[Mdpobc] School placement told if I want a classroom aid DD has to go to special school

[L W]

1.  No reason given as why Joli couldn't have an aid at the local school.  (To be honest I should have asked why but I was registering 2 kids at once and the nurse was talking to me about shots etc and somebody else was at our proof of residence etc all at the same time...)
 
2.  Havent had 1st IEP yet.  That is happening in early July.  As soon as they said that they might put her in this other school., I said that was something I would not agree to and if it was ever on IEP I would not sign it as she supposed have a free appropriate education in the least restrictive environment possible.  The woman just said "Well that's your right."
 
3.  The school is suggesting (or at least that one woman is suggesting) that because she needs a classroom aid and other support due to being legally blind as well as having dyslexia, my daughter attend a school with a special education unit/center rather than attend her local school with her sister.
 
4.  She is going into 3rd grade, and we have lived in Carroll county for two weeks.
 
Thanks for the support and advice!  We are having our first IEP meeting in early July to decide which assesments she needs.  I am wondering if I should have an advocate present and if so how do I do that and how much does it cost?  I am feeling like I should see how this meeting goes and then call in an advocate later if I feel I need one then.
 
Thanks,
Lauren
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Message: 3
Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:31:12 -0400
From: "Kyle Richmond" <KRichmond at verizon.net>
Subject: Re: [Mdpobc] School placement told if I want a classroom aid
    DD has    to    go to a special school
To: "Maryland Parents of Blind Children List" <mdpobc at nfbnet.org>
Message-ID: <253E31A1526844BDAFBC73080FB5E638 at KylePC>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hi Lauren:
I'm a mom who has dealt with the school system quite a bit.  My son is now going into 12 th grade.  In order to help you, first a few questions:
1)  What reason did the school system give you for why your daughter cannot have an instructional assistant with her at your local school?  (There are many kids with all sorts of disabilities who have instructional assistants in all public schools.)
2)  Have you mentioned at an IEP meeting that Joli is entitled, under federal law, to be educated in her "least restrictive environment?"
3) Is the school system suggesting that just because Joli is blind, that she should be placed in a special education classroom with all special ed kids, all day, and not "mainstreamed" in a regular classroom?  Because this does not sound right...... (just trying to figure out what is going on here!)
3)  What grade is she in and how long have you lived in this county?
If you want to email me directly my email is:  Krichmond at verizon.net. and I would be happy to talk to you on the phone at any time.
Jill Richmond

  


      
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