California homeschoolers - how should this be handled?

[Jyniffrec]

I am on a special needs board for my DD6 who has Crohn's Disease and liver disease. There is another mom who has a DD the same age with the exact same diseases. If you know anything about Crohn's then you know the bathroom has to be IMMEDIATELY accessible in order for there to not be an embarrassing accident. This person has her daughter in public school and the school is not cooperating with her to help her daughter get to the bathroom.

 

 

Here is what she said:

 

Also could you tell your process for the homeschooling and what you did to make it ok with your state. We are having such problems in California in regards to DD and school. WE even had her principal tell us that LA Unifified doesnt care if shes o chemo, they will make her go to school or we would be visited by local officials. He in so many words said we were making a big deal of her condition and they revoked her permit from that school. We would have DD show up with notes on her pockets, backpack, lunchbox, saying if veronica needs to go to the bathroom she HAS TO GO. DD would come home from school and tell us she would say shee needed to go and they would tell her to wait. It infuriates me, the school kept saying we didnt fill out the proper paperwork for medical issues. I said well where are they then and why didnt you tell me in the beginning when she enrolled. We told them what was going on. I am just so frustrated and cannot stand to have others saying we are doing something wrong ad threatening to have family services show up cause she didnt make it to school. Any help would be appreciated.

 

So she feels trapped. I really don't know anything about CA school or homeschooling laws. I also don't understand the terminology. I am hoping that someone can shed some light for me as to what might be going on. I don't want to tell her anything that could get her into trouble.

 

It sounds to me like they don't want to deal with yet another special needs kid who looks healthy. I can assure you that the mom is not exaggerating. Crohn's Disease is no joke and the liver disease is silent but progressive - she will likely need a transplant.

 

I feel for this mother. I would be terrified at the thought of sending my daughter with active Crohn's into an unfriendly and unhelpful environment.

[Caraway]

I am confused... does she want to homeschool her? Or does she want the school to do what it is supposed to while her daughter attends PS?

[Jyniffrec]

I think she is considering homeschooling but she is afraid to try because of the threats being hung over her head. We had discussed homeschooling as a good choice with special needs kids because of all the complications that can arise day to day and she seemed interested.

Edited July 26, 2010 by Jyniffrec
Grammatical Error

[Carol in Cal.]

She should contact Parents Helping Parents up here in San Jose. They have support groups for all different childhood diseases, and so they link you will parents who have already been through all of this and who know how to advocate for their children, and know their rights. The school is not allowed to do this, and those rights need to be asserted, and PHP is great in that kind of situation.

[Guest Cheryl in SoCal]

She is fully within her rights to remove her from school and homeschool her, and the school district would have no jurisdiction/control/say/etc over her. She can file her own private school affidavit or join an umbrella school/private school psp. I would have her call CHEA of CA and HSLDA, they would be excellent resources for her.

[mompotter]

She should join HSLDA if she is going to homeschool. Then, just so there is no hassle with the school, she could join a psp for the first year (even if she wants to file her own paperwork in the following years) so that she just has the records transferred to her new school. When I pulled my ds out of ps I was worried about it being a problem with the school (no problem, just my own fears) and I just had an official form from my psp sent to the school to request transfer records. With that option the school has absolutely no right to question or send someone to her door. They don't have any rights if she withdraws her dd to hs her either but this would be a "peace of mind" action to take. Joining HSLDA would give her a lawyer to call if they do hassle her.

 

California is a very easy state to hs in. She can go to the hslda website to read information. If she is a Christian there is a state hs organization she could call to find out more info. I am sure there is probably a secular one too. I am just not familiar with it.

 

Poor thing!!

Edited July 26, 2010 by mompotter

[Caraway]

It is VERY easy to homeschool in California. There are plenty of groups (some free) who would help her. If she wants to join HSLDA that is great, but she doesn't need to do so!

 

To homeschool in CA you basically register yourself as a private school and you are done.

[Caraway]

Here is a link to an article about bringing your special needs kiddo home:

http://www.hsc.org/snhome.php

 

There are other special needs specific articles along with that one.

 

HSC is a non-profit homeschooling group in California. They have a legal department that has always been very helpful.

[JoyfulMama]

If your friend wants to continue to work with the school, she needs to complete a 504 Plan. (It's like an IEP, but for medical needs.)

Fact Sheet

 

Google " 504 plan crohn's disease" for a couple samples.

 

PM me if you need more info.

[Jyniffrec]

Thank you for all of your replies! The information you all gave is exactly what I was looking for. Hopefully it will calm her fears and give her some firm steps to take.