Advocating For Your Child
When Hope transitioned from Early Intervention (EI) into the school district for preschool services, she was offered a full time program. When I declined the program, the school attempted to reduce her services almost in half. They claimed that as a homeschooler, she did not have the same needs as a child who attended a program.
Homeschool regulations and paperwork never bothered me. But the world of
IEP's, CPSE meetings, SPAM's, and special education services were very intimidating.
I realized in a heartbeat, I needed help.
Who do you turn to?
I tried to find an advocate who would be on my side – especially when it came
time to dealing with the school district. But it was very difficult. There were plenty of advocates for homeschoolers and those for parents of Autistic children. But I couldn’t find support for parents of Autistic children who wanted to homeschool. One advocate refused to represent me because she felt that I was doing a disservice to my daughter by homeschooling her. Sadly, she didn't know much about homeschooling - and wasn't interested in learning.
So after a good cry, more prayers and several cups of coffee, I realized the answer. I would have to advocate for my child.
What do you need to know?
The Law. There's no way around it. If you want your special needs child to get the services that he/she deserves, you need to be well versed, not only with your state's homeschool regulations, but with education law as well.
Sadly, schools will take advantage of the parents who do not know what is available to them and what their child has a right to receive.
A great site to join is Wrights Law
http://www.wrightslaw.com/
Where do you start?
That's easy, the Internet, the library and park day!
Another homeschool mom, who is also an OT, told me to look up PULSES, a support group for parents in the Mid-Hudson Valley New York area. They put me in touch with a education attorney. WOW - finally someone who was willing to listen, help and guide me.
The CSE/ CPSE Meeting
Preparing for a meeting is very emotional for me, and in the beginning, so very stressful. Here are some helpful tips. Please note - these are what I find useful and are based on my opinion only.
* Do not attend the meeting alone - bring an advocate. Before I found my support group, I took one of my friends, another homeschool mom, with me. Just knowing she was there and on my side helped a great deal. She was another pair of ears and silently reminded me that I was doing a good job.
* Decline the parent advocate that the school provides. They are not on your side. Despite what the school may say, they are there to back up the school's recommendations. Bring your own advocate with you. A person who knows your child and your family as well as your educational philosophy.
* Be prepared! Have notes written down and certain words or phrases highlighted. Have any recent medical evaluations with you.
*RECORD THE MEETING! E-mail the school a few days before and notify them that your will be recording the meeting.
*Ask Questions! Sometimes it's not what you say, but the questions you ask. They can prompt the school into giving inaccurate answers that do not comply with education law. With your recorder on, getting them to say such things will help you if you need to go to due process.
When Hope transitioned from Early Intervention (EI) into the school district for preschool services, she was offered a full time program. When I declined the program, the school attempted to reduce her services almost in half. They claimed that as a homeschooler, she did not have the same needs as a child who attended a program.
Homeschool regulations and paperwork never bothered me. But the world of
IEP's, CPSE meetings, SPAM's, and special education services were very intimidating.
I realized in a heartbeat, I needed help.
Who do you turn to?
I tried to find an advocate who would be on my side – especially when it came
time to dealing with the school district. But it was very difficult. There were plenty of advocates for homeschoolers and those for parents of Autistic children. But I couldn’t find support for parents of Autistic children who wanted to homeschool. One advocate refused to represent me because she felt that I was doing a disservice to my daughter by homeschooling her. Sadly, she didn't know much about homeschooling - and wasn't interested in learning.
So after a good cry, more prayers and several cups of coffee, I realized the answer. I would have to advocate for my child.
What do you need to know?
The Law. There's no way around it. If you want your special needs child to get the services that he/she deserves, you need to be well versed, not only with your state's homeschool regulations, but with education law as well.
Sadly, schools will take advantage of the parents who do not know what is available to them and what their child has a right to receive.
A great site to join is Wrights Law
http://www.wrightslaw.com/
Where do you start?
That's easy, the Internet, the library and park day!
Another homeschool mom, who is also an OT, told me to look up PULSES, a support group for parents in the Mid-Hudson Valley New York area. They put me in touch with a education attorney. WOW - finally someone who was willing to listen, help and guide me.
The CSE/ CPSE Meeting
Preparing for a meeting is very emotional for me, and in the beginning, so very stressful. Here are some helpful tips. Please note - these are what I find useful and are based on my opinion only.
* Do not attend the meeting alone - bring an advocate. Before I found my support group, I took one of my friends, another homeschool mom, with me. Just knowing she was there and on my side helped a great deal. She was another pair of ears and silently reminded me that I was doing a good job.
* Decline the parent advocate that the school provides. They are not on your side. Despite what the school may say, they are there to back up the school's recommendations. Bring your own advocate with you. A person who knows your child and your family as well as your educational philosophy.
* Be prepared! Have notes written down and certain words or phrases highlighted. Have any recent medical evaluations with you.
*RECORD THE MEETING! E-mail the school a few days before and notify them that your will be recording the meeting.
*Ask Questions! Sometimes it's not what you say, but the questions you ask. They can prompt the school into giving inaccurate answers that do not comply with education law. With your recorder on, getting them to say such things will help you if you need to go to due process.