[blindkid] O&M and Expanded Core Laws

Tue Oct 26 14:07:57 UTC 2010

Dear Lucy,
I would reccommend that you contact the person below. She should be able to you with your issues.
NFB of New Hampshire
Cassandra McNabb, President
12 Summer Street, Apartment A
Keene, New Hampshire 03431
Home: 603-357-4080
E-mail: cemcnabb21 at yahoo.com
Also see http://www.nfb.org/nfb/NH_resources.asp?SnID=1353226311

Regards,
Kim Cunningham

--- On Mon, 10/25/10, lucy <gingerlocket at hotmail.com> wrote:

From: lucy <gingerlocket at hotmail.com>
Subject: [blindkid] O&M and Expanded Core Laws
To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
Date: Monday, October 25, 2010, 10:03 AM

Does Expanded Core Services (i.e. O&M) fall under the NCLB and the FAPE or ANY other laws that cover a child's IEP?

Hi, my daughter is 10 years old, at public school in NH. We do not have a school for the blind and public school has been a challenge. I am somewhat familiar with the law, or at least thought I was, but it appears some people in my daughter's Special Education "Team" may be covering up or making laws up when we run into issues. I thought that her would be a good place to get a straight answer instead of scanning the Internet, looking up more info, and wasting more time going in circles! 
My main concern is my daughter's O&M. She does NOT use her cane correctly, and never has. Now, at school her reports show she is doing okay, she is reluctant, doesn't use the cane (which I purchase them all myself, every few months in hopes that she will take to each new one and use it right!) correctly all the time, does get confused while listening to other sounds in the building, and takes a long time to travel from A to B. At home and around stores, ect, with me, she does not use her cane and I am constantly reminding her (as I have for several years) to use her cane but think that I make it worse. I am very concerned about safety. She has one hour a week of O&M. It is school-based as she has been denied going out into the community as she needs to learn the school environment?? She requires a trained medical aide if so, as she is Adrenal Insufficient. In the Summer, I go with the Instructor as my daughter's medical Aide, unless she is working in the
 school during the EYP. 

If I feel my daughter is "behind" in her cane skills or just plain in danger and not using her cane, is there anything I can do other than bringing up my concerns at every meeting, emails, communication verbally (which seems to go in one ear....)  Her "team" do not see my daughter outside of school as far as the Special Educators/Admins.. and I am wondering if there is a way to compare her to what a 10 year old child who is blind (totally blind) in a way that would show her school (who has never had a blind student to the extent of full blindness) what she should be doing. And educated them!!! I've called Advocates before regarding her extensive workload, which is for the most part completed at school, but she still has a lot of work at home.. It's a never ending challenge, and I just wanted to really know if Expanded Core is included as far as falling behind. And, if they are covering up, and not giving her enough suitable O&M time, because of her
 missing academic schedules (which she is doing fantastic in reading/math/writing of course as she is pushed to no end) What can I do??!! She also has no DLS, and is now slowly developing social skills, which has been a constant nag on my end. She has a lot of adults which I know happens with all her Special Ed teachers. 

I have also been told that field trips means "out of the district" when I wasn't notified of a trip across town ( IEP states notify parents of all field trips and a nurse will attend or the parents (mom) has the choice to go as the trained Aide) I was told "that wasn't a field trip!) so, I guess ANY trip on the bus I need to be notified and then I've been told the school nurse (by the nurse) didn't go on any trips last year! It was an LPN who is an aide for a diabetic boy who needs constant attention. Basically, they are lying when I catch on. HELP!!!!! 

ThankYou and I'm so sorry that I have jumped around so much. My next meeting is Thursday and would love to know of any laws instead of looking up more and more that are hard to find. I 've been all over the TSBVI, but I end up reading everything else!

Thank You,
Lucy  

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