Upload
dinhdung
View
213
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Middle & Highschool
Educational Rights
Saturday, July 25, 2015 – Parent Breakout
3:45 PM – 5:00 PM
Moderator: Sandra Leanes
Co-Presenters: John Leanes, Nina Gregory,
Norma Liburd, Amy McCormick
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
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
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
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
• 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
22
http://www.kidsgetarthritistoo.org/resources/educational-rights-kit/
Kids Get Arthritis Too (KGAT) Educational Rights Toolkit
Amy McCormick, MS • From Hauppauge (Long Island), NY; Special
Educator for 18 years & Reading Specialist – in public schools in Baltimore & New York
• Kylie is 13 yrs old (dx at age 8), Polyarticular JIA & IBS
• Kylie’s Education – Attended Catholic school grades K-4
– Now in public school
– 504 Plan initiated in 3rd grade (entering 9th grade in fall)
– 504 Plan has diagnoses (Poly JIA and IBS) listed & JIA may impact PE & other school related activities
PROGRAM MODIFICATIONS on Kylie's 504 Plan
• Special Seating Arrangements (allowed to sit on chair as needed)
• Additional set of books
• Copy of class notes as needed
• Physical Education with Adaptations (as needed; parent will contact PE teacher regarding limitations)
• Allowed to self-monitor activity levels (as needed)
• Ability to move around the classroom as needed
Additional Accommodations
• TESTING ACCOMODATIONS on Kylie's 504 Plan – Extended time (1.5x) as needed for tests in event of
arthritic flare up – Scribe (as needed in event of arthritis flare up)
• ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVICES/SERVICES on Kylie's 504 Plan – iPad (student requires an iPad for
written assignments and classwork) – Assistive Technology Consultation
(training for staff, student, & family for the iPad)
What works best when teaming with educators?
– Clear communication with visual aids (When Your Student Has Arthritis booklets)
– Doctor notes/diagnosis documentation
– Clear vision of what you expect for your child to be able to perform as a TYPICAL child in school
– Be willing to educate staff (Kylie was the first student with JIA at her school)
– Communicate frequently with staff about diagnosis, medications, appointments, and limitations (if any)
– Know your rights, keep up to date with special education law
Kylie’s Biggest School Celebration
• Inducted into the National Junior Honor Society
• High Honor Roll student for all of middle school – despite missing an abundance of
school days due to treatment, illness, and hospital stays
• In high school, will be taking AP and Honors courses