Special Needs Children

[Hophop4]

Maybe these kids were put on the regular bus as a trial to see how they would do....but it's not working. I agree about the IEP's and they would probably need new IEP's to get them reverted back to the SpecialEd bus. You need to talk to the Principal or Head of Transportation about you concerns.

 

[sfwilshire]

Like others have suggested, it sounds like there is more to the story than is being revealed. We've driven our special needs son to school every day for all these years. When they forced him to change schools at one point, we spent weeks trying to get tranportation arranged on the special bus that came within a block of our house to pick up another child. We never accomplished it and for several other reasons took our son out of that school shortly afterwards. Many school districts choose to ignore the laws and do pretty much whatever they want to do.

Sheila

 

[swift]

In response to some posters--yes, there has been a paper trail started and I have spoken to the head of transportation as well as the behavior specialist. Some things are being done to try to make it better but as you know both of these people are also "gate keepers" part of their job is to take care of the children in the least costly manner. It is a hard part on the parent to constantly fight the battle. I have friends that have hired an arbitrator to go with them to every IEP meeting.

 

[pjrose]

... part of their job is to take care of the children in the least costly manner. It is a hard part on the parent to constantly fight the battle. I have friends that have hired an arbitrator to go with them to every IEP meeting.

One of my kids has an IEP, and the school has almost always been responsive and helpful. We only had a problem once, when a staff member who had never met my child was in the meeting making incorrect statements about my child. Other than that, the special ed people have been caring and responsive to the child's needs and my requests. We are in a financially well-off district, and I am always available and very involved in the process - both factors apparently make a difference.

A relative used to be a special ed teacher, and constantly ran into turf battles, politics, penny-pinching, and so forth. His districts were not as well-off financially, and many parents didn't bother to show up for meetings.

I feel for the parents who need arbitrators - it's so sad and frustrating that they need to fight for their kids to get the appropriate education and accommodations. I am fortunate that our situation has almost always been very positive.

 

[Hophop4]

One of my kids has an IEP, and the school has almost always been responsive and helpful. We only had a problem once, when a staff member who had never met my child was in the meeting making incorrect statements about my child. Other than that, the special ed people have been caring and responsive to the child's needs and my requests. We are in a financially well-off district, and I am always available and very involved in the process - both factors apparently make a difference.

A relative used to be a special ed teacher, and constantly ran into turf battles, politics, penny-pinching, and so forth. His districts were not as well-off financially, and many parents didn't bother to show up for meetings.

I feel for the parents who need arbitrators - it's so sad and frustrating that they need to fight for their kids to get the appropriate education and accommodations. I am fortunate that our situation has almost always been very positive.

You have been very lucky if you only had that one incident. We have been to so many of these. Some had been good some not so good that we even had to take steps to file in Federal Court. We knew it was going to be a long process and by the time it got settled my son would be doing ok but the outcome really helped the youngest children coming into the system. You really have to be on your toes and fight for what you think is appropriate and right for your child.

As for the bus situation my son was on a regular school bus until he was in Middle School and was bussed to the neighboring School District as I stated in my other post above.

 

[pjrose]

You have been very lucky if you only had that one incident.

Part of it may be that when I'm not driving the car, I am flying on my broom

But honestly (well, the broom part is honest too...) when there has been an issue at school or a change with my child, the IEP is usually changed immediately and always with my input. Yes, I have been lucky.

 

[Mel]

I agree that parental involvement is critical, but success also depends on the school system. We moved when my oldest started kindergarten, and then 2 more times since then. The first of those two moves came in the middle of 1st grade, shortly after 9.11.01, and was a move into one of the best school districts in our new home state (or so we thought, after advice from sources who should have known). Academically, yes they were excellent, but socially it was a big mistake. By the time we left there, following her 5th grade year, she had a diagnosis of ADHD and ODD (Oppositional Difiant Disorder), which the school used to blame her for a situation out of her control. She was verbally bullied, and eventually fought back physically - in their words she had poor impulse control. When her 3rd grade teacher suggested she be evaluated, we did so - the school wouldn't because she was performing at grade level (as an average student), and didn't want to spend any money they didn't need to.

Fast forward to our current school district, which not only is better about dealing with bullying, but is all-around better about special-ed issues. She no longer has a 504 plan (never had an IEP since she performed at grade level), and is in fact one of the top students in her class (and had the top scores on the SAT which she took to qualify for the Center for Talented Youth).

Both school districts are in affluent areas - the first was probably MORE affluent - but had very different ideas about special-ed spending. The current school system has learned the every penny spent NOW to help these children means fewer dollars spent later. Maybe those dollars would end up being spent by another district, but maybe not. Barring moves because of a change in employment, families who are happy with the schools here are not likely to move. I guess maybe those districts that are pinching pennies also think they're saving because those families will be forced to move to another district to get the help they need.

OP - good luck, and I hope you get an acceptable outcome. Those children deserve to have either an aid on your bus, or alternate transportation. Some children don't do well on regular school busses, including some who don't have special needs.

 

[pjrose]

.... By the time we left there, following her 5th grade year, she had a diagnosis of ADHD and ODD (Oppositional Difiant Disorder), which the school used to blame her for a situation out of her control. She was verbally bullied, and eventually fought back physically - in their words she had poor impulse control.

Been there and still there, in terms of the ADHD, ODD, bullying, poor impulse control, and fighting back. The diagnoses have gotten more complex as the teenage hormones have kicked in - I know far more acronyms and abbreviations than I'd like.

The difference is that rather than the school blaming our DD, they use the diagnoses to provide emotional support, change her schedule if needed b/c of the mix of students or class size, and gave her a laminated pass she can use to walk away from potential trouble and go to guidance at any time. She does face consequences when she blows up, but they also provide a lot of support to help prevent it.

Regarding the penny pinching, I thought that they add up all the hours each child receives services to justify getting more money and more staff - so the more help they are giving, the more they will get for special ed. If that's the case, it wouldn't make sense to deny special ed services.