Court Ruling Helps Special-Needs Students

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Is there a new copy of the Louisiana's Educational Rights of Children with Disabilities i see the December 08 is there a 09 version.

Kathy Craig of LA 8:50AM January 11, 2010

I need some information on how I can spt the right of an special need or how to contact the coalition or avocate for special need students.

Dolores Bruster of OH 2:46PM October 21, 2009

I need some information on how I can spt the right of an special need or how to contact the coalition or avocate for special need students.

Dolores Bruster of OH 2:45PM October 21, 2009

I really would like to start a support group for parents in my area. We need help and each other so desperatly.

josette robinson of SC 7:04PM September 17, 2009

If a service is provided for parents and students, such as an after school program or even watching students while parents attend the PTA meeting, are the schools required to provide these services for children with special needs as well? Is it okay for them to say they do not have qualified personnel do deal with that child. Or state that my daughter's behavior would hinder the other children?
My daughter has autism and I seem to just get ignored whenever I ask questions about services that the school is providing. They don't return my emails, questions, etc.
Any advice?

Trish Barley of NC 10:14PM September 15, 2009

If my child was in a classroom with her typical developing peer group, she would not be getting a special education according to her ability. Instead, she would be taking up space in a classroom deemed "least restrictive" where nothing is expected of her until its time to fill out paperwork or until a Speech therapist or OT or PT shows up for 15 minutes while they are assessing other students at the same time.
Fortunately, my daughter resides in a school district that continues to support a special sensory-therapy based MR/dd program that follows her individual pattern of development.
If the school district did not provide this special education or if they took it away for any reason, they would not be fufilling her right to a free and appropriate education.
If the MR/dd program closed for any reason, the school district would have to duplicate it exactly the way it was offered which would be very costly.
The reality for me is keeping up with the carnival of local politics that determines what stays open, what closes, and how "services" are defined while also meeting the immediate daily challenges of caring for her.

Elisabeth's Mom of OH 11:57PM July 20, 2009

Thank you, Zach! While we parent-advocates keep one foot in the door all the time, we now have one more footnote in history!

Elisabeth's Mom of OH 8:01PM July 20, 2009

you my friend either do not have a child with special needs or you are plain ignorant. The operating expenses for private schools are usually less than public schools because someone is accountable. Parents with special needs children are tax payers to a system that does not effectively teach their children. So they have no choice but to seek private schooling. I know this because... I have a disabled child and I run a private school for disabled children. The school is a non-profit and funded by parents and generous Republicans. You can not generalize because every form of disability is unique. Have you observed in a classroom a child with motor skills dysfunction, confined to a wheelchair who has been mainstreamed??? This child needs are way beyond what a class room aid can provide. These children sit in their wheel chairs all day long (unless they are removed for an hour of PT or OT). They cant work out problems at the board or sit in a reading group. Many times their toileting needs are not met and they wear their food. The fact is that public schools get nearly 5x the amount of money from the state than they do for normal children. but they do not spend 5x on serving these children with what they specifically need. They are all different and only a privately focused school can ultimately provide them the best opportunity.
Congratulations to all of the parents of special needs children who wrestle in IEP meetings every year and fight for what their children deserve.

tony of OH 12:18PM July 01, 2009

The US taxpayer does not know how the ed. funds are mishandled by greedy administrators who never have any contact with any student, especially those with severe disabilities except when media will present them with favorable coverage to impress the parents & beef up their resumes. Abiding by federal law, public school administrators often toss the autistic, severely exceptional,& emotionally disturbed students into regular classrooms where other students are expected to accept these different children as a buddy and the (music, PE,computer)teacher is expected to daily accommmodate them with special lessons/materials without prior knowledge or training before their arrival. The gap of intellect & socialability widens from the general student body as exceptional students age and there is a need for the SPED teacher to directly work/guide the other teachers who serve these students. There are no federal representatives who regularly check these classrooms and ask all teachers who serve SPED students for feedback. Nor does the school board ask for feedback from a variety of teachers. There are no persons who ask the exceptional student if they like school/their classes. Fed. reps. only check the files. Yet, these students have a higher price tag than the regular student and the system that serves them receive more fed/state money to accommodate them. Thankfully, there are exceptions for some schools, but mostly in the wealthier tax areas are where you find better home situations are where you find better schools. With unemployment increasing, high birthrates in low income areas, there is an increase of high-risk, hard to staff schools.
Any "whistle-blower" is fired.
Taxes are always increasing for the public. Where is the money going?

n.aronn of VA 4:03PM June 28, 2009

As the mother of 2 handsome and very bright young men who have learning differences, I can attest to the importance of early intervention.
My first son wasn't diagnosed until he repeated the 4th grade. I took him to many, many specialists over the years before he got an accurate diagnosis. He was then sent to a special ed school, which I know changed his life for the better forever.
Prior to Special Ed, he attended 2 very good private schools and was given resource room, extra time and was tutored by the very best LD tutors in NYC. This tutoring took place even during the summer months and winter breaks. No matter how hard he tried, it wasn't enough.
Watching his brother, 5 years his junior, showing the same symptoms of his older brother, I had him immediately put in the same special ed school in grade K.
My 2nd son was then able to mainstream much sooner and never suffered the humiliation that my older son had to endure early in his school years
Every child wants to learn. The comment above by Corbett of CA who mentions the behavioral problems of the boy is of no value. Perhaps if this boy got the intervention of special education sooner in his educational career, he would have stayed on path. I am sorry, but it is a train wreck that I have witnessed many times.
I even witnessed on young man (bright,good looking, but so obviously LD) drop out and eventually did time upstate NY. If only this kid had the chance that my sons had. The money would have been much better spent on his education rather than his time in prison.
Thank goodness my sons where saved. My eldest has graduated from a very good college (accepted early) with excellent grades and is working in a field that he loves. My younger son is now attending an excellent university (accepted early) and also has great grades. Imagine that.
I do agree that parent who can afford it should pay for their private school. Perhaps a sliding scale would be appropriate?
Good luck to you parents. Keep advocating for your children. Don't give up. Like I said before, it took many years for me to find the correct diagnosis for my 1st son. I was led down many a wrong road in those early years. Hopefully, now it is more recognized.

badali of NY 10:11AM June 26, 2009