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Early Childhood and
Elementary School
Educational Rights
Saturday, July 25, 2015 – Parent Breakout
2:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Moderator: John Leanes
Co-Presenters: Sandra Leanes, Nina
Gregory, Norma Liburd, Heidi Sloan
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SANDRA LEANES • 30 YEARS IN PINELLAS COUNTY SCHOOLS
• SERVING AS A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER and STAFFING COORDINATOR
• GUIDANCE COUNSELLOR
• ASS'T PRINCIPAL
• ALTERNATIVE ED PROGRAM COORDINATOR
• ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
• ADJUCT PROFESSOR AT UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA AND NATIONAL LOUIS UNIVERSITY
• COORDINATOR WITH FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ED COUNCIL FOR EDUCATIONAL CHANGE
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JOHN LEANES • 35 YEARS IN PINELLAS COUNTY SCHOOLS
• 30 AS AN ADMINISTRATOR
• ASST.PRINCIPAL
• MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
• ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT.
• ADJUNCT PROFESSOR AT NATIONAL LOUIS UNIVERSITY
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Nina Gregory • Educator in Pasco County for 18 years.
• Medical Laboratory Technologist for 17 years, various hospitals & laboratories in New York and Florida.
• Master’s Degree in Education from the University of South Florida in 2001.
• Taught on every level of the special education continuum of service
– co-teach model, parallel curriculum, special standards, on-the-job training and transition specialist.
Nina Gregory
• Passion for helping students and families connect with resources; facilitate a successful and positive post-school outcome.
• Florida Diagnostic Learning and Resources System (FDLRS) in October of 2008 as a resource specialist for two of the four FDLRS functions, Parent Services and Technology.
• Parent of a 26 year old special needs child.
Nina Gregory
• Attend IEP meetings; help parents navigate process & school system
• Provide parents with resources & technical assistance related to IEP &504 compliance
• I provide presentations to parent groups and conference regarding Transition Planning and Planning for the future of children with IEPs
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Information/resources specific to Florida
• Florida Department of Education
– http://www.fldoe.org/academics/exceptional-student-edu
• www.gulfcoast.fdlrs.org
• http://fdlrs-gulfcoast.wikispaces.com/Parent+Services+Resources
Norma Liburd, RN-C, MN Clinical Nurse Specialist
Rheumatology at All Children’s Hospital
• Clinical Nurse Specialist in Pediatric Rheumatology for many years: clinical expertise, consultation, education, research, leadership & advocacy regarding school issues
• Volunteer with the Arthritis Foundation as conference planner, national newsletter editor, committee member, children’s activity leader, & Arthritis Walk fundraiser
• Camp Nurse at Camp Boggy Creek & Camp Funrise
• Founder and coordinator of PRN Network, an international list-serve for pediatric rheumatology nurses
• Member of ARHP (Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals)
• Coordinator of the Rheum Service Credit Program which rewards kids with rheumatic diseases who cooperate with their needle sticks. (They earn Target and Walmart gift cards!)
My Role/Experience
• 80% of our kids with a rheumatic diagnosis receive an accommodations letter
• We meet with each family to discuss school issues & strategies for accommodation
• Give letter to school nurse, guidance counselor, and principal
• Keep a copy in backpack for emergencies
• Give a copy to all teachers
• Write in additional information
• Refer family to the Educational Rights Toolkit for additional resources
• Provide “Juvenile Arthritis: A Teacher’s Guide”
• Refer to “Juvenile Arthritis: Kids Get it Too – What Educators Need to Know About Juvenile Arthritis” (arthritis.ca)
School Accommodations
• Include what joints are affected • PE: Do not force to run. OK to walk if tolerated • May use wheelchair if needed • Reduce the amount of writing • Provide class notes • Allow rolling backpack • Allow to use heating pad/ice pack as needed • Allow to sit in the front of class (if vision
problems) • Allow to use the bathroom (REALLY!?) • Referral to Vocational Rehabilitation
Accommodations Letter Add-ons
• Elevator: Teacher has to call another person with key causing student to repeatedly miss next class or lunch waiting for elevator
• Not permitted extra time for tests: INCLUDING COLLEGE BOARD EXAMS.
• Getting detentions, being yelled at for being late
• Missing too many school days and not allowed to participate in special events
• Missing too many school days and not allowed to get drivers permit/license
• Missing > 5 school days and not permitted to exempt final exams if you have good grades.
• A few teachers’ lack of sensitivity, understanding, confidentiality
Problems that occur despite a 504 plan
• The rheumatology school letter has been an essential communication tool between the rheumatology team and the school.
• The School RN can be a key member of the educational team, and a great advocate for a child/teen with a rheumatic disease.
• Our kids now have a variety of options: regular school, private school, Florida Virtual School, county based virtual school, part time attendance, homebound, intermittent homebound, as well as home schooling.
• The vast majority of our patients attend regular school with accommodations.
The Good News
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http://www.kidsgetarthritistoo.org/resources/educational-rights-kit/
Kids Get Arthritis Too (KGAT) Educational Rights Toolkit
Heidi Sloan • My Journey
– Born in Upstate New York , diagnosed with Arthritis at age 3
– Old school meds & NEVER took a PE class or played sports
– Family moved to FL for hopes of better weather & better days
– Community volunteer work through high school service clubs
– Pursued passion for geriatrics with BS Degree of Science in therapeutic recreation and gerontology from UF
Sloan Family • Married Bobby, Started Family
• Two beautiful children
• Both diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis- Systemic
– Career Ended
Our Educational Journey
• Jake’s and Hannah’s Educational Journey – School Settings
• Private school, Hospital Homebound & Homeschool
– As their caregiver, also became Homeschool Educator
• My “Take-Home” Message for Parents – Get as organized as possible
– Advocate, Communication is key!