Thursday, June 10, 2010

And Sometimes You Feel Like You're Selling Out.

Tomorrow is ESY IEP Meeting, Part Two. The purpose of this meeting is to settle what the school intends to do about five weeks of no available programming because they have to wax their floors. And waxed floors are so much more important than educating their students, you know. Must have those floors waxed. Would I be evil if every time I went into school this year, I made a snarky comment about how beautiful the floors look?

The offer is one hour a day for four days a week for two weeks at our OT, in a social skills group. At noon.

I called other parents. I tried to get things moving. We worked to get the school to do something. But the floors won.

So the question comes down to: do I take it, or leave it?

I feel Joey loses either way.

10 comments:

Stimey said...

Dude. I've been super busy lately and unable to do all my blog reading, so this is the first I've heard of this. Are you kidding me? They are canceling ESY because they need to WAX THEIR FLOORS? Haven't they heard of August? I am shocked and appalled and just about ready to contact an attorney on your behalf.

Joeymom said...

Not canceling- not bothering to plan for in the first place. They say they need the entire month of August to wax the floor. That's five weeks of nothing for Joey. Even with the offered two weeks, I'm going to have a two-week stint of nothing. These people have no idea what he's like after winter break. :P

Niksmom said...

Is EVERY school in your district getting the floors done all summer? Why can't they continue the ESY at a different location? (Worth asking?)

Wasn't ESY in his IEP for the year?

Tell them you're going to discuss the situation with a reporter for the local paper. Seriously, they never even PLANNED for ESY? Is Joey the ONLY child in the school/district who needs it (I sincerely doubt it). Apparently, they think it's ok to ignore that silly ol' IDEA, huh?

I'd contact an attorney or, at the very least, an advocate...immediately.

Joeymom said...

ESY gets determined this time of year for our guys, not the beginning of the year; the way Virginia writes the eligibility guides, it is much harder to get ESY at the beginning of an IEP, because you have to have unmet goals at the end of the year.

The excuse for not having it elsewhere is that part of the ESY issue is transitioning to the new school. :(

I mentioned at the meeting that this shouldn't be just a Joey issue, and even contacted parents of other kids I know should be getting ESY. Gotten nowhere. I don't know what those other kids are doing for ESY, most of them seemed to be waiting for the school to call and tell them. You can imagine how far that is getting their kids...

SeaThreePeeO said...

I know how you feel with regards as to do you take it or leave it?

Sometimes it's just so exhausting when you keep fighting and nothing seems to budge.

I have no experience of ESY, but I hope you find a solution

Joeymom said...

It is such a double-edged sword. If I don't take it, and the five weeks of nothing results in the usual behavior and transition troubles, I get blamed for refusing service. If I do take it, and we get the expected similar result because it is not enough service to really make any difference, then we risk them saying ESY is ineffective for him and removing it altogether.

farmwifetwo said...

I can't say I'm surprised about the other parents. I have found, and been told, that those of us that expect services and programs to be done properly are the minority not the majority. Most, get walked over.

I like Niksmom's media idea. Make a stink.

Niksmom said...

I know you won't get this in time for today's meeting (which I hope goes as well as possible), I wonder...Is this the sort of thing which you might be abl to fight with the support of an outside professional. I mean, TECHNICALLY, you don't agree with their placement (non-ESY) and might use the leverage to get an IEE which, most likely, would recommend that Joey needs the consistency of year-round supports?

Just thinking out loud...

stark. raving. mad. mommy. said...

I am in the midst of getting an IEP for my 4-year-old son, who was just diagnosed with mild Asperger. Let's just say that the process of getting the evaluation done in a timely manner required some, um, "prompting" by me. The school district psychologist was awesome, though. Anyway, thank you for sharing your experiences and words of wisdom. I'm gearing up for the ARD meeting.

Unknown said...

That's ridiculous. I can't believe they made no provisions for ESY, nor that they are arguing against using a different location because of transition issues! I'm so sorry, and it sucks that Joey (and the other ESY kids are the ones to lose out). But, my vote goes towards taking the (sub-par) offer, especially since you have advocated for something better. Otherwise, I envision your board potentially throwing your refusal back in your face next time you advocate for something Joey should have.