Have any of you experienced problems with the schools after extended absence? My high school daughter has missed 2 months (she came down with aseptic meningitis and with the IGg has had lasting problems) - they want to strip her of all but 3 core classes, although she had tested into a special tech program. Last year she was able to complete all work independently over the summer but they don't want that to happen again. If anyone has knowledge as to laws/rights protecting students with chronic illness, PLEASE send the info my way. THANk you.

I would like to be able to talk to you off list - but your email address is hidden. Yes, there is protection for your daughter. Call the school, and ask to immediately have a 504 meeting under "ohi" which means, other health impaired. Then, go to wrightslaw.com and www.edu.gov and start reading up on the 504 plans. You can call IDF and ask them to send you their "Guide for School Personel." I am assuming you are in the US - which you may not be... so if you are not, this information will not be valid - however, in the US - this is universal. You daughter may be able to get an IEP - as her illness may be impacting her ability to learn, but a 504 would be quicker to get. I would also call her doctors and get letters from them ASAP - ask them to include everything you think the school is not addressing - extended illness, any accomidations that need to be made (for my son, it's a water bottle in the classroom, never denied access to a rest room, tutors after a specific number of days missed, if you email me I'll tell you the rest)

Hang in there.


my email address is fladfam@cox.net - and I can connect you with some other parents who have fought this battle for their kids.

Dayna

I am a veteran of the special ed wars in the U.S. since my son and daughter were gifted/ld. It's hard to understand what is motivating this response at your child's high school, but I think it may have to do with receiving state funds based upon days of attendance, which is the way state payments are calculated where I live. Since your daughter has missed so much school, the district may not be able to get as much state funding unless they hold her back and have her start these classes over. You can successfully resist without being agressive. We got excellent results from our school once we hired an attorney to attend the Individual Education Program planning meeting with school district personnel. The attorney we hired represented a neighboring school district in special education matters for children with disabilities, so he knew his stuff backwards and forwards. The school district personnel did not, so after their comments during the meeting virtually incriminated the district, we were able to secure all the consessions we wanted. A bit pricey, but worth it since it created incentives for the administrators to work with us. If it is the case that the school district's state funding will be reduced unless they hold her back, you can always allude to this motivation in a letter you write requesting that she be allowed to complete the courses at home with or without a home instructor paid for by the school. The school district will not want that come out in the documents for an "adminitrative hearing" in which the issue is the best interests of the child since it is clearly in the best interest of the child to keep up with her classmates even though she is ill. If you are in the U.S., there will probably be a state non-profit agency funded by the federal govt whose charge is to assist individuals with disabilities. The agency will be have attorneys and case workers on staff that you can have assist you at no charge. If they agree to take your case. Your State Board of Education should be able to provide you with an 800 phone number and other contact information. Your State legislator will be able to lean on the State Board of Education if the problem appears to be coming from them. Find out which house of the state government controls school finance and contact the presiding officer of that chamber of your state legislature. Violations of Public Law 94-142 result in cutting off ALL federal funding for the local school responsible for them. Schools are heavily funded by the federal government, so the person who controls the legislative body will want to make sure there are no "issues" that would allow the federal government to cut funding for the state schools. You will find a political ally there, probably. In our state, the State constitution mandates that the State fund the public schools. It accepts all the federal dollars it can get, but if the feds cut funding for a local school the school won't close. The STate will have to keep sending checks to keep it open.

Hope this helps.

Ankaw