Friday, December 7, 2007
We won?
We got word from our attorney a couple of days ago that the Department of Education's CSE agreed to settle, so there's no need for an impartial hearing next week. It's a great relief but still seems unreal...
Monday, December 3, 2007
Impartial Hearing Date Looms
I suppose I should be more diligent about posting in this blog, but the main purpose was to have all of the information we've learned over the past two years of battling with the Dept of Ed to teach our son to read in one place so that other parents could benefit from it and know the hoops they'll be forced to jump through.
The date of our "impartial hearing" with the Dept of Ed has been set for Dec. 13, less than 2 weeks away. We've been told that 90% of the time they're postponed because the Dept isn't prepared. Parents can't help but be prepared, logging each conversation they've had with an official, each meeting, each ineffective educational program that was implemented, each doctor's appointment. We have quite an arsenal of information compiled, half a file cabinet drawer's worth. We've also been told that the Dept of Ed often settles out of court and makes an offer. We have to figure out what our tipping point is because it's rarely 100% reimbursement, and then there are attorney's fees and non-covered medical expenses like neuropsychologist evaluation fees. Sure, they are tax-deductible and they put you into a lower tax bracket but you rarely recoup what you put in.
It's a question you have to ask yourself: If my child were sick and needed surgery or expensive meds, wouldn't I do anything to help them? It's the same with a LD. The figures are staggering, the number of people with LDs who have criminal records are something like 40%. Sure you hear about people like Einstein and Cher, who have "made it" in their respective fields. But not much press is given to the bad boys like Sammy "The Bull" Gravano, who supposedly turned to crime because he was made fun of and brawn was an easier tactic for him than learning how to use his brains.
It still astounds me that there are no schools in the NY public school system geared for dyslexics and kids with other language-based learning disabilities. The private schools seem to do such a great job. You can't tell me it's more cost-effective to have to force parents to take you to court in order to educate their kids with different learning-styles. There are entire schools for autistic kids and kids with behavioral problems. We have friends whose children are attending them and were offered spots by the Dept of Ed without a two year battle. Why not schools for those with LBLDs? Why isn't the Orton-Gillingham reading program implemented throughout the Dept of Ed; it's successful with kids with LBLDs and those without. It's more expensive to train teachers in Orton-Gillingham and the training is more intensive but isn't it more cost-effective and learning-effective in the long run?
The date of our "impartial hearing" with the Dept of Ed has been set for Dec. 13, less than 2 weeks away. We've been told that 90% of the time they're postponed because the Dept isn't prepared. Parents can't help but be prepared, logging each conversation they've had with an official, each meeting, each ineffective educational program that was implemented, each doctor's appointment. We have quite an arsenal of information compiled, half a file cabinet drawer's worth. We've also been told that the Dept of Ed often settles out of court and makes an offer. We have to figure out what our tipping point is because it's rarely 100% reimbursement, and then there are attorney's fees and non-covered medical expenses like neuropsychologist evaluation fees. Sure, they are tax-deductible and they put you into a lower tax bracket but you rarely recoup what you put in.
It's a question you have to ask yourself: If my child were sick and needed surgery or expensive meds, wouldn't I do anything to help them? It's the same with a LD. The figures are staggering, the number of people with LDs who have criminal records are something like 40%. Sure you hear about people like Einstein and Cher, who have "made it" in their respective fields. But not much press is given to the bad boys like Sammy "The Bull" Gravano, who supposedly turned to crime because he was made fun of and brawn was an easier tactic for him than learning how to use his brains.
It still astounds me that there are no schools in the NY public school system geared for dyslexics and kids with other language-based learning disabilities. The private schools seem to do such a great job. You can't tell me it's more cost-effective to have to force parents to take you to court in order to educate their kids with different learning-styles. There are entire schools for autistic kids and kids with behavioral problems. We have friends whose children are attending them and were offered spots by the Dept of Ed without a two year battle. Why not schools for those with LBLDs? Why isn't the Orton-Gillingham reading program implemented throughout the Dept of Ed; it's successful with kids with LBLDs and those without. It's more expensive to train teachers in Orton-Gillingham and the training is more intensive but isn't it more cost-effective and learning-effective in the long run?
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