[blindkid] IEP and cane help needed

[Susan Harper]

I am having a similar issue with BESB worker just getting the eval to use
the cane and also getting the O&M instructor to show up for scheduled
appointments on time.  I've had it.  I bought a cane and I am showing my son
how to use it.  If the BESB O&M person ever gets it together they can come
up with IEP goals.  My school is willing.  At this point, it is the BESB
person who is the weak link.  Up until now, have had good support.  Don't
know why this is so hard to get.  I will be following your answers, as they
will be a help to me.  I can't do any worse than no help.
Blessings,
Sue H.

On Fri, May 29, 2009 at 1:45 PM, Doreen Franklin <theconelady at yahoo.com>wrote:

> Your help is needed again for our 4-1/2 yr old who will be going to the
> pre-K class in August.
>
> We are in the process of having 8 individual evals done for the
> Comprehensive Psych Eval in her IEP. One of the evals is for O&M, but I have
> not gotten a call for the eval yet. (Our schools are out June 10). We feel
> strongly that our daughter needs a cane and we have gotten one thru NFB. We
> also were at the state convention this last weekend and cane and Braille
> were reinforced many times! (And I have just been sent an email indicating
> that even with the evals done, the reports will not be done even for our IEP
> meeting on June 8. We do need to have the meeting to do a few other items,
> one of which will be a placement at an ESE-inclusive pre-K class).
>
> At our last IEP in April, it was suggested that I get her pediatrician to
> write a note for the cane, take it to the nurse and then get an
> Individualized Health Care plan written for the cane; it would then be an
> addendum to the IEP. Long story short, I am being told the doc cannot do it
> (it is not a medical issue) - but school board cannot cite a law/statute
> which prohibits it from happening or not happening. At this point, I am not
> even sure the cane will be discussed at our next IEP on June 8 without the
> O&M eval being done.
>
> If you talk to our daughter, she will even tell you she does not trip or
> hit as many things with her cane in her hand. She FEELS safer with the cane
> and IS safer with the cane, but the school board is not seeing it. Other
> parents of blind and VI children can see the need for the cane, but other
> people are not seeing her need. Even at home, she is like the "pinball
> wizard" - sometimes hitting one chair, to a 2nd chair on her way to her
> room. She has not gotten seriously hurt, but she has hit her face about a
> half dozen times.
>
> Question is ... can we provide private instructions for her (thru a friend
> who is blind and uses a cane) so that she can use the cane in school when
> she goes to school in August without the school board saying she cannot use
> it without proper instruction by them? Is there a law I can give to them for
> the cane?  What are our recourses, besides threatening a law suit should
> something happen to her?
>
> Any and all help will be appreciated .... MANY thanks!!!!
> Doreen and David Franklin
>
>
>
>
> Doreen
> Please support Braille literacy & programs for our youth by sponsoring me
> in
> the Motor City March for Independence!
> www.marchforindependence.org/goto/doreenf
>
>
>
>
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