Home Services are Back...

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2004
Home Services are Back...
5
Fri, 03-28-2008 - 4:42pm

So, in the continuing saga of Malcolm being home schooled, at least a dot of bright news, the City of New York has offered for us to get our OT, Speech and Play Therapy returned immediately until the end of the school year. I am contacting our therapists, with whom we have already had goodbye sessions, to tell them they can come back to work and will get paid. This is a settlement so that we will withdraw our Impartial Hearing (which the City DOE knows they would lose). This doesn't mean I can't file for another Hearing if we don't get services for next Fall, though...

There IS legislation pending that will reinstate and protect these services in NY State and we should hear about a vote about that fairly soon, as well. So, so far, so good. That letter writing campaign may have really gotten some attention, as we hear there is good reception for the Bill waiting for sure in the State Senate and certainly with much of the Assembly, so we'll see...

But now once again, we have another year of applying to schools where we have not received an appropriate acceptance, so we are indeed looking at another year of homeschooling. That is not to say that we hate homeschooling, oh no, Malcolm is doing very well and thriving, and now that we are getting to know people and kids in the extensive NYC homeschooling community, doors are opening for us to do even better this next year, now that we know for sure that we will be homeschooling another year. Cliff and I just have to keep working on finances, distribution of labour, etc. so Malcolm's parents have a better year next year!!!!!!

I think we will be looking into online academies some, seeing if we can add to his independence from Mom and Dad. And we have signed him up for more homeschooling classes now, he starts a class on famous artists and painting in different styles, and another in zoo-keeping at the Central Park Zoo, that start next week.

That's all the news, thanks to those NY moms who wrote in, and if anyone still wants to still do so, the Call to Action is still up at LEAH.org under /specialneeds and sample letters and addresses are there to be accessed.

yours,

Sara

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-05-2003
Fri, 03-28-2008 - 4:57pm
That's wonderful!!
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Fri, 03-28-2008 - 5:58pm

oh YAY! I know the war is not yet won, but at least you have a breather, and Malcolm will have services. Well done you guys!

Keep us in the loop with stuff, OK?

-Paula


visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
Avatar for betz67
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 03-28-2008 - 6:01pm

wooohooo, one battle won! and I'm glad to know you have a definite plan for next fall, it's easier to plan when you know what to expect. I hope it goes very well for the parents of Malcolm!

Betsy

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-28-2008
Fri, 03-28-2008 - 7:48pm

Wonderful news. Too bad you had to push the issue to win them over, but take what you can get, huh? Best of luck for the coming school year.

Drea

Andrea, mom to

Graham
Miles
Anson
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-28-2007
Fri, 03-28-2008 - 7:54pm

YEEEEEEE HAAAAWWWWWW!!!

I knew you'd scare them straight!!!!!

Dee

(still beamin' for ya!)

Spring sig 2008


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