here we go

[Kris'smom]

Well I am off to my sons IEP meeting this morning! I am so nervous cause I know the school district wants to fight where I want him to go in the fall. Eeveryone keep me in your thoughts and wish me luck! :confused: I only want what is best for my son I just wish that is what the schools wanted too! Thanks

[Lisa S]

Good luck Jill. I'll be thinking about you. Don't sign the IEP if you don't think it will meet Kris' needs.
Lisa

[Kris'smom]

:wave: :confused: :cool: :wave: :wave: :wave: Well it didnt go to well and they are not cooperating so I didnt sign anything. Now the real fun begins!

[Lisa S]

Jill,
I'm sorry it did not go well. Can you find an advocate there or a special education attorney to help?
Lisa

[mlwear]

If you want, give some details and maybe we can help. Have you found an advocate yet? You need to get someone who knows your district on your side. Good luck. We're here if you need anything -- even just to vent.

[Kris'smom]

It has been a crazy week. But The thing is that My son Kris was not diagnosed till he was almost 4. So he has only had a year and 2 months of preschool in a private school for children on the spectrum. He is just beginning to make some small strides now and I think if they switch him to elementary school now it is ganna make him lose all of his progress. Also the school they want to send him to now I feel is too advanced for him at this time. So at the meeting I told them that I wanted to keep him in the school he is in now and put him in the school age program there. Well they do not agree and continued to tell me that there school will be perfect for my son. I do not agree and I know the main reason they want him there is because they wantthe money in there district! I think this is very wrong. I dont know if I have a leg to stand on but I think my husband and I have decided to get a special education attorney. I dont know what else to do. I expressed how unhappy I was with there choice at the meeting and they continued to tell me what is best for my ownson. I am confused and if anyone has any advice It would be appreciated. Thanks! :confused:

[mlwear]

Hi Jill. Sorry you are having such a hard time. Did you get their refusal and explanation on Prior Written Notice? This is important. If not, try to get it now. Start documenting everything.
Have you considered asking to keep your son in the preschool program next year rather than the school age program. If you see he is progressing well, maybe you can request an IEP during the next school year and ask for something like 1/2 day preschool, 1/2 day school age. Then, maybe near the end of the year request another IEP and go for full day school age at existing school.
You do have a tough fight if you want to keep him in an out of district school and your district doesn't think it necessary. Anyone feel free to correct me, but I believe your school district has to pay the other school district. Of course, they don't like this idea. Unfortunately, you are going to have to prove that your son needs/requires the out of district school. You are going to need some outside help. Professionals who will come to IEP and agree with you.
Try to get some info. about your school district. Do they scare easily by an attorney? Some do and will give in. If you only need to hire someone to write a letter and show up at the school district one time, money well spent. If not, you may want to file a complaint with the state first. You can do this on your own. (I imagine I will be doing the same thing in the next few days. I don't know much about it, but maybe we can learn together.) With a complaint, they try to mediate. In general, I have heard that this is better than going straight to due process. It is the protocol. This will also let them know that you are serious and know what you are doing. Sp. Ed. lawyers are expensive. If you have to hire one, you have to. But, I would investigate costs a little first. Try to negotiate the retainer fee.

[Kris'smom]

Thanks you ML for your advice. Yes I suggested kepping him in preschool for another year but they told me that I can if I want to pay for it because they dont feel it is necessary to keep him in. So I either have to write to the school board or get a lawyer. I dont think this is the school district that will scare easily so I sure I am in for a fight. And the school has not sent me there recommendations in writing yet I am expecting them in the mail soon. Thanks again and I will let you know where I get with this.

[Lisa S]

Jill,
What my husband and I did when we were faced with this situation was we consulted the best special education attorney we could find and we followed his advice. The best attorney is not that much more expensive than a mediocre one, and he could even be less expensive when you consider that he will waste less time.

We lost our battle and Catherine now attends the school the school district wanted to move her to, but our attorney informed us and them exactly what our rights were and he negotiated several concessions for us. He also suggested a highly respected independent autism expert who came and evaluated Catherine and both schools. The expert's recommendations were followed in the program they set up for Catherine at the new school. We were billed monthly for the amount of time he or his associates spent working on our case, but if we had gone to due process, he would have wanted a retainer.

I don't know what your financial situation is, but if you want to do what we did, you could ask someone at the Autism Society in your area for a recommendation. They could also suggest advocates who could advise you how to deal with your school district. I agree with what mlwear said about counting the cost before you decide to go to due process. At some point, it would be less expensive to pay for another year of preschool yourself.
Lisa

[Kris'smom]

Well We definately are not rich people lol. We survive week to week. And I really dont know where I will get the money for an attorney but I will find it if it means saving my son. I know that seems melodramatic but he is my baby and I will do whatever is nessesary to help him get the best education. I wish I could afford the preschhol myself but the weekly charges are more than my weekly earnings. I only work partime and my husband works fulltime as a bus driver for special needs kids. So needless to say his wages are not great but he loves his work. I dunno I guess I will have to take it one day at a time. It is just so frustrating to know that I might have to do what these people say even though I think it is wrong for Kris because I cant provide for him. It upsets and depresses me. :confused: Thank you all for your understanding and advice. I need it! :)

[Lisa S]

Here in Colorado, there is something called PEAK Parent Center, which acts as an advocacy agency for parents of special-needs children. Surely there is someone like them in New York who knows New York special education laws and your school district who could advise you for little or no cost. If I find someone like that, I will let you know. For what it's worth, here are the PEAK Parent Center's phone numbers: 303-864-1900 and 800-284-0251.
Lisa

[Dave]

Haven't been on much lately... but I have an IEP meeting this morning at 9AM. Funny that this would be the first thread I read. Wish me luck too... my dear wife generally gets worked up during the IEP meetings. Maybe a little relaxing music on the way over? :idea:

[mlwear]

Good luck, Dave. Although, you will be on your way to the meeting as this is being posted. I am saying a prayer for all of you at 9:00. I so sympathize with your wife. Yesterday (Austin had an IEP meeting) I woke up with a headache and no amount of Motrin would help. I felt like my head would split open. It is so stressful. Today I woke without a headache and hope your wife is able to relax soon.

Kris--if you need an attorney, call around. Maybe start with your chapter of ASA? It is very interesting that Lisa was able to be billed monthly prior to actual due process. Maybe that is something to ask about. But, first I would find out if there are any attorneys that will do it pro bono. We were told that the attorney recommended to us sometimes does that or will greatly reduce her fee. I would bring up your income level if you think it might help. My brother is an attorney and he told me that often the retainer is negotiable.

Finding a good advocate may be a consideration, also. Some do it for free or low cost. Certainly less expensive than an attorney.