It's been seven months, two I.E.P. meetings (I felt like I was fighting for my child's life because if politics (school system) had there way she wouldn't receive half the services that she needs), eight school visits/arenas, and five non-public school denials...........and finally a non-public school has accepted JayLa's I.E.P. This school acceptance comes with many let downs but this is the best selection based on the few suitable options. It's not over yet........the non-public school, the Baltimore City school system, and I still haven't agreed on a start date, the transportation issues regarding location of drop off, and the most important factor which is that the non-public school hasn't interviewed/hired a suitable one on one aid for JayLa yet!!
I will never understand why the state makes it so hard for parents/children with special needs. I also think that each state should offer parents of children with special needs classes to prepare us for this long and overwhelming process regarding the I.E.P. meetings and the school placement issues. I am having great difficulty understanding why the state requires all children to be placed in a school program by age five yet many children with special needs lack the mental or physical ability to function on a "special needs" school level. So basically, some special needs children are placed in school settings because it's the law not that they are actually learning anything or benefiting for the school program or are they!!?
It would be nice if each state would make it less difficult for special needs families by developing school programs that can service all of the child's needs in one location. It would also be nice if the school hours were realistic for those parents that work out side the home for a living.
One day at a time!
