Comments for National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities http://nichcy.org Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:06:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Top 10 Most Ridiculous Comments Heard at an IEP Meeting by Christi http://nichcy.org/top-10-most-ridiculous-comments/comment-page-1#comment-1912 Christi Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:06:17 +0000 http://nichcy.org/?p=19764#comment-1912 My 9 year old had severe school phobia, to the point of running off into the woods at home to avoid being put in the car. The team knew this, but at more than one IIEP meeting, I was told, "Well, if you can't get him to school, we can't educate him." And, they held to that for 7 months, until we threatened to hire a lawyer! Same child, same team. They wanted to know why my "emotionally disturbed" son wasn't in the psychiatric hospital that we used on occasion. I stated that it costs thousands of dollars per week and insurance only covers the cost if a child is a danger to himself or others. At that point, a social worker whom I had just met, and whom NEVER met my child, told me that if I really cared about my son, I would give him over to the state, so that he could be placed in a residential treatment center!!! We moved. My 9 year old had severe school phobia, to the point of running off into the woods at home to avoid being put in the car. The team knew this, but at more than one IIEP meeting, I was told, “Well, if you can’t get him to school, we can’t educate him.” And, they held to that for 7 months, until we threatened to hire a lawyer!

Same child, same team. They wanted to know why my “emotionally disturbed” son wasn’t in the psychiatric hospital that we used on occasion. I stated that it costs thousands of dollars per week and insurance only covers the cost if a child is a danger to himself or others. At that point, a social worker whom I had just met, and whom NEVER met my child, told me that if I really cared about my son, I would give him over to the state, so that he could be placed in a residential treatment center!!!

We moved.

]]> Comment on Top 10 Most Ridiculous Comments Heard at an IEP Meeting by Ann http://nichcy.org/top-10-most-ridiculous-comments/comment-page-1#comment-1911 Ann Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:58:50 +0000 http://nichcy.org/?p=19764#comment-1911 I was at a CSE meeting advocating for a chid that is bright but failing most of his classes. I show the team a graph demonstrating how the student’s state standard scores in English have gone down and that he is now currently below state standards when he use to be well above them. The CSE chair looks at the state testing graph and remarks,”Oh that doesn’t matter, it’s only the state test.” I was at a CSE meeting advocating for a chid that is bright but failing most of his classes. I show the team a graph demonstrating how the student’s state standard scores in English have gone down and that he is now currently below state standards when he use to be well above them. The CSE chair looks at the state testing graph and remarks,”Oh that doesn’t matter, it’s only the state test.”

]]> Comment on Top 10 Most Ridiculous Comments Heard at an IEP Meeting by Lisa http://nichcy.org/top-10-most-ridiculous-comments/comment-page-1#comment-1910 Lisa Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:38:59 +0000 http://nichcy.org/?p=19764#comment-1910 Here's two: Our son with Asperger's is absolutely brilliant at math. Due to being put into an algebra II taught by a chemistry teacher (for the first time), the class being filled with kids who do not want to be there and bullying by those same kids, our son developed severe anxiety about going to that class (B first quarter, C on the final, F in the class) and ended up failing the course. The response we received at our team meeting was as follows: "He only failed one class. He is making SOME progress" and "we spoke to the parties involved (never notified us or spoke to my son, the target) and decided that it was 'peer conflict' not bullying." Another student in the class filed a bullying report on our son's behalf. Here’s two: Our son with Asperger’s is absolutely brilliant at math. Due to being put into an algebra II taught by a chemistry teacher (for the first time), the class being filled with kids who do not want to be there and bullying by those same kids, our son developed severe anxiety about going to that class (B first quarter, C on the final, F in the class) and ended up failing the course. The response we received at our team meeting was as follows: “He only failed one class. He is making SOME progress” and “we spoke to the parties involved (never notified us or spoke to my son, the target) and decided that it was ‘peer conflict’ not bullying.” Another student in the class filed a bullying report on our son’s behalf.

]]> Comment on Top 10 Most Ridiculous Comments Heard at an IEP Meeting by Vicki http://nichcy.org/top-10-most-ridiculous-comments/comment-page-1#comment-1908 Vicki Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:47:00 +0000 http://nichcy.org/?p=19764#comment-1908 how this one: our son struggles with spelling, after asking for a whole semester what reading/spelling programs they are using and being told "its integrated" then being told "you want a program pay? for it yourself". They find out we did and for the last two months of school provide a program that is supposed to be twice a week, but do it only once a week. and low and behold his spelling issue is CURED! no instruction this year, BUT it stills says it on the last page of his IEP that he was to get it ;) how this one: our son struggles with spelling, after asking for a whole semester what reading/spelling programs they are using and being told “its integrated” then being told “you want a program pay? for it yourself”. They find out we did and for the last two months of school provide a program that is supposed to be twice a week, but do it only once a week. and low and behold his spelling issue is CURED! no instruction this year, BUT it stills says it on the last page of his IEP that he was to get it ;)

]]> Comment on Top 10 Most Ridiculous Comments Heard at an IEP Meeting by Sue http://nichcy.org/top-10-most-ridiculous-comments/comment-page-1#comment-1907 Sue Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:25:16 +0000 http://nichcy.org/?p=19764#comment-1907 recently one of our school psycologist's said to a family of a preschooler- "after observing your son and seeing he has made progress over the past 2 months, it shows he is in fact does not have Autism. Kids with Autism don't make progress in the curriculm. We think he is just a little shy"!!!! The family is filing for mediation and filed a complaint. It is unbelievable that these so called professionals can do stuff like this to families. I truly don't think they understand the damage they do to people. In my work supporting families thru the spec ed system I have heard a lot of comments but this one is a gem! recently one of our school psycologist’s said to a family of a preschooler- “after observing your son and seeing he has made progress over the past 2 months, it shows he is in fact does not have Autism. Kids with Autism don’t make progress in the curriculm. We think he is just a little shy”!!!! The family is filing for mediation and filed a complaint. It is unbelievable that these so called professionals can do stuff like this to families. I truly don’t think they understand the damage they do to people. In my work supporting families thru the spec ed system I have heard a lot of comments but this one is a gem!

]]> Comment on Top 10 Most Ridiculous Comments Heard at an IEP Meeting by Sandy http://nichcy.org/top-10-most-ridiculous-comments/comment-page-1#comment-1905 Sandy Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:28:44 +0000 http://nichcy.org/?p=19764#comment-1905 A few years ago, at an ARD meeting, I was told the results of the psychological evaluation that had been done on my son. After many hours of observation him at home and in the school setting, and with all testing complete, the announcement was made: "Your son has Autism at home, but not at school!" I'm still laughing about that one! A few years ago, at an ARD meeting, I was told the results of the psychological evaluation that had been done on my son. After many hours of observation him at home and in the school setting, and with all testing complete, the announcement was made: “Your son has Autism at home, but not at school!”

I’m still laughing about that one!

]]> Comment on Top 10 Most Ridiculous Comments Heard at an IEP Meeting by Felicia http://nichcy.org/top-10-most-ridiculous-comments/comment-page-1#comment-1904 Felicia Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:25:17 +0000 http://nichcy.org/?p=19764#comment-1904 My son was 3 and just entering the public school system. After having the IEP meeting without me....."oops, sorry, we thought someone contacted you ", I read thru the IEP. My apraxic son was non verbal, and still in diapers. (not able to train until 6yrs. old ). The nurse had actually written in that they wanted him potty trained, and proceeded to tell me how it would be done. She actually wrote in the IEP that when he needs to go to the bathroom he is to wave his arms in the air, and grunt and moan like an animal. Out I walked, and we have never been back inside that building, and that was 13 years ago. My son was 3 and just entering the public school system. After having the IEP meeting without me…..”oops, sorry, we thought someone contacted you “, I read thru the IEP. My apraxic son was non verbal, and still in diapers. (not able to train until 6yrs. old ). The nurse had actually written in that they wanted him potty trained, and proceeded to tell me how it would be done. She actually wrote in the IEP that when he needs to go to the bathroom he is to wave his arms in the air, and grunt and moan like an animal. Out I walked, and we have never been back inside that building, and that was 13 years ago.

]]> Comment on Top 10 Most Ridiculous Comments Heard at an IEP Meeting by Brenda http://nichcy.org/top-10-most-ridiculous-comments/comment-page-1#comment-1902 Brenda Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:10:55 +0000 http://nichcy.org/?p=19764#comment-1902 The special Ed teacher during a due process meeting says" oh I didn't realize the special Ed bus driver REALLY had your 9 year old daughter arrested for threatening her life" what do you think the police are just going to practice when she is abandoned at the state police headquaters on the way to school.the schools attorney turned white as a sheet and we got our way after that. The special Ed teacher during a due process meeting says” oh I didn’t realize the special Ed bus driver REALLY had your 9 year old daughter arrested for threatening her life” what do you think the police are just going to practice when she is abandoned at the state police headquaters on the way to school.the schools attorney turned white as a sheet and we got our way after that.

]]> Comment on Top 10 Most Ridiculous Comments Heard at an IEP Meeting by melissa http://nichcy.org/top-10-most-ridiculous-comments/comment-page-1#comment-1901 melissa Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:59:38 +0000 http://nichcy.org/?p=19764#comment-1901 How about various members of the IEP team including teacher agreeing with need and to do this or that only to have Principal or District Admin step in and question if issue is really impacting the child's education. Of course then IEP team backs down - it's a nice way for Admin to run the show regardless of need How about various members of the IEP team including teacher agreeing with need and to do this or that only to have Principal or District Admin step in and question if issue is really impacting the child’s education. Of course then IEP team backs down – it’s a nice way for Admin to run the show regardless of need

]]> Comment on Top 10 Most Ridiculous Comments Heard at an IEP Meeting by Jane http://nichcy.org/top-10-most-ridiculous-comments/comment-page-1#comment-1898 Jane Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:48:08 +0000 http://nichcy.org/?p=19764#comment-1898 How about," if you want your child to have the technology we all agree she needs, then you will need to buy it and provide it. It is the only way to force the teachers to try something new." How about,” if you want your child to have the technology we all agree she needs, then you will need to buy it and provide it. It is the only way to force the teachers to try something new.”

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