How many nights are you tossing and turning because you’re worried about what is happening at your child’s school? You probably have questions buzzing around in your head and you can’t get your mind to turn off. I know I’ve been there. Done that.
As a professional advocate I have many parents email me, call me, or post questions on my Facebook page. This is a good thing. You need to speak up and ask your questions and you need to have a reliable source to get your answers from.
I’m honored that so many parents have come to know and trust me. If you’re new to this blog post, I’m Charmaine Thaner, a parent, advocate and retired teacher.
Here are some recent questions I was asked:
Answer: I tell parents, that’s the ‘ole Broken Record strategy they are using. When someone uses the Broken Record strategy you are usually only hearing them repeat their “position” over and over again. When that happens, there are 6 things parents can do.
In my book, The Art of Advocacy: A Parent’s Guide to a Collaborative IEP Process, Chapter 6 explains those 6 things to do. You can get the Kindle version on Amazon for just 99¢. http://amzn.to/2k9Rj8r
Parents need to see below the tip of the iceberg to understand the need the school is trying to get met. It’s so frustrating to have to do so much just to get our kids the education they deserve! The good news, there are things you can do in this situation.
Answer:
First, did you get a copy of the new state regulation? If not, send an email and ask for a copy of the regulation. Whenever, you hear, That’s against our policy, or we can’t do that because of our state regs, or you may hear that’s not possible under the federal law, ask for a copy of it.
Sometimes there is no written policy or regulation. If there is a written policy or regulation it will be helpful for you or an advocate to read it carefully and understand what it means.
Second: A school can’t just say your child isn’t eligible for special education. There would need be some additional testing done and an IEP meeting would need to be held to see if your child is still eligible. If your child still has a disability that impacts their education (not just academics) and requires them to receive specialized instruction then your child is still eligible for special education services and supports.
Answer: First see if you can figure out why your child hates using the iPad or other technology. Does using technology match his/her learning style? If not, this may be why he/she doesn’t want to use it.
Can he/she easily get on the iPad and navigate to where he/she needs to be? You think most kids know how to use the iPad and are very adept at doing so. But there are students who have difficulty with using iPads or other technology. Don’t assume everyone knows how to use electronic devices.
Some students may need to use a checklist – it could be a written list of each small step to take, or a recording of the steps to follow.
Answer: What I’ve learned to do when I see someone rolling their eyes at me, is to politely say, “I see you rolling your eyes. Could you tell us what you’re thinking? After you ask the question, pause, and wait for that person to answer. I think it is helpful to make a non-judgmental statement of what you see and ask politely, for an explanation of the body language you observe.
If you have questions that you’ve been wanting to ask an advocate, post them on my Facebook page www.facebook.com/VisionsandVoicesTogetherand I’ll answer your question!
Keep speaking up and out for your child! Tune in next Thursday evening, February 9th at 7:00pm Mountain Time for my next Facebook live show! And remember, I’m also available for free 30 minute phone consultation. Just email me Charmaine@cspeda.comand we’ll set up a time to talk.
AN AMAZING HANDBOOK FOR PARENTS!
Every parent with a special needs child understands the complexity of the IEP process. Sometimes it can be overwhelming and lonely. In this book, Thaner provides simple and important details about how to advocate for your child during an IEP while avoiding overwhelm. She definitely brings a rare level of expertise that is not seen in many other books out there. This book is a steal for this price, so do not hesitate to get your copy TODAY!!
How many nights are you tossing and turning because you’re worried about what is happening at your child’s school? You probably have questions buzzing around in your head and you can’t get your mind to turn off. I know I’ve been there. Done that.
As a professional advocate I have many parents email me, call me, or post questions on my Facebook page. This is a good thing. You need to speak up and ask your questions and you need to have a reliable source to get your answers from.
I’m honored that so many parents have come to know and trust me. If you’re new to this blog post, I’m Charmaine Thaner, a parent, advocate and retired teacher.
Here are some recent questions I was asked:
Answer: I tell parents, that’s the ‘ole Broken Record strategy they are using. When someone uses the Broken Record strategy you are usually only hearing them repeat their “position” over and over again. When that happens, there are 6 things parents can do.
In my book, The Art of Advocacy: A Parent’s Guide to a Collaborative IEP Process, Chapter 6 explains those 6 things to do. You can get the Kindle version on Amazon for just 99¢. http://amzn.to/2k9Rj8r
Parents need to see below the tip of the iceberg to understand the need the school is trying to get met. It’s so frustrating to have to do so much just to get our kids the education they deserve! The good news, there are things you can do in this situation.
Answer:
First, did you get a copy of the new state regulation? If not, send an email and ask for a copy of the regulation. Whenever, you hear, That’s against our policy, or we can’t do that because of our state regs, or you may hear that’s not possible under the federal law, ask for a copy of it.
Sometimes there is no written policy or regulation. If there is a written policy or regulation it will be helpful for you or an advocate to read it carefully and understand what it means.
Second: A school can’t just say your child isn’t eligible for special education. There would need be some additional testing done and an IEP meeting would need to be held to see if your child is still eligible. If your child still has a disability that impacts their education (not just academics) and requires them to receive specialized instruction then your child is still eligible for special education services and supports.
Answer: First see if you can figure out why your child hates using the iPad or other technology. Does using technology match his/her learning style? If not, this may be why he/she doesn’t want to use it.
Can he/she easily get on the iPad and navigate to where he/she needs to be? You think most kids know how to use the iPad and are very adept at doing so. But there are students who have difficulty with using iPads or other technology. Don’t assume everyone knows how to use electronic devices.
Some students may need to use a checklist – it could be a written list of each small step to take, or a recording of the steps to follow.
Answer: What I’ve learned to do when I see someone rolling their eyes at me, is to politely say, “I see you rolling your eyes. Could you tell us what you’re thinking? After you ask the question, pause, and wait for that person to answer. I think it is helpful to make a non-judgmental statement of what you see and ask politely, for an explanation of the body language you observe.
If you have questions that you’ve been wanting to ask an advocate, post them on my Facebook page www.facebook.com/VisionsandVoicesTogetherand I’ll answer your question!
Keep speaking up and out for your child! Tune in next Thursday evening, February 9th at 7:00pm Mountain Time for my next Facebook live show! And remember, I’m also available for free 30 minute phone consultation. Just email me Charmaine@cspeda.comand we’ll set up a time to talk.
