Going for the Big Guns
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| Mon, 07-31-2006 - 8:09pm |
Well, at long long last we are going for the big guns and calling those lawyers we always knew who they were but we were the lucky ones who never had to use them. But NOW this school and the BOE have messed with the wrong set of parents and the wrong child. We have done everything we are supposed to, ie. calling those day treatment centers for appts. to go look-see, etc. but we will be moving VERY slow. Noone is rushing us at this late stage of the game to stick our beloved son into a program without proving to us for sure that it's the right one, and I am already working on the thorough grilling we will give all prospects --- the schools will have to compete for the privilege! And noone we are interested in has any openings that we know of right now anyways...
Today I set up the appt. for the lawyer meeting, talked over everything in advance, pleading poverty which I have heard if we plead hard enough they will cut us a break. Everyone we have ever worked with is jumping in to help us, past administrators, all his therapists past and present, friends and parents of his friends. I am feeling very supported and loved, almost ready to take on all comers no matter how big. We will definitely be homeschooling until we find EXACTLY the right placement, even if BOE has to create him a program, and lawyer is going to go for BOE-sponsored full tutoring and home outside services until we find that perfect placement.
And then we may very well consider going for damages. I am NOT a happy camper. Mistakes like this, well, let's just say the lawyer we are spending the beaucoups bucks for is a big barracuda... 'Nuff said.
Sara
ilovemalcolm

Good for you Sara,
On the big mistakes the BOE made, are you talking about the bruise, the placement or where there others as well. I know you said they weren't returning calls so I don't know if more stuff came up in the past few days.
Glad you have some good big guns. Good luck to you, DH and malcolm during this time. Have you been keeping him home this whole time after the bruise? What did the doctor say about the bruise (I think you said you were taking him to a doc)
kick tushy!
Renee
Dear Renee,
Well, actually the mistakes are all by the school, although the BOE lost his new IEP, never got to new school or us and they don't know where it is at the moment, I've been calling for months!
Malcolm has been home a few days AND gone in to school a few days last week. There have been no incidences, except I went in to help with a theatre activity at school and apparently said too much to a few teachers and got an email reprimand from the principal. I haven't answered it yet. But geez, all I said was we've been asked to leave and we have nowhere to go! Oh, well.
Malcolm has been relaxing. I took him camping over the weekend with a few other families. Daddy took him flying one day, Daddy has several levels of licenses for flying planes but hasn't been going much lately so they both enjoyed that. All Malcolm's pals are in school or camp so playdates have been a little slim, also Mommy and Daddy are so tired. He stayed home from school yesterday and went adventuring around the City with a grownup friend. 4 more days of school, I may keep him home Thurs as I have very few clients that day. And Friday, his last day, one of my old acting company is coming to teach storytelling to his class, then we are bugging out of there. And on to 2 weeks of theatre camp.
Doctor said the bruise was a deep one and was definitely from being restrained. And we have photos, so we are prepared if we need to use this. Who knows moving forward. I don't want our lives embroiled in lawsuits, but am willing to listen to the lawyers after all this, and they are experts in NYC BOE special ed, etc.
The best piece of advice as far as I am concerned is to take our time, look at schools in a leisurely way, get tutoring, relax. Thank you, I am swamped and exhausted and this is no way to raise a child! I need rest and a clear head here, so does dh. So much to do before leaving Sat., but I am very excited to be going.
yours,
Sara
good for you, Sara!
I have nothing to add but my cyber support! I hope everything goes well and the perfect placement is found for Malcolm and it is all smooth getting there.
Betsy
Sara, I am overwhelmed for you.
Go get em Tiger!
i'm rooting for you guys. good luck!!!!
Samantha
Sara,
You go after the BOE. Good luck and I am sure things will go the way you want.
Thanks to you and the info you provided me I was able to get things going for Everett's IEP.
No better woman than you Sara.
Beat them sensless,
visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com