Last year, I gave a talk at BIQ Boston, on 2E kids in Public Schools. Since a lot of kids with Asperger’s are gifted as well, the information in this talk could prove useful to us, too. I originally posted this on my personal blog, which had very little traffic (and few posts — I could never maintain a diary). So, here’s the outline of the talk, with a few side comments.
2E in Public Schools — The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Liz Pf & Carolyn K
BIQ Boston, April 2009
Introductions
Liz (That’s me)
Carolyn K www.hoagiesgifted.org
Definition of 2E
Gifted with some sort of disability
Often, but not always a Learning Disability
Special services &/or accommodations are necessary in school
Stories
(Here, Carolyn and I tell the stories of our 2E daughters, Chetah and Ocelot, and how the public schools did a good job with Ocelot and a phenomenally bad job with Cheetah)
The Law
All children have the right to an evaluation by the school
High IQ or good grades can not be used to avoid a necessary IEP
The Lillie/Felton Letter (This is case law specifying that kids can not be denied a special education evaluation because they are not failing school.)
Every state has laws that schools must follow
Parents are full members of the team
Most actions require parental consent in writing
The Special Education Process
1. “Child Study” Meetings
2. School Evaluation (or optional private evaluation)
3. Qualification Meeting
4. Write the Plan
5. Implement the Plan – Measurable Goals
6. Review Plan annually
7. Re-evaluate every 3 years
Using the Law
Preparations
Document, document, document!
Research:
The Wright’s Law website
Your state’s special education website
Your school district’s policies
How to Ask for an Evaluation
In writing, on paper
Facts only, no emotions
When to Give Up, and What to Do Afterwards, Part 1
Some schools are good, some are bad, and some are just clueless
Some schools are good, but don’t have the money to do a good job
By law, lack of money does not allow the school to refuse services
When to Give Up, and What to Do Afterwards, Part 2
Warning Signs You May Have a Bad School
Staff does not know the law, and doesn’t care
Staff tries to delay the process
Staff continually “loses” paperwork
Staff agrees verbally, nothing gets done
Or …
When to Give Up, and What to Do Afterwards
What To Do If You Have a Bad School
Give up (listed for completeness only)
Home School
Pay for alternate education
Fight school, student stays at school
Fight for alternate placement
Sounds like an interesting talk. I like the warning signs of a bad school since it confirms what my intuition was telling me about my own school district. Thanks for posting this.
Yes, yes! I am at the “school is clueless” part. He is in first grade at a public elementary school. We’ve got data, lots of testing and evidence, but they just aren’t sure what to do with him! He’s a gifted Aspie with stellar math and reasoning scores. Recently tested for memory and attention, and scores were relatively low. We now have to pay for programs to address that privately… or do we? (Reside in PA, visit MA often!) He is so bored, except for the 2 hours of gifted class on Wednesdays. I’m essentially home schooling about an hour a day just so that we can give his brain something interesting to think about! Therapies for Asperger’s will begin soon, and we hope that the specialists will have input into the school situation. Thank you very much for your outline.