Oklahoma IEP students parent’s can make change for better in March 2018

Parents, and the public, can submit “public comment” through to the OK special education department at this webpage:  http://sde.ok.gov/sde/administrative-rules

This is a little known process that makes a huge difference in how the state’s education department operates and administers regulations over local school districts.

If you believe there are flaws in the special ed regulations, this is the opportunity to point it out!  March 19 is the last day to submit!

Some districts are difficult to work with, and make it difficult for parents to navigate.  Parents can take more control!   That’s where the advocates at The IEP Center ™ can help. We help parents over the phone, and, often in one hour empower the parent!   Don’t let another semester go by with a child struggling needlessly;   Set a phone consult at   www.theiepcenter.com 

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We help parents at low-cost.  We help parents prepare for school meetings and also go to mediation and IEP meetings with parents.  Go to our website to set a telephone consult.  http://bit.ly/iepconsult

Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC dba The IEP Center™ provides information to parents regarding the problems of children with disabilities. We are civil rights advocates.  Nothing in this blog is to be considered legal advice.  We are not attorneys and do not give advice.  We do not represent parents or children.  Consult an attorney.

 

©2018 Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC dba The IEP Center™

Oklahoma student to repeat first grade; learning disabilities unaddressed

Parents call me describing how they have tried to get the public school to help their child for YEARS!  Usually they talk to staff at the school who brushes off the parent with comments like “he’ll grow out of it”, “wait and see“, or “we’ll test the kids in the fall”.  Then years pass and the student is so far behind and frustrated resulting in emotional and social issues becoming a problem.

Parents who suspect a child is struggling at public school need to communicate it in writing or e-mail to the special ed director. As a result, many schools will then include the child in use of interventions.  If after a few weeks of intervention no progress is indicated, a parent should insist and request a comprehensive evaluation in all areas of suspected disability.  The public school district usually is required to perform testing when checking for “suspected disability” (sometimes schools will lead the parent to believe it’s the parent’s responsibility).   A reasonable person would believe that a school district would know to do these things without the parents insistence!

Some districts are difficult to work with, and make it difficult for parents to navigate.  Parents can take more control!   That’s where the advocates at The IEP Center ™ can help. We help parents over the phone, and, often in one hour empower the parent!   Don’t let another semester go by with a child struggling needlessly;   Set a phone consult at   www.theiepcenter.com 

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We help parents at low-cost.  We help parents prepare for school meetings and also go to mediation and IEP meetings with parents.  Go to our website to set a telephone consult.

Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC dba The IEP Center™ provides information to parents regarding the problems of children with disabilities. We are civil rights advocates.  Nothing in this blog is to be considered legal advice.  We are not attorneys and do not give advice.  We do not represent parents or children.  Consult an attorney.

 

©2016 Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC dba The IEP Center™

Wandering child needs tracking device Oklahoma

Parent is fearful student will leave the school grounds.  Parent has mentioned lack of fence around playground to the school officials.  Student lacks ability to be aware of risks of walking away and will go readily with strangers.

Parents are now using tracking devices and one now has real-time tracking (viewed on smart phone, device or desktop).  The emitter can be easily affixed inside the child’s pants pocket and can only be removed by the parent who has the magnetic key. Also, a feature includes “listen” to hear what is going on!

Operates on GPS as well as cell services.

Imagine the tragedies this will avoid!

bit.ly/trackmyangel

Special Ed Law Anniversary Oklahoma

Today in 1975 the Individual with Disabilities Education Act was signed into law.  Parents worked to get it passed through Congress.  It is a funding law; that is, monies go to states to provide services to eligible school children.  However, federal dollars currently do not cover the entire costs of educating our children with special needs.  State and local monies usually provide the bulk of the costs of educating our children.

This law opened doors of public schools to our children who previously sat at home without schooling. 

Although the front doors are open in Kindergarten, the back door is also open for some students. Schools sometimes don’t know how to educate our kids who have behavior challenges as part of the disability.  Students are suspended and parents are not told of options, or parents feel pressured to withdraw the student or homeschool.  Many students are “drop-outs”.  Administrators act as though they are shocked when accused of these “forced dropout” scenarios.

Congress was wise to include in the IDEA avenues for parents and schools to resolve conflict; especially mediation.  Mediation can be held within a month and often resolves disagreements so that the child can get appropriate services.

We help parents at low-cost.  We help parents prepare for school meetings and also go to school meetings with parents.  Visit our website at   theiepcenter.com

Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC dba The IEP Center™ provides information to parents regarding the problems of children with disabilities. We have special knowledge about the children with disabilities. We are civil rights advocates.

We are not attorneys and do not give advice.  We are not licensed to practice law.  Consult an attorney.  Legal info can be found at wrightslaw.com

©2016 Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC dba The IEP Center

Oklahoma school sends student with autism home without IEP meeting

Elementary principal called the mother multiple times, over several weeks,  to pick up child since child misbehaving. Mom complies and loses her job. School did not offer to have IEP meeting to address issues.

Parents often need to work to examine the public school system to see if  isn’t providing schooling that addresses the needs’ of the child.  Passing grades doesn’t necessarily mean your child is learning.  Delays in addressing these issues may make it worse for the student.

Many services are available today for our children and often the school won’t pursue them.  It’s up to the parent to request them!   Many teachers secretly desire for parents to request services for the child!  Parents need to set the “tone” of the relationship with the school early on.

Visit bit.ly/iepconsult to set phone consult today!

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Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC dba The IEP Center™ provides information to parents regarding the problems of children with disabilities.  We are not attorneys and do not give advice. We do not represent anyone.  Consult an attorney.

We help parents at low-cost.  Delay works against our kids.

©2016 Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC dba The IEP Center™

Student with dyslexia needs tested by Oklahoma public school

Parent has mentioned several times to school staff over the years how the child has dyslexia; the school responds with “we’ll do strategies to help him” and “we’ll wait and see how he does”.

The US Dept of Education clarified to states and school districts’ their obligation to not ignore parents who indicate dyslexia:

http://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/memosdcltrs/guidance-on-dyslexia-10-2015.pdf

Advocates at the IEP Center™ can share with parents strategies on how to deal with scenarios like this.  Schools may be reluctant to develop an IEP for your child since it might require a specialist to spend time with your child which increases the school expenses.  Don’t be bamboozled! 

To contact an advocate by e-mail at theIEPCenter™, complete the form below.  SEPAL advocates can go to school (IEP) meetings with parents.

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Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC dba The IEP Center are advocates who provide information about the problem of children with disabilites.  We are not attorneys, do not represent anyone, and do not give legal advice.  Consult an attorney.

©2016  Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC

IEP teachers don’t understand learning style of student

High school student who has attended for years in the district started the fall at a new building where hundreds of students attend. The student is complex and has special needs’. Student was doing well academically previous year but now has some failing grades and hates school.

The assertive parent requested an IEP meeting where the parent learned that the teachers’ didn’t understand the child’s disability and expected the student to fit their mold. One of these teacher’s even needed “more time” to get to know the student!  These same teachers devised a “new” plan to attempt to make it work again in their building; however, it’s doubtful the student will entertain the thought.

Parents in Oklahoma who need help dealing with the public school for their child with an IEP can consult with a professional special education advocate at The IEP Center™.; call 405 697 0800   Advocates also help parents when the parent wants an advocate to go to a meeting at the school with them!  Never go alone.

Parents often need to work to make sure the public school system isn’t providing schooling that addresses the needs’ of the child.  Passing grades doesn’t necessarily mean your child is learning.  Delays in addressing these issues may make it worse for the student.

Visit bit.ly/iepconsult to set phone consult today!

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Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC dba The IEP Center provides information to parents regarding the problems of children with disabilities.  We are not attorneys and do not give advice.  Consult an attorney.

We help parents at low-cost.  Delay works against our kids.

©2015 Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC

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Student not required to attend IEP meeting in Oklahoma

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Parents do not have to have the IEP student present in IEP meetings unless the student is age 18.  However students are expected to participate at age 16 to prepare for transition to adulthood.

Carefully ponder if the student needs to be in the meeting.  This can be a disheartening experience for a student who struggles in school, and who has not been understood by school staff. Sometimes such student will inadvertently undermine the efforts of the parent in the IEP meeting.

Advocates at the iep center help parents solve IEP problems by providing information so they can advocate for the child with special needs.  Don’t be bamboozled!  Waiting and hoping for problems to go away allows our children to regress.  Hoping the problem will go away will only delay getting the problem addressed.  Parents are the advocate for their child’s student rights in Oklahoma City.

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We help parents at low-cost.  We help parents prepare for school meetings and also go to mediation and IEP meetings with parents.

Copyright 2015 ©Special Education Parents Advocacy Link LLC

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©2018 Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC dba The IEP Center provides information to parents regarding the problems of children with disabilities.  We are not attorneys and do not give advice.  Consult an attorney.

Beware of homebound offer for IEP student

Some students who are eligible for special education services and have IEPs have behaviors that may be considered by some as violent.  These students are often a challenge for a school district to provide the appropriate program.

A parent may be told the student is so violent that the school district cannot educate the student and homebound is mentioned.  Left out of this conversation could be that the school needs to find a program that is appropriate for this child and place and transport the child there.  Many outside programs exist for students with extreme needs.

Such “Outside placement” can be costly for the school district.  Perhaps that’s why it isn’t mentioned to parents?

More school districts continue to mention homebound as a way to force the parent to “take it or leave it” when the district wants the student to fit into their system and not provide accommodations/modifications.  Uninformed parents get trampled; some lose jobs and marriages over this scenario.  After all, homebound is often provided at public libraries for only a few hours each week–nothing compared to a full school week.

Advocates at the iep center help parents solve IEP problems by providing information so they can advocate for the child with special needs.  Don’t be bamboozled!  Waiting and hoping for problems to go away allows our children to regress.  Hoping the problem will go away will only delay getting the problem addressed.

sign up for ezine:  bit.ly/IEPezine

Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC dba The IEP Center™ provides information to parents regarding the problems of children with disabilities.  We are not attorneys and do not give advice.  Consult an attorney.

We help parents at low-cost.  We help parents prepare for school meetings and also go to mediation and IEP meetings with parents.

Contact an advocate below:

Name(required)

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age of child/disability

struggles at the school(required)

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If child not attending school, why?

Parent phone numbers

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©2014 Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC dba The IEP Center™

Oklahoma parents can push the system at the school

Half the school year is over.  Some districts use a model where a student with an IEP may be seen by several teachers/staff in a week.  However, with large class sizes and the stretching of teachers by administration, our kid might be slighted.

Sometimes change is slow within the school building.  The “wait and see” attitude may be the unspoken motto in the building.  This works against the window of opportunity for our kids with IEPs.  If you have learned recently that other ways are being “tried“, perhaps what was used earlier in the school year proved unbeneficial for our kids. And, the politics in the building shouldn’t effect our child.

Parents can inquire about the programming their child receives, or SHOULD be receiving.  Check with staff to make sure they are  doing  what they are obligated to do in the IEP.  If you feel you are not getting a straight answer from a staff person, ask within an “official” IEP meeting.  An IEP meeting is one forum where a parent should get the legitimate information from the school. But prepare in advance!! There are many preparations parents need to know about and we can help.

Some building principals, who may be at wits end, allow children to go home with parents when the student has behaviors when a behavior-specialist is not readily available. This is not promoting appropriate programming.

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We are not attorneys and do not give legal advice. We do not represent children or parents. We are information related to the problems of children with disabilities.  Consult an attorney.

©2018 Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC dba The IEP Center