2gleeful

Hello Everyone!....I am doing some research and was wondering if you could take a look at the Special Education programs that are 'working' in your school districts to improve student achievement where the students have varying special needs. It would be great if you could provide me with a short overview of the program along with the costs associated ... A web link/address or even contact email would be perfect! Our District Special Education Committee has been asked to provide input into our district's Special Education Budget and we are looking for 'best practices' in US States and Canadian provinces to present for implementation here....The more info we have the better....THANKS!!!!!! & Keep smiling! 2gleeful

~Sherri~

My son is low-functioning autistic with other mental delays caused by Tuberous Sclerosis. The Special Ed system here is a joke. He was essentially cheated out of an education until about 3 years ago when they hired a woman to be his aide and she took matters into her own hands. The teacher he had at the time was clueless as well, but did take it upon herself to learn all she could..and that was a HUGE asset to him. I have found that most of them, right up to the Special Ed Director are just f'in clueless when it comes to how to TRULY educate these kids. Up until just a few years ago they shipped them all (the ones like my son) to a 'school' that was central to all of the county...now they are all in CDC classes, but mainstreamed into the regular schools. The principals and everyone else invovled, are clueless. This is my reality. Had it not been for them hiring this aide and her taking the time to get to know him and CARING that he met his goals then he would be screwed...but he's not. I know there are much better Special Ed programs across this country, but I don't know where.

__________________
~Sherri~

momofbpi

Hello

Im a teachers aid that subs in my school system and I assist special needs students.

There is a team of people in each school such as a OT, Speech person, and the principal, and a classroom teacher and for each child they set a program and they may be taken out of class at different times to do there assingments with there ot or who ever. When I take care of one of these students I have to have a copy of there program for the day to assist them in whatever needs that is needed to do with them and many of them are mainstreamed as long as they have someone to assistt hem in class.

The programs in our schools are covered by our town budget but the town taxes where I live are very high and the family isnt charged for it.

I have to say each child is treated as well as they can and have programs created to the child make the best of the school year. I have a special needs son myself he is mainstreamed and doing very well.

He has sensory Integration, along with ADHD and is on medication which s him a lot but his fine motor skills need more . If you have any more questions let me know.

2gleeful

Our son was diagnosed with a Mild Intellectual Disability (last November)as well as ADHD (March by a pediatrician)...Quite the struggle to even have him tested within the school system, but I guess my complaining to our Assistant Superintendent may have played a role in finally having it done.
MOMOFBI - Sounds like our systems aren't much different from each other. The students here are integrated into regular classrooms with outside instruction via CEA/Aide/LAT and so on. Each school has a 'Team' (quite similar to that which you noted in your post)which deals with each student on a case by case basis and works with the parents to develop and the child meet goals set out in an IEP (Individual Education Plan).
It would seem that part of our difficulties relate directly to the budget and how funds are distributed...There seems to be no clear guidelines as top what 'Special Education' funding may be spent on within our District other than CEAS/LATS/ETC...Example: ESL comes out of this budget.
Obviously, there a number of other issues that have come to our attention as well - Not neccessarily easy ones to address such as lack of Teacher training relating to invisible disabilities (not mandatory), not enough people to cover the 41 schools in our District, and the list goes on.

& Keep Smiling!
2gleeful

2gleeful

MOMOFBI - Would you be able to provide me with a web address?

& Keep Smiling! 2gleeful

freeto_2

dear momofbpk,
hello. i was diegnosed with add when i was 7 1/2 years old. i was placed in the ese classes and still struggled my way threw school. yes, this is a great program, but i think that the schools need to put more effert into the classes of theses ese kids. some of the kids are having learning disabitites and some need more than the schools are willing to do. i strugled threw grade school and than had a harder time in high school. kids thoses days mode fun of kids that needed a little more than they did. i graduated with a special deploma and still made it. i whent on to a culanery school where i learned the trade of cooking. i loved it and still do. every once in a while you get a teacher in the class room of the ese room that really cares. i just think that we need to push the issue to the school board on that the teachers need to be well qualified and want to be there not have to be there just for the pay check.
tamara