State: CA
Country: USA
Member since: Sep 23, 2007
Last logged in: Oct 30, 2008
I am the mother of five children, the youngest Michael or Mickie as we like to call him, was diagnosed with Autism at 22 months old.After years of early intervention therapy, which didn't work. I learned through trial and error that he had underlying biomedical problems that culminated in Autism like symptoms, including, chronic digestive problems since the age of one, when he received the MMR vaccine.
With biomedical interventions, gfcf and SCD diets, Mickie's body is starting to heal. Some of the most severe symptoms, head banging, night waking, self injurious behaviors are almost gone.
He lost all speech by the age of three. He is now 10 years old and has just started to say mama, for the first time in almost 8 years.
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Zurama's Compositions
by Zurama on 06.03.08 - public - 171 visits
It didn't go well at all. the District is going to fight me. Their idea of FAPE is very different from mine.
Poor Mickie has made no progress since entering this district and they actually had the gull to say that he is making sufficient progress.
I was very polite most of the meeting, but I did tell them that I entrusted them with four years of my son's life and they flushed it down the toilet and was not going to hand him over another two years.
My plan is to look at each iep and see what the goals were each time. Off the top of my head they were very vague and remained the same goals throughout the years.
I will prepare another statement and this time I'll send it to Sacramento and include in it my observations of the classes they are offering as their idea of FAPE.
Comments(20)
LisaAKAmom
Posted on Tue, 3 Jun 2008
Something I did when we moved here is I got an advocate out of the State...someone the District Didnt KNOW....and they didnt have any Idea what to expect from this person. He attened the IEP meetings on the Phone. So if you cant find a good advocate in your area...you might see if you can find someone that would attend the meeting by phone...The school district has to do it! Also, by law, they are required to keep Data on your sons Goals and Progress....so what you need to do, is go up to the school and request not only your son's school records, but also every data and note sheet they have taken on your son. That will help you in getting things lined up and also help you know what some of the school arguments in the IEP will be coming your way. You will be suprised at some of the things you will find there. They have to give them to you...its the Law! If you find in the Data sheets, that he hasnt shown any progress...or very little then you can argue that the goals are innappropriate and need to be changed. The other thing is...I refuse to sign an IEP the day of the meeting...I take it home an read it...but also if I dont like something I tell them that they need to address this issue. The other thing is to pull up the State Regulation/Rules for your State...because although IDEA is Federal...the states, still put there own rules in the regs too. So if you read those, more than likely you can also find other violations that have been commited. Hang in there, Lisa
Zurama
Posted on Tue, 3 Jun 2008
I'm in the Alta Loma School district, but they don't have a program for Mickie, so the San Bernardino County is the handle ling Mickie's placement.
tc
Posted on Tue, 3 Jun 2008
Zurama, Which school district are you dealing with? I'm in Yuba City and I can tell you that we had a terrible time with the school district here! Teresa
Crofty
Posted on Tue, 3 Jun 2008
Good luck, keep strong, you're the best person to fight for what's right for your son and there will be someone there to back you, it's just these sort of things are never handed to you on a plate. It makes me mad really, things are tough enough sometimes as it is!
Zurama
Posted on Tue, 3 Jun 2008
You know.....I get the feeling that his current teacher likes to exaggerate to make herself look good.
That is exactly what I am in the middle of doing right now. I am in papers up the ying yang.
4muskateers
Posted on Tue, 3 Jun 2008
If you can get all of Mikie's IEP goals go over them and graph is progress...then test him yourself, on these same goals...graph what your results are and compare to the graph you made of the schools progress...when you see it in graph form you really get a good idea where you stand...you can also ask them to give you a bell curve %tile of his progress...If I can be of more help please let me know.
Jake9068
Posted on Tue, 3 Jun 2008
Regional Center in San Diego will provide advocates. We had one that wasn't very good but our last one was great! It was free.
AWETISM
Posted on Tue, 3 Jun 2008
Hi do you have office of clients rights in your area? Also I do believe you stated that you live in ca? I have a list of advocates for ca and lawyers for special ed. I would be happy to fax them it to you if you like? Oh office of clients rights is free. Advocates are cheaper then lawyers I have heard to start $30.00 per hour lawyers to start $250.00 per hour.
dailyblessings
Posted on Tue, 3 Jun 2008
Data is key unfortunately...and I don't know about your district but if ours believes it is a medical issue they won't move because they believe they are not responsible for medical issues only educational issues- I would steer clear of that and only consider it as last resort. However, if you get a psychological that states it is necessary that is different.
shannonj
Posted on Tue, 3 Jun 2008
I remember doing the same thing years ago when my son was in 3rd grade. I kept hearing of all of this progress that I was never seeing replicated at home or in any other situations. I remember taking 4 years worth of IEP documents and spreading them out all over my dining room and trying to match their "claims" with the data---and it didn't fit. Once I was able to present it to the team, they couldn't deny that I was right, and that was the beginning of getting an out-of-district placement....So keep up the hard work!
wktb
Posted on Tue, 3 Jun 2008
I wish I had some good advice for you. But I am just so shocked at the arrogance of the district to insist they have what he needs when you are his mom and you know better. Ugh! I am lucky with the district we are in but moving is a real possibility and the idea of it really scares me for my son. ~Kristin
KevinLivsDad
Posted on Tue, 3 Jun 2008
Zurma, if you are in the Sac area I know an awesome advocate send me an email. If you are in the Sac area
dailyblessings
Posted on Tue, 3 Jun 2008
Where's their data to prove his progress for them to determine what is sufficient-can they define sufficient %'s etc? I don't know how it works in CA but I can offer some of the strategies we use to fight ours as I am close friends w/ a parent advocate here in NJ?..
Zurama
Posted on Tue, 3 Jun 2008
I know! it's so frustrating to hear them talk. It's all bureaucracy and BS. The truth is that they are not equipped to teach a kid like Mickie, but they will fight me anyway.
wktb
Posted on Mon, 2 Jun 2008
They should be able to point you to someone that can help you. I don't know how you got through that--It had to be so hard. I can't see how they think they are doing such a great job if the goals did not progress. My sons ABA program is so good. And for kids who are more affected like ours, I think an ABA based program is what they need. ~Kristin
Zurama
Posted on Mon, 2 Jun 2008
I don't even know where to start. I don't know how to get a parent advocate, but I do have the support of his Regional Center worker.
wktb
Posted on Mon, 2 Jun 2008
I am so sorry. What happens now? I would ask them to point out exactly how he has progressed and how they feel they can take credit for it. Can you get a parent advocate? I don't know how much they charge or if they charge. I wish things went better for you today.~Kristin
