We got the official letter from Edd today, the Director of Student Services. Ths is the letter that takes two pages to say "f&*# you." The OT is supposed to meet with my OT and I and "collaborate" on a sensory plan for Joey. Like my private OT works for free, or that we can come up with a single plan, and it is all done. And all of this is supposed to be a "good faith effort" on the part of the school. Like they 've all suddenly had a religious conversion and can now handle sensory issues like professionals. Oh, and I'm supposed to meet privately for "coffee" with the woman who thinks my child needs no summer service, has no coordination issues, and shouldn't have gum because it is "against school rules." Yes. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.
Oh, and it thanks us for being such wonderful advocates for our child. Right. If I'm such a wonderful advocate, why isn't Joey getting an appropriate education? Or rather, why is the free part of that education not appropriate? Because, quite frankly, I suck.
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Do you have an advocate yet? I know that they cost money, but they're less expensive than a lawyer, and can sometimes help to keep the school system honest (not that they'd ever try to be otherwise...).
Since you are going to have to pay for your advocate, you should be able to tell them when it is convenient for you, your OT, and your advocate to meet. A lot of this is a power play game (you wouldn't think that educators would place politics over our children's education, would you?).
I'm supposed to meet privately for "coffee" with the woman who thinks my child needs no summer service, has no coordination issues, and shouldn't have gum because it is "against school rules." Yes. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.
This is school speak for "We really want to steamroll you, and don't want an official record of doing so." We solve this during trying times with a tape recorder and/or an advocate being present. We then follow up with a registered letter detailing what was discussed and what is going to happen when. If/when they complain, we just say that "We always think it's a good idea to have clear communication."
Oh, and it thanks us for being such wonderful advocates for our child.
Hah! That's school speak for "Please don't go out and hire an advocate or a lawyer, it's so much easier to roll right over you if you're alone.
Good luck. I know this is a hard time for you. It sounds all too familiar to what we went thru last year. Just remember that we are marathoners, in it for the long haul. We have the tenacity to hang in there and wear them down. They have numbers and money, but no one is more invested in Joey doing well than you are. And no one knows him as well as you do.
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