Is there a large no. of parents who feel that the I.E.P. committee discounts their insights and feel quelched?

Answer 1

I think at times parents feel quelched but more than likely that isn't the intent of the team. Parents (rightly so) are very emotionally involved. It's hard to take advice from someone who may be more emotionally removed. After all, there is no way they could possibly care as much as you do (which is probably true; nobodys' love runs as deep as a parent's). That being said, the other members of the team do care at least some, or they wouldn't be there, and are drawing on years of education and experience when they suggest the plans that they do. Remember it's a TEAM approach and everyone's voice and ideas count. That includes the parents'. Just remember, everyone on the team is working toward a common goal (to help the child).

Answer 2

As a parent of a young man (29) with Downs I can tell that they will try their best to do just that, if you let them. They want the money that your child generates ( especially if he has multiple specialties) but they will fight you tooth and nail before they spend it on him. We had a tough time getting speech therapy. They will "test" your child so that they can "better asses your child's needs". That's a pile of you know what. All the testing does is let them pidgin hole your kid. When my child was 10, I told them that they, under any circumstances, could not test him again. I told them if they wanted to assess his needs, spend some time with him and ask his mother and I what his needs are. And that we would go from there. They wined a lot but he was never tested again and he pretty much got the services that his mom and I thought he needed.

By the way he is working today (he's worked at the same place for 8 yrs. now) paying taxes and makes his customers very happy. He knows hundreds of them by name and gives them all a big hug when they come into the store. All this from a kid that the schools tested and found profoundly mentally retarded. (they got more money putting him in that hole)

So, be tough, you know your child better than any of those people.

Answer 3

I worked as a program writer for people with severe disabilities and the parents often felt quelched by the myriad of experts paraded in to make recommendations. As a program writer I tried to work with the parents and the rest of the IEP committee to make sure that everyone could and would work together but the parents often felt that the school's pressure for quantifiable results squashed their desires to have help with ADLs and some of the more basic needs of their children.

Answer 4

Quite a few--and with good reason. The IEP system essentially gives bureaucrats the power to overrule parents. supposedly parantes have input and don't have to sign off on an IEP--but the reality is that if they don't, a child won't get the help in many cases--in other words--its bureaucratic blackmail.

In theory thats not the way its supposed to work. In practice its become a way for school systems to avoid accountability. In addition, the so-called "certificates of completion" ('Spec. Ed Diplomas') aren't worth the paper they're printed on--and parents are finding themselves in the position of watching children being denied high school diplomas--or of a child not having been given an adequate educcation. But the IEP protects the schools.

Answer 5

I wouldn't say that, misinformed probably and lied to though.

My child is autistic spectrum (PDD-NOS) and sensory integration disorder. His WISC IQ results were a large amount of subtest scatter. Lots of 5s and 15s. When I asked about that, they said we should be happy, they see a lot worse results. The results were averaged together to produce a 106, and said that he was average and should be "fine in the classroom". Their conclusions was his stress, stomach aches, and daily crying in the classroom but never at home, was the result of parental pressure. They offered no help. After the meeting, they suggested we take him to a Lindamood-Bell private clinic which we can't afford (it was $6000 and this was 6 years ago).

The visual-motor test the psych gave him said he was on the 50% percentile and he didn't need OT, but when we took him to a private OT a few weeks later she said he was 2 years delayed visual-motor skills and 2 years delayed fine-motor skills and some upper-body weakness.

They also said they don't like to give diagnoses until the child is much older (he was 6 at the time) because they don't like to "label" a child. My suspicion is that our state does not have a lot of Special Ed money or resources and they try to dole it out to as few children as possible so it is because of funding/lack of funding that they have such awful diagnosis/lack of insight.

Answer 6

I would say most parents feel this way. I have been a member of many online support groups, boards, message boards, etc and I have found that schools are like this all over the country. The reason is, there is no one to enforce them to do right. When they violate laws, and other horrible things, no one 'makes them pay' for their wrongdoing.
And that's not all. Most parents don't know there are federal laws to protect them, so they believe the schools and don't even know the schools are screwing them.
Schools will NOT tell parents they have rights and laws to protect them, and these laws mandate that schools are suppose to tell parents their rights.

I have heard so many stories (and 8 yrs of my own) of schools who blatantly violate laws, lie, cheat, change test scores, make kids write correct answers when they don't know them, change grades on schoolwork, make fake behavior logs, do wrong testing on kids so they will HAVE to say kid doesn't qualify for special ed.
They use the parents tax dollars to hire lawyers to take the parents to court to fight and not help their children, even up to the federal and supreme court!
It is sickening. And parents don't know what's going on until they have a child that needs special ed.
Go to 'mothersfromhell2' website. And go to www.schwablearning.org parent message board. You'll find out all you need to know.
Go to www.wrightslaw.com and www.reedmartin.com
These are 2 legal sites for special ed, they have case law on all the schools crap.

Answer 7

In my experience there *are* a large number of parents are not only discounted but lied to about their rights in the public education arena.

That is why I encourage all parents to not only educate themselves about the federal legislation, but also to request a copy of their state's policy and procedure manual. The fact is that its our job to know all this, it's not easy, but it's our responsibility to know it all and advocate for ourselves.

Find local resources, support groups and disability law centers that work for free on educational matters. Attend workshops and lectures, often they are free for parents and local action groups will have temporary waivers to pay for respite care. www.yellowpagesforkids.com has a lot of resources, and www.wrightslaw.com is the ultimate resource for IEP procedures.

Answer 8

Absolutely...there is a way to get through to them. Just continue to be persistant and firm. My mother raises Hell on a regular basis for my little sister. It helps to do your homework. It's tough to have to research laws and things like that, but if you threaten to sue them for something fancy...well...they fear you a lot.
It's such a tough world for parents with kids with special needs. It's a constant battle. If you're one though, hang in there. There's always a light at the end of the tunnel.

Answer 9

In my experience, if you have 'done your homework' and go in knowing your rights, you will get a lot more from the system. I have gone into meetings with goals in hand that I have written and have had them incorporated into my son's IEP. I usually get the services that I have requested.

Answer 10

There probably is - but sadly most of them would be mistaken - but their feelings are their feelings.

Good Luck!!!