that you communicate your concerns to your son’s teacher, and request a meeting with the IEP team. It is always in the best interest of students if the parents and school staff can work as partners rather than adversaries.
However, sometimes parents must advocate for their child to ensure their rights are protected. The Parent Guide to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) can provide you with information on your rights and options for recourse, if you are unable to resolve this issue at the school level. Additionally, you may suggest that the school request training from the company if they feel they do not have the knowledge to use the tool effectively.
You may also want to look into using BookShare.org, an online repository of scanned books, including many textbooks, which is available to eligible users with documented print disabilities. Having access to books already scanned alleviates the scanning effort at the local school.