Need help in fighting for para

[mommyT]

Hi Everyone,
My son is in the 1st grade. I have been battling the school for a while now abt getting a para for my child. He is diagnosed PDD-NOS, but labeled Autism in his IEP. His behaviors have escalated so much I am concerned for his safety. He is now eloping- at least 2 times a day, wont go into classes etc. Sometimes it takes then 15 min to find him!!!
Please does anyone have any advice on how I can get a para for my child.Out on the playground he is aggressive as well as in class-as he doesnt understand things and conversations and gets easily over stimulated and frustated and anxious.
Thanks for any suggestions,
Love ya,
Tammy

[Lisa S]

If he is running away twice a day and it takes them up to 15 minutes to find him, then how are they saying he does not need a para? You have expressed a safety concern and if anything happened to him, they would be responsible. What have you done so far? Have you spoken to a special education attorney yet?

It concerns me that his behavior is getting more aggressive. I think it indicates that they are not meeting his needs at school.

[mommyT]

Thanks Lisa for responding :)
So far I have contacted an advocate and have brought it up to my case manager(who actually has the same concerns as I do-but has gotten a No-from personel he has talked to). My case manager thinsk my son needs an aide as well????I havent officially brought it up to the IEP team yet-I will be doing so tomorrowas I called for an emergenct IEP team meeting.....
The team feels that my sons behavior is normal as he is adjusting to his new BIP plan-has had for 2 and 1/2 weeks???They dont have any other elpoers at this school-But everytime I talk abt the behaviors escalating they just shrug me off and tell me that this is normal. He got suspended the other day as he was stepping on an administers toes while he was in the time out room????
He actually made it out of the school doors yesterday!!!! VERY SCARY!:( They -the team thinks they just need more teachersupports-ones who have no clue abt Autism-outisde watching and observing him,also they want to incorporate peer buddies thinking this will solve all the problems??? They are really trying to do everything to not give my child a para.
Do you have any advice on how I can present this case tomorrow??Soem ideas that they cannot argue ard?
LOve ya,
Tammy

[Lisa S]

Hi Tammy,

I am looking around Wrightslaw to see if I can find anything for you to use. You can poke around there too, if you want to.

http://www.wrightslaw.com/

Here is an article about requesting a paraprofessional instead of an aide.

http://www.wrightslaw.com/heath/parapro.aide.htm

Here is an article detailing how to ask for a paraprofessional.

http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/relsvc.aide.steedman.htm

Here is the Yellow Pages for Kids, where you can enter your state and possibly find some local help.

http://www.yellowpagesforkids.com/

If both you and the case manager think he needs a para, I don't see how the school will be able to justify him not needing one. I am not saying they won't try, but I think they are thinking more about their budget than your son's needs. If they still refuse and there is any way at all you can do it, I would hire a special education attorney to argue the case for you. The attorney would probably begin by appealing the decision to the director of special education for the school district, but a good special education attorney would know the arguments that are likely to be successful with this individual. There are special education attorneys available at no cost in many states, so if there is no way you can afford one, you could look into this.

Hope this helps.

Lisa

[mommyT]

Thanks Lisa for responding :)
Im going to go look at those sights right now-I have been googling EVERYTHING out there-it is making my head hurt-I just want to be sure I am ready with anything they might say-kwim?So thanks for the information and sights :)
Love ya,
Tammy