Is there a good, active forum

[Pamela H in Texas]

for parents who send their special needs children to school? A forum that deals with support, advocacy, getting various resources out and available, etc?

 

I am just so frustrated with how slow the wheels are moving in terms of meeting the needs of my foster son. Basically, in 2 months of school, they've managed to get him to quit pee'ing in the toilet paper dispenser. He has also learned part of two songs. His teacher reports horrendous behavior which hasn't changed other than the bathroom issues.

 

I'm just concerned that a lot of stuff will not be addressed until he is in Kindergarten or first grade. We are missing YEARS of opportunity here. He really has a great deal of need behaviorally and developmentally.

 

His IQ testing suggests MR with a big difference in scores (like 20points). However, on all testing done by the school, he scores "well enough." That is because though he is in the bottom 10% and has about 18months delay, the school requires students to be under the 7th percentile for services. They also said they can't use the FAS/FAE consideration because there is no evidence of it being noted at birth.

 

They keep having the mental health professional and disabilities coordinator in the classroom to help the teacher come up with appropriate interventions to use with him (for example, they use picture schedules); but nothing really has changed. Now they started sending home a more detailed behavioral sheet so I can discuss his behavior with him which of course is not developmentally appropriate (as if he remembers 10am this morning and my discipline is going to keep it from happening at 10am tomorrow morning). I am glad to have a more detailed sheet (my idea, in fact) so we can better quantify his behavior so as to document improvement (or lack of improvement) as well as so I can make my reports to his caseworker. I just don't think it'll work for discipline.

 

Anyway, I saw on another board where a woman was able, in 6 weeks time, get a whole 'nother placement including a one-on-one aid for her foster son and his initial behavior wasn't nearly what Munchkin's is. I think I need a lot more guidance to help make these sorts of things happen, ideally NOW, not in two years.

[itsheresomewhere]

I don't know if you have tried this but call or email the lovely people at Wrightslaw.com

 

They can get you laws to "help" the school get it together. I wish you luck. I fought for years until I pulled him.

 

I will pm you a forum that also has some very helpful people.

[Finnella]

I don't know if you have tried this but call or email the lovely people at Wrightslaw.com

 

:iagree:

 

Wrightslaw.com is the best place that I know of. I didn't pull my son out to HS until last year, in the middle of sixth grade. I found the materials at Wright's Law to be very helpful until I threw in the towel on the ps.