My 6 year old was a drug baby. He has had many challenges which include no anal opening at birth and a colostomy bag until 16 mos. He has severe scoliosis. He is not able to "feel" bowel movements often and while at home, we could control it, but had him totally toilet trained. The school system has completely left him behind. He messes his pants, he misses class, he is always behind. He has SID and the school district has done nothing to do what as a state. (Texas) they are required to do. We bought him a watch, but the doctor says a vibrating watch may be a little early for him due to the severity of the imperforated bowel. What can my children doe (besides sue) to the school district to see he gets what he needs. (ie: an aide, regular trips to the bathroom, etc. ) He is smart but it won't be long before social skills are lagging and he will by then be tagged and in classes where his brain will never get a challenge. Any help out there? I have gone to the school district, with very little support. His behavior is now becoming inappropriate for this age level. His first year ar school was marred by administrators that failed to take his special needs into consideration and he regressed,
Sounds like its time to take matters to DHS and an attorney. And a personal aide would certainly be beneficial, provided they are capable of doing their job. :] Good luck.
Please contact http://www.littlegiantsteps.com/calendar.php there are screenings in the Texas area all the time. We see one of this organizations Neurodevelopmentalist in Louisiana. It may seem really off the wall but, IT REALLY WORKS!!!! If you would like to talk to me more about it please contact me.
Call the Board of Education in your area and ask them for recommendations on what would be available to you in the system for his special needs. You may have lots of calls to make, but keep calling until you get some answers.
reading this makes me so angry at school systems around this country who do nothing for our kids that need special services!!! my son has asperger syndrome, and we live in louisiana, but he has his own aide in the classroom, has all the sensory tools he needs, receives speech, OT & adaptive PE. it doesn't matter what state you are in, the Americans with Disabilities Act is a federal law that covers all people with disabilities - within this law is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (or IDEA). This is also a federal law. it requires schools to provide the services that each individual child needs to receive a Free and Appropriate Public Education in the Least Restrictive Environment. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE contact me-i have trained some on these issues & i'd love to try to help you get your child what he needs. You are entitled to an IEP (individualized education plan) for your child-this includes having meetings to discuss with the administration what your child's needs are & they have to provide it. For these meetings, you are allowed to have a child advocate present; you are allowed to bring anyone at all that you want to with you. you need to find out if there are any Families Helping Families centers in your area, they provide free advocates & training for parents. again, PLEASE contact me & we will see what we can do to hook you up with the right people!
I know what you are saying my son went through the same thing he has autism. I spend a lot of time at the school just to make sure he was learning and being taught not just looked at and put up with. He was never a good test taker so the state test was no big deal to us so we never made it one but this past year his worst has always been math he got proficient he has always gotten basic or below basic. for him this is great. He goes to a school for the blind because autism doesn't come by it self. Autism is a sensory integration disorder. The way he views the world and reacts to it can be over the top. But with ot and pt and speech he has come a long ways. You have to make a big presents at the school come along side the teachers and be your little guys aide if the school will not show them that he is more important to you than anything. I know it is not easy but that is what I did when my son started to have problems I found that some kids was picking on him to make him mad to get him in trouble. By being there they left him along and I help in the classroom and he was able to learn and not just be put up with.
I am not from TX, but there is a group CRGC that helps coordinate servicves for children with disabilities and maybe you could start there. www.hhsc.state.tx.us/crcg/crcg.htm or call ###-###-####.
Unfortunately you will have to fight for his rights, and he does have them. You can get him the services he needs, but it may not be easy. In most cases the loudest voice is the one that is heard. You may be his only advocate so don't accept the schools actions, they can and will do better if you push them.
Good luck!
Hi,
Ever consider homeschooling? There are so many varied curriculums available, I am sure you could find things that would work very well for him. The school district is not designed to help our kids who have special needs. There are too many kids, not enough teachers and not enought $$$. You really can't expect them to have the care and concern that you do for your child. Plus, because you know him so well, you are able to challenge him where he is strong and strengthen him where he is weak.
I have homeschooled all of my children and I can tell you for sure that it is a huge commitment. But, it is one that pays off eternally. Don't worry about his social skills, he should be getting them from you and your family, not his peers. You probably don't like the way those kids act anyway.
Blessings to you.
B.
check out homeschool legal defense, they have help for challenged children.
I used to teach in Texas, and the first question I would ask you is whether or not he is "labeled" as Special Ed. I know the term may conjure up visions of "slow" classes, etc., but it is really much more than that. I think he would probably qualify as OHI (Other Health Impaired) with a statement form his physician. Then, you would have an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) that could include regular, frequent, bathroom trips, etc. He would not necessarily have to be in a different class. If he is already special ed, check the internet for special ed advocacy groups and check with the Regional ESC (Educational Service Center) in your area. If you aren't sure where that is, you can find out by looking at TEA (Texas Education Agency)'s website. He has rights, and they are obviously being violated. You have the right to attend all ARD meetings, etc., and the school should inform you of when they are taking place. If you need to sue, a special ed advocacy group may be able to help you with that. They should at least have someone who can give you leagal advice. School districts rarely win in cases like this, and they know it. Frequently, a letter from an attorney or special ed advocacy group is all that is needed to get their attention. One more thought - I assume you have probably already spoken to whomever is over special ed for the district?? If not, that is a good place to start. Good luck!
Hi B.,
Do you have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for your son? With an IEP you can force their hand into doing what is necessary for his special needs. If you don't already have one all you need to do is ask for one either from his teacher or counselor. They are required to have an IEP meeting once there is a request. At the meeting you will work out all the details to provide for his special needs. They will have a propasal made up in advance and you can ask for a copy of it prior to your meeting so that you can be informed and ready with questions and suggestions.
One suggestion that I have for your convenience and easy record keeping is to have a three ring binder where you keep copies of all his records. I use one where I can place a picture of my son in the front sleeve where it's visible for all to see. It's a reminder that you are talking about a child not a number or statistic. It never ceases to amaze me how much of an inpact that binder has...many times I have had paperwork that the staff did not have and needed.
If I can be of further help please just ask. Good luck.
W. Q
My heart goes out to your child and to you. I am not sure where you live in Texas, but my experience is that similar circumstances are occurring all across America right now. I have heard that it has a lot to do with the "NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND" Act that our former President enacted while in office. Have you spoken to the Administration? Have you gone to the School Board? I would document each and every effort to go up the Chain of Command within a reasonable time frame. If you continue to have difficulties you may have to resort in contacting a Disability Rights Attorney. Does he have a Social Worker through MHMR? Can they help? If he does not have a SW through MHMR, he would benefit from one. You may also look at http://www.advocacyinc.org . They are involved in Disability Rights in Texas and they may be able to help. Prayers are with you and this special one. I am praying he does not have to endure any more pain.
Talk with the school supt. ALso there is a school for children with special needs- RIverfield country day school in south Tulsa. They specialize in children with autism and other needs. I am not sure from the post if the child lives here or Texas. My prayers are with you.
If you do have an IEP and it is not being followed, you should be able to complain to the TX state board of education. Consulting a lawyer might help too, since IEPs are mandated by the IDEA law. You might not have to sue, but the threat of a lawsuit may do the trick. Unfortunately some states and some school districts are worse than others about help for special needs.
