[Debra]

everyone is busy dealing with back to school issues? Our kids start Monday the 12th, and it's been a rocky week between their emotional turmoil and the 5 trips we had to make to the schools this week (highschool and middle school). Apparently they wait til the last minute here assign teachers and classes and all that unimportant stuff. Thank heavens I anticipated this and took some extra (unpaid ) time off from my job this week to work out the "kinks". I think we have most of the bases covered, backpacks and lunches packed, clothes picked out, etc. Still, I'm sure it will be a mad dash in the morning to get to the bus on time.
So, anyone else have any back-to-school venting they'd like to share? (Assuming you can find the time......LOL)

[dimasmom]

Debra, Our school is not back in until 8/26. I am dreading dealing with school issues again. I asked last May that we review my sons 504 contract prior to school resuming, of course no one has set up a meeting yet. I still have several small items that I would like the plan to address. But now, I think I'll just take a back seat and wait them out. My son has a full time aide. He's really been doing relatively well. While I think the key to eliminating the aide is in minor accomodations for sensory integration - I also realize that since my son is pretty stable, they also may be justified in yanking the aide.

Since his plan is good till Oct, I guess it's better to wait and see how he's adjusting to 4th grade. There will be a lot of new demands on him this year, and I really think his SI issues will be tested to the max. I can always grieve it, if they decide to eliminate the aide, and that will buy a few more months of supports. Perhaps by then he'll be OK. I generally find that each year, it takes the teachers until Dec or later before they finially buy into my requests for some of the SI accomodations. That's why I want them written into his plan, so that we don't start back at the beginning each year. But so far my school district refuses. I did consult with an attorney over the summer - but sadly 504 is pretty much worthless around here and this attorney (who only does education law), won't even advocate for taking 504 cases to court anymore.

Fortunately my sons homeroom teacher seemed pretty attentive at the meeting I had with them in the spring. He even took notes and asked questions. 2 of the other teachers (he'll have 4 academic teachers, plus 4 specials teachers) did not even bother to look at the small packet I gave them (a 1 1/2 page overview of my sons basic needs, and 1 article each on RAD, SI and Bipolar). They were very quick to inform me that they have absolutely no time to communicate with parents and flately turned down the suggestion of emails, as needed. Unfortunatley management of bipolar meds will be dependent on good information -so may need to turn this into doctors orders. Seems to me that the aide could take on this role.

So how are things going for others, as we head into a new school year???
DimasMom