[blindkid] disagreement rights for parents of students with disabilities

Mon May 19 01:43:29 UTC 2014

Thank you Anita. I am all for trying to communicate first. I believe the school district is open to this. Thank you everyone for your comments and helpful suggestions. I don't expect the best education for my child, just an appropriate education that includes braille because his condition is degenerative. An education that will allow him to access the curriculum and keep up with his peers even if he loses all his vision. This is all very draining, but that's part of being a parent!

Sent from my iPad

On May 18, 2014, at 6:10 PM, Anita Adkins via blindkid <blindkid at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> I found this link, which you may find useful.
> 
> http://nichcy.org/schoolage/parental-rights/disagree
> Anita
> 
> -----Original Message----- From: Marianne Denning via blindkid
> Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2014 6:46 PM
> To: Pui ; Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)
> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Fwd: IEP advice
> 
> I am also talking about the state standards for reading and math for
> all students.  He cannot meet the state standards without braille
> reading and writing, nemeth, and technology.  The braille standards
> are great but they need to be incorporated with the overall
> kindergarten state standards.  The reason for special instruction is
> so he can continue to learn with his sighted peers.  Reading Building
> on Patterns is great, but what if he wants to read a kindergarten
> level print/braille book his peers are reading?  Have you asked
> someone from the local NFB chapter, NOPBC or state chapter to attend
> meetings with you?  They can, often, advocate or offer additional
> advice.
> 
> On 5/18/14, Pui via blindkid <blindkid at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> Sent from my iPad
>> 
>> Begin forwarded message:
>> 
>>> From: Pui <pburmahln at yahoo.com>
>>> Date: May 18, 2014, 1:51:11 PM PDT
>>> To: Chantel Alberhasky <chantel at alberhaskylaw.com>
>>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] IEP advice
>>> 
>>> Thank you everyone for your comments. I appreciate especially the legal
>>> advice. The State of CA does have braille goals for English language and
>>> math, but the latter becomes more exhaustive in first grade. Nonetheless
>>> the goals they proposed for kindergarten are as follows and I believe they
>>> would take more than 90 minutes a week:
>>> 
>>> Goal 1: participate in visual efficiency activities and increase his
>>> attending and tracking skills
>>> Goal 2: read a variety of beginner kindergarten braille books such as the
>>> "pattern series" and read the braille alphabet and 5 one letter
>>> contractions
>>> Goal 3 : use correct finger placement on the brailler and type the
>>> alphabet and the one letter contractions
>>> Goal 4: use 2 hands together and smoothly track across 3 lines if braille
>>> sentences and words and transition to the next line of braille with 60
>>> percent accuracy.
>>> Goal 5 : Identify, read and type the Braille number sign and the Braille
>>> numbers from 0-9 (this is in line with CA state braille standards).
>>> Goal 6: use a computer keyboard and typing software program and will type
>>> all the letters on home row with correct finger placement and posture with
>>> 80 percent accuracy.
>>> I am also proposing that they add goal 7 of having him write basic
>>> kindergarten words in braille per the CA state braille standards I am
>>> reviewing.
>>> 
>>> I believe that having my son read beginner kindergarten braille books
>>> would surely take more than 90 minutes of weekly instruction? What I find
>>> unsettling is that they are not building in IEP time to modify materials,
>>> braille books etc. They say the TVI will do it, he says he will do it, but
>>> I have not seen him do it while my son is at preschool. The TVI spends 30
>>> minutes of direct instruction with him, and then observes him in the
>>> classroom for another 30 minutes. Why can't that time be spent brailling
>>> materials, or adding a braille label to a print label in the class? I
>>> don't mean to micromanage the TVI's time but I feel like he is a little
>>> incompetent. That is why I am willing for a paraprofessional to take over
>>> some of these duties so the TVI can pull back a little after direct
>>> instruction time. I believe the braille provision act under IDEA makes it
>>> clear that students need adequate braille instruction in order to access
>>> FAPE.
>>> 
>>> I don't need 300 minutes of direct braille instruction (I work with my son
>>> at home and this explains the gains he has made in preschool because he
>>> did not initially accept braille). I would be happy to have 150 minutes of
>>> direct braille instruction a week, but I want the other 150 minutes to be
>>> built into the IEP to have his materials modified, have some homework
>>> assigned in braille, complete some classroom assignments in braille and
>>> have them checked etc. I am concerned that they tell me that they can do
>>> all of this but unless that time is ACCOUNTED for in the IEP and signed by
>>> me, then it does not mean a thing.
>>> 
>>> Hope I am making sense. Thanks,
>>> 
>>> Pui
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPad
>>> 
>>> On May 18, 2014, at 11:16 AM, Chantel Alberhasky
>>> <chantel at alberhaskylaw.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> I agree with everyone else that 90 minutes a week is not sufficient but
>>>> we have to remember services are based upon the goals.  In other words,
>>>> goals drive services so if you have low goals, then the service minutes
>>>> can be low allowing the school district to effectively argue only 90
>>>> minutes of Braille instruction is needed to reach said goals.
>>>> 
>>>> If you want 300 a minutes a week of Braille instruction, then the goals
>>>> should be high enough to warrant the 300 minutes of instruction.
>>>> 
>>>> Chantel
>>>> 
>>>> Chantel L. Alberhasky, Esq
>>>> 419 Boonville Avenue
>>>> Springfield, MO 65806
>>>> 417.865.4444
>>>> 
>>>> The Missouri Bar Disciplinary Counsel requires all Missouri attorneys
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>>>> 
>>>> 
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> 
> 
> -- 
> Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
> Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
> (513) 607-6053
> 
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