[blindkid] help for communication and more ....

[Kim Cunningham]

Doreen,
First it sounds as though you have a concern for visual fatigue. We went through the same thing. Because a child has some vision, the school thinks they should use it - at any cost to the child. Have you thought about asking for an independent evaluation? You can then seek out someone (a different TVI) who can recommend non-visual techniques (braille, tactile drawings, nemeth, etc). 
Do you receive a report card (every 6, 8, or 9 weeks) from your daughter's therapists? According to the ARD/IEP the district should provide progress reports for IEP's. According to our district, the TVI (and others) must show when they saw the child and which IEP goals they worked on that day. The report should show if the child is working towards the goal, not addressed during the grading period, mastered, or continued. It seems as though parents are encouraged to be involved in their child's development from 0 to 5yrs. and then once in school, we are told to step back. I would hope that between the classroom grades and the progress reports from her TVI/O&M/Therapists, it would show if your daughter is struggling. 
You can always play their game, and ask for conference time to be added to the IEP document. Maybe the TVI, O&M, and therapist would agree to call you periodically, allowing more time to confer about different issues. Perhaps you could invite them to your house for lunch, and create a "happy" environment. Building relationships with your itinerant teachers is critical. They might be more free outside of the confines of the strict ARD meetings.
Kim Cunningham
--- On Thu, 12/9/10, Doreen Franklin <doreenproverbs3 at bellsouth.net> wrote:


From: Doreen Franklin <doreenproverbs3 at bellsouth.net>
Subject: [blindkid] help for communication and more ....
To: "Blindkid List" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Cc: "Anna C. Brynild" <anna at cflparents.org>
Date: Thursday, December 9, 2010, 5:40 PM


We need some help and I know this is the place for answers.

We have a 6-yr old daughter in kindergarten who is visually impaired/low vision. 
She receives vision & O&M (we put cane in her hand but she is finally getting 
services for instrux); she has OT consult only. At the last IEP meeting (end of 
October), I was given 30 minutes a month to confer with teachers for DD. There 
are 4 people (teacher, TVI, O&M and OT) that I should receive an update on 
services that have been provided. The past 2 months, meeting has been "free 
flowing" where I have been able to ask questions as the instructor is recapping 
services. This month, I received an "agenda" indicating each instructor has 5 
minutes to tell me of the last month's progress for daughter. I was given the 
last 5 minutes for concerns/questions/progress and was also told the recap by 
all would be "uninterrupted" for questions from me. There is even an indication 
of who will be doing the 5-minute timing!

This is my only form of communication between teacher and school. I asked for 
daily activity sheet from teacher and weekly sheet from instructors but was 
denied with Notice of Refusal based on whole classroom need. I get NO 
COMMUNICATION except for this 30 minutes monthly.

I sent email with attached agenda to ESE administrator at district and was 
"urged" to accept what I was given. I was told to "fax" my questions/concerns 
prior to the meeting to the school and those questions will be answered on the 
call. How is this possible? At the last 2 calls, I had questions come up as 
progress reports were being given. How am I to know ahead of time what questions 
I will have for each instructor until they start to give their report?

I know the simple answer is that it is an IEP Team decision, however, I keep 
getting Notice of Refusals as to how "my husband and I" would like to have 
reports given to us based on what the rest of her classmates are getting. I 
thought the IEP was an INDIVIDUALIZED plan, but I can't seem to get to the 
individualization that DD needs. I have a parent trainer (much like an advocate 
and she is very highly involved); it is very frustrating for her also because 
she sees us as a family that is so involved in our  daughter's education and the 
school continues to say DD is doing fine. WE are seeing fatigue and stress 
on daughter's eyes and her body, but school is not recognizing this fact. 
School continues to say nonverbally to the daughter that she should use her 
vision, which is limited and impaired as well as fluctuating daily. Even the 
parent trainer believes our daughter needs more support from the school. I 
have tried over and over again to get support and services for daughter and 
support/information back to me but the district will not even hear 
my pleas. They think I am an overbearing mom and not appreciative of what DD is 
receiving from the school. 



On Monday, Dec 6, prior to this all transpiring yesterday, I asked for an IEP 
meeting to be held mid-Jan when parent trainer will be in town. I got a call 
today (Dec 9) from ESE person at school asking "why" I want a meeting. I 
mentioned an OT ball chair and that I have problems with the telephone 
conference. I received an email later on asking for more specifics. A few hours 
later, I received an email from ESE district director (addressed to the ESE 
person at school and me) saying the TVI & O&M need to work with daughter and 
that he is asking we "hold off on any lengthy meeting unless something has 
changed." I have not even responded to this as I am fuming and cannot even put 
things into words. Not only am i concerned about the telephone call and its 
"change" from what was agreed to by the Team, I have numerous questions and 
pieces of paper that are not adhering to IEP. I also need clarification on 
several things that according to DD, are not being done, although written in the 
IEP. I want it brought before full Team. I also want to request again (even 
though I have received Notice of Refusal based on CLASS need) that I receive the 
daily report from teacher and weekly from TVI & O&M. I need to present MY SIDE 
to everyone ... my daughter is 6 -- why should she be the one who tells me all 
the details -- she should come home and tell me a quick overview, but details 
should be provided by teacher is what I am thinking. 

 
I am looking for answers, help, suggestions, .... anyone else been there/done 
that -- what did you do? 


Any and all help is GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!! THANK YOU!!!!
 Doreen 
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