Now they take away our Home Services 2!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2004
Now they take away our Home Services 2!!
12
Thu, 01-10-2008 - 11:08am

They don't have an angry enough icon here. After everything else, changing schools several times because Ds is too unusual and schools/services so badly handled that nowhere works out for him OR has any room in the program ... then when we pull him in crisis from yet another school, there is a mandate for no interim home services while we look yet again so we would HAVE to leave him in inappropriate, unsafe school ... SO of course we pull him from the system and spend MONTHS fighting beaurocracies to get him speech, hours of OT, behavioral counseling owed him on IEP and create a homeschool program (insurance covers nothing, so this is important). We find good therapists and that is a great help but every step with DOE takes months and months of inept bookkeeping, etc.

NOW today I find out the New York State is taking away home special ed services for homeschoolers because IDEA isn't clear enough on this point, NY state law doesn't treat homeschoolers as private students so they get no money from feds, and there is no law in State protecting services, so Regents Board just voted them away. I can't speak. I am sitting here shuddering in rage.

We just finished new neuropsych testing, thinking to reapply to private schools for Fall to the very small handful of schools that were interested but had no room or right placement available for Ds last year, but AS WE KNOW, there is no guarantee that we will find a placement, we certainly didn't last year and things get worse here as kids get older. I've almost had it with this country. The idiocy, the idiocy.

Can't write more,

Sara

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-28-2007
Thu, 01-10-2008 - 11:15am

OMG,

(((SARA))))

What ever happened to FAPE???? This smacks of just another ploy from NY state to cut back on services by attacking the home schoolers??? It's terrifying that in the 21st century in the Western world our children are still the first to be shafted. Hugs to you girlfriend. I hope the outrage among the home schooled population can get a grassroots opposition going.

Dee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Thu, 01-10-2008 - 11:39am

Sara,


This is unbelievable and I am just speechless.


Can you guys go public with this? I can't believe the NY Times or some of the local broadcast news wouldn't cover this story.


-Paula

-Paula

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2006
Thu, 01-10-2008 - 11:42am

I would DEFINETLY go public with this.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-29-2004
Thu, 01-10-2008 - 1:32pm

Sara,


Avatar for betz67
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 01-10-2008 - 2:41pm

oh my goodness, this is incredible! why on earth?!?

I know that NYC is a different world when it comes to the education system, but here if a child is unable to attend school and a suitable placement is not found the school district sends a tutor for the child and the therapists come to the child. It's usually a stop gap thing until the child is able to attend public school again, but I know a family who received this type of services for their son for 3 years due to anxiety issues. The child could NOT attend school due to severe anxiety. They worked w/ a psychiatrist who wrote a report (and came to a meeting even) stating that the child could not attend school until he had is panic attacks under control. FAPE was the key here. They had to fight to get it but having the psychiatrist appear at the meeting sealed it for them.

Betsy

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2004
Thu, 01-10-2008 - 4:01pm

Anandhir,

I'll look further into this, but as far as I know, New York State also doesn't recognize online homeschool academies, 'cuz we looked into that. We would have to do that from PA (where we do have a little vacation house) and switch everything to PA, including our taxes and home address, then sadly we would have to find all new therapists, etc., 'cuz it would have to be PA therapists and practically move there. The problem is : New York State is disallowing ALL homeschooling special ed services. This is on a State level, not a City one. that should include ANY homeschool situation, but I will check!

Is K - 12.com expensive?

Sara

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2006
Thu, 01-10-2008 - 4:39pm

Sara,


I would consider going over to the Spec Ed board and ask Stephanie about this.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Thu, 01-10-2008 - 4:40pm

Hi Sara..


I just got the email from the AHA/PDD group talking about what you were saying. I will be honest it was very confusing to read to say the least. I would go to a lawyer or an advovacy group to see if they can translate exactly what this piece of legistlation is saying.

Some of it is saying yes they will cover the services, some parts is leading it in the other direction. As said it was very confusing.


But the one line it was saying is that they feel in a Homeschool set up the parents tend to do everything more or less above and beyond what any IEP can do. You as the parent will be more adept at setting up what workes best for your child. IE.. more time when taking tests.. More speaking and talking with some stuff rather than written..


I don't know if that is what they are basing the whole thing on. And I am not sure if the outside stuff.. Speech OT and all were included in this. As said it was very confusing to read. So maybe we need to go to an expert who can well translate it better. I don't doubt NYS is trying to screw around... I am sure if they go fo rthe homeschoolers first they wil try to cut back on the rest of us.


Huggs and good luck


Rina

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-16-2006
Thu, 01-10-2008 - 4:42pm

Sara I am completely dumb founded over here.............I would go public with this....Your son has that owed to him and if you don't advocate for him.....no one will.


I'm sending your postitive thoughts....hang in there


Nora

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-22-2003
Thu, 01-10-2008 - 4:59pm

Don't take this the wrong way Sara- but every time I think my school district and/or state

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