Okay, this is my final post on strategies used to deter parents and advocates. Today’s timely topic: Confusion
I received an email today from a mother seemingly beside herself with confusion. She didn’t understand the technical differences between options offered to her by the school district regarding IEP’s and 504 plans for her child. She wasn’t sure if what the district told her was 100% accurate (regarding alternate options she has). There’s more to the story, but you see where I’m going… she was feeling very confused.
If you’ve read my past three posts then consider this situation, which pulls them all together:
- Parent requests alternate placement due to child’s having difficulty in school
- District says there isn’t any alternate classrooms (refusal and rigidity)
- Parents asks if child’s academic delay qualifies them for an IEP or extra support
- District says – not sure, will investigate and evaluate; this is a unique situation (isolation)
- District suggests parent should begin working on child’s delay by doing more at home (role-reversal)
- Parent receives forms, evaluations, scoring sheets, observation charts, a packet of legal mumble-jumble, a letter about a meeting, test-scores with results that are meaningless to parent and at the end – the parent is asked to give their opinion and either agree or disagree by “returning the enclosed consent form”. (confusion?)
Personally, I relate to, and see the opportunity for, confusion everywhere. My heart goes out to families with children that have just recently been diagnosed, as I remember how challenging it was to begin learning how the world of special education operates. This is why it’s so important to know policy, procedure, the law and your rights.
Use your State department of education materials and web-site, utilized WrightsLaw and your local advocacy centers also. This way, when you are in a new situation you at least have a road map and a reference to guide you.
Another nugget of advice: do not accept what the district (or other entity) tells you as the absolute truth. Remember, they are employees and have the interest of their employer in mind; not you or your child (yes, there are wonderful, amazing folks that do – I’m speaking generally).
Investigate your options and rights before you proceed to put yourself in a better position to advocate, so the next time you are misinformed or uninformed by a professional you can quickly educate them!
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