[blindkid] Fwd: Information Needed : San Jose Vision Services

[Richard Holloway]

If I'm not misreading the previous posts, I believe the original message indicated the PUBLIC school would only support special needs students, in a typical classroom, by placing such students into PRIVATE school, presumably at the LEA's expense.

I have heard of this solution in the past when parents have been unsatisfied with what was happening in the public school and it was offered at the parents discretion. I cannot imagine it would be a legal remedy unless all needs of the student, be they large print, braille, O&M, etc., were being satisfactorily met. I'm not even certain it would be lawful as an exclusive remedy even if every need were met.

This does not seem to comply with the spirit of FAPE at ALL. I personally can't see a problem if all needs are met AND parents are in agreement with the solution, but a Private school and a PUBLIC education are simply not the same thing, and if the private remedy is forced upon the parents, I suspect there could be a strong argument that anything that the private school does which the parents do not like could become a direct liability for the LEA (Local Education Authority-- generally the school district).

I am by no means a legal expert. I suspect contacting a legal expert on the topic would be a good next step.

Keep in mind that the school or LEA telling you something "is all they can offer" does not mean this is correct or legal. If they say this is all they can do and a parent accepts that, then from their perspective the problem is solved. The school district is the absolute last source from which you will want to get any legal advice...

Good luck with this. I know it must be frustrating.

Richard



On May 15, 2013, at 1:51 PM, Bernadette Jacobs wrote:

> On 5/14/13, Sanjay Choudhary <choudhary01 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> All,
>> Our son Raghav Choudhary is 7th grade student who gets vision services in
>> regular school in Howard county, Maryland. He has some vision in his one
>> eye
>> and he prefers to read large print(40 size fonts). I got a job in San Jose
>> area and looking for  house in Evergreen School District in south San Jose.
>> I talked to special education department in Evergreen school district and
>> learned that they don't support students with special needs in regular
>> classroom. They place students  in private school.
>> Does anybody has any experience with private schools for special needs
>> student in this area ?
>> 
>> We will really appreciate if we get the student/parents perspective on
>> special education services available in south San Jose area. This will help
>> us make right decision.
>> Thanks in advance.
>> 
>> Sanjay and Chitra
>> 240-486-1245
>> _______________________________________________
>> _______________________________________________
>> blindkid mailing list
>> blindkid at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> blindkid:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/bernienfb75%40gmail.com
>> 
> Good Afternoon:
> 
> Unfortunately, my dear, this is a case where reality is going to be
> woefully and brutally painful.
> 
> Firstly, RE: print at 40-font?  sorry my friend, there is no such
> thing in a textbook.  We had a public school try that same thing with
> my daughter and the lowest she could get down to was 48-font.  They
> started her at 72 until I went in with barrels blazing and told them
> to wake up and smell the coffee, (reality)!  Furthermore, if his
> vision changes, and he doesn't learn Braille now, as he should have
> learned it long ago, That poor baby is going to want to learn to start
> digging!  I had a very close friend go through that very thing.  She
> read large print all the way through school and college.  One morning,
> she woke up and it was all gone...
> 
> Your dear son is blind, just like my two children are and I have
> simply loved them for what and who they are.  Blindness is really Okay
> my friend!  I'm totally blind myself.  And, ya know what, it was my
> very own mother some 50 years ago who began pushing Braille for me as
> well.  I learned to appreciate it so much that I really had a blast
> reading it under the covers at night with the lights off.  Read many a
> book that way.  Didn't have to worry about eye strain, headaches, or
> any of it!!  It was great!!
> 
> Now, onto the next item of business here.  You're actually writing to
> me just in time to register for any one of our summer buddy programs.
> 
> Unfortunately, as for private schools,  the school district isn't
> obligated to accomodate for special needs for private schools:
> Braille, large print, cane travel, or anything else for that matter
> because they don't receive state/Federal funding.  Unfortunately,
> honey, that's the reality of it.  I urge you, however, to keep in
> touch on the list here.  There are folks here who have done some
> absolutely amazing things.
> 
> Bernie
> 
> _______________________________________________
> blindkid mailing list
> blindkid at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for blindkid:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/rholloway%40gopbc.org