http://aconews.com/articles/2009/11/25/noc/news/news8.txt
I’ve uploaded the latest document that has been filed in our case. This is the Orange County Board of Education’s response (via their lawyers) to the Complaint that we filed in federal court. The Civil Action No. 1:09-CV-692, Complaint in OM et al. v. Orange County Bd. of Educ. is referenced heavily thoughout so you may need to open both documents in order to understand the newest one Answer and Counterclaim by Orange County Bd. or Education to Civil Action No. 1:09-CV-692.
I thought the following two presentations may be of interest…
Special Education: Dispellling Myths, Urban Legends, and Misconceptions
Parents…professionals…teamwork….trust…respect…
Excuse me while I have difficulty listening to this.
The trust and respect parts are just a tad bit hard to swallow.
First session: Special Education: Dispelling Myths, Urban Legends, and Misconceptions.
I’ll post PowerPoint handouts and audio later today soon.
Here’s an interesting interchange during the Q&A:
Me: Can someone outside the IEP team write the DEC5 – prior written notice?
DPI presenters: (baffeled looks) Do you have a scenerio?
Me: sure, at conclusion of mtg LEA rep says that they can’t write DEC5 and would have to give to administrator
DPI: (baffeled looks continue) The DEC5 should be written by the IEP team and if the administrator needs to be writing the DEC5 then s/he should be on the IEP team and present at mtgs. The DEC5 should be written by someone on the IEP team and present at the mtgs.
Wonder how they would have reacted if i asked whether a lawyer hired by the district can write the DEC5???
In case anyone is interested….
The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) – which, by the way, is a great site (a clearinghouse of sorts) for information on disabilities in infants, toddlers, children, and youth; IDEA; No Child Left Behind (as it relates to children with disabilities); and research-based information on effective educational practices — has just published what looks like a terrific training curriculum: Building the Legacy / Construyendo el Legado: A Training Curriculum on IDEA 2004. The curriculum, which was produced by NICHCY at the request of the is intended to help all those involved with children with disabilities understand and implement IDEA 2004 Part B regulations. The training curriculum has five central themes with several training modules within each theme. Eight modules are in Spanish.
A CD with all of the English materials is available while supplies last. Write to NICHCY, or call, to request a copy.
I already requested a copy and they sent it out to me yesterday. The very nice individual with whom I spoke mentioned that this is not intended for the average parent of a child with special needs who has no prior knowledge of IDEA, but rather is meant to train inviduals who can then relay this info to parents and educators. I assured her that I knew enough about IDEA to understand the curriculum and that I was hoping to use it to train myself to give presentations to other parents! Anyone interested???
are online at www.ncreportcards.org
And if you need help understanding what all the data means, you can go here first: Resources for Understanding Report Cards
According to an email I received from the Department of Public Instruction, this ncreportcards.org site features the state’s largest collection of information about student performance and attendance, class size, school safety, teacher quality and classroom technology at the state, district and school levels.
SO…Apparently when we filed our complaint in federal court, OCPS switched law firms. I’ve known about this for a while, but hadn’t said anything because I didn’t really know what it meant for the case or for us. I still don’t have a clue as to how things are going to be different with a new law firm on the other side of the table. Though I have been told by a number of sources that the new firm Tharrington and Smith and, in particular, the new lead lawyer, Ann Majestic, are rational, reasonable and not likely to pull some of the ethically challenged antics of the last firm. Right now, all I do know is that Tharrington and Smith is getting up to speed on things and that they have until Nov 13th to file a response to our complaint. So I guess it’s just a waiting game, again, to see how things are going to go this time around.
Parents as Leaders Impacting Health Care Policy
Parents of children with special health care needs who are interested in learning how to develop the skills necessary to become an effective leader and community advocate will receive the training and tools needed to succeed in this intensive all-day training facilitated by the NC Family to Family Health Information Center (HIC), a project of the Exceptional Children’s Assistance Center (ECAC).
Registration is FREE and includes all materials, morning and afternoon refreshments, as well as lunch.
A Certificate of Completion will be provided for each participant completing the program. Please be prepared to stay for the entire workshop.
Registration deadline is Monday, November 9th. Seating is limited – register early!
Saturday, November 14th
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Orange United Methodist Church
1220 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Chapel Hill, NC
To register, call 919.942.8083, x. 2 or email julie@mhaorangeco.org
So, while the case has all but stalled, I’ve been thinking a lot about what shape this blog can take while there is no new information to share on the court proceedings. I could tell you stories about what it was like to go through due process, I can share with you what I’ve learned during the past year and a half in dealing with not only the schools but with life as a mother of a child on the autism spectrum. I could tell you a bit more about myself and my family, if that would interest you. I could finally finish the timeline, add more info “about me” on the appropriate page, or I can just leave things as they are. I guess I’m wondering what you all would like to read, here about, learn about. Let me know by posting a comment or email me offline at nicolemariemcwhirter (at) gmail (dot) com.
I imagine some people end up here looking for answers to some question they may have. What are looking for and how can I help???
what you've been saying