ANN-List@groups.io | *Nys: getting started in public schools (2024)

Kimberly Roswech

This is my biggest fear. Does anyone else have any experience about starting K in public school? Connor is doing an extra year of preschool for the 04-05 school year-then we are totally confused about where to send him to K. He is doing relatively fine in a regular preschool- a few issues that we spoke to the teachers about- like making sure when he is cutting that the lines are bold enough and when reading a story to put Connor front and center. Oh and he wears glasses for strabismus. Any advice would be great!!
Thanks, Kim

PS- What is an IEP and a 504 Plan??

From: "Shalene LaMotte" <slamotte1@...>
Reply-To: ann-list@...
To: ann-list@...
Subject: RE: *Nys: getting started in public schools - expecting baby
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2004 19:41:38 -0600

Hey there! Congrats on baby #3.....When our 8 year old was due to start
kindegarten in the fall I went to the school the spring prior and talked
with the guidance councelor. We were told that Cait did not qualifiy for an
IEP becuase of her acuity not being below 20/70, but we did set up a meeting
to do a 504 plan. They went ahead and placed her with a teacher and so at
the 504 meeting there was the teacher, the school's TVI (teacher for the
visually impaired), the guidance councelor, and her father and I. We weren't
really sure on what kinds of accommodations she was going to need at the
time because she had been doing fine in preschool, but we wanted to have
something in place. So, we went with the TVI's advise and just put in
anything we thought might be relevant. Then at the beginning of the year we
had a meeting with her teacher and all her "specials" teachers like music
and P.E. We found that it wasn't until first grade when the environment
became more restrictive (more sitting at her desk rather then moving around
and smaller print on her papers and in her books) that we found out that she
indeed need all of the acccommodations set forth in that 504 plan. She is
now in second grade and each year in the fall we have had that same meeting
explaining her vision and what needs she has. Every year her teacher from
the prior year has come. But to our dismay we found out in the middle of the
year that some of the things that were listed in the 504 were not being
met....so keep that in mind. You have to stay on it. I kind of just thought
that if we told them and it was there in writing that it would happen. Good
luck and keep us posted on what happens. I would definitely call the school
that she will be going to and see what they advise.
Take Care!
Shalene

From: "Dana" <mommyblock@...>
Reply-To: ann-list@...
To: ann-list@...
Subject: *Nys: getting started in public schools - expecting baby
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2004 01:08:20 -0000

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In message <Law10-F11aiA3I5Skf0000084c5@...>, Kimberly Roswech <kroswech@...> writes

PS- What is an IEP and a 504 Plan??

Educational plans to make sure your child gets all the extra help they are entitled to if at all possible to enable them to achieve their full potential in mainstream education. Where 'only' a visual impairment is involved, the help would not be as intensive as if there were learning or behavioural or physical difficulties.

But paradoxically, the less noticeable the disability, the harder it is to show you need your child to have special considerations. It might only be sitting near the board (I'd say all of us with Nystagmus need this in order to lessen the strain of copying, but educationally this is not enough to gain extra help - and I'm *only* an adult with N so what do I know? LOL).

Many more of us benefit by simple advice like using felt tip pens and thicker outlines to cut round, extra time for tests (something I'd say we all need with Nystagmus), teachers won't accept unless its written down that a child must be allowed to use specific programs on computers. Again most of us probably benefit for magnification programs, or extra time in computing skills - or even not learning to write by hand at all but learning to type as soon as one enters school.

In climates where its hot and sunny, shade from direct sunlight is something else a child with a visual impairment needs, use of sun specs and sun hats at all times.

I don't know about your Americans with Disabilities Act, does this cover the school environment? None of you are mentioning this. Here in the UK schools *should* mark steps with white or yellow paint. Some won't allow a VI child *in* the school unaccompanied by an adult until its done - whether the child needs it or not. Sometimes a school will make a feature of having a VI child and promote the use of large print on notice boards or use of braille (but this is rare, I just know of one or two cases). I even once heard of a school that labelled the boys bathroom so my friend's then six year old could find it. Whether they kept it going after he moved on I don't know.

What you have to remember is that what is appropriate help for a five year old in someone's eyes is not necessarily appropriate for a fifteen year old. This is how education works. Give as much help as possible at age five, that's good practice, and then slowly whittle it away, no one will notice and we can't afford it.

You have to adopt a balancing act. Children don't like being seen as differently able and many of them will be quite happy to lose their help: they don't realise its for their own good. *But* there does come a time when they have to see for themselves which accommodations they really do need for life and which they can do without.

Another instance would be mobility training with a small child. Some schools would insist here that a VI child or multiple disability child must have adult help in the playground. Fair enough: we can have several hundred children under 11 rushing about together. But the child won't want that help forever. As its confidence grows and its taught to move safely outside, that can be dispensed with. But not if you are in a manual wheelchair unable to wheel yourself: you have to learn to live with adult help for longer.

As a parent you have to somehow balance what you feel your child needs to achieve, what is age and developmentally appropriate and then make the powers that be pay for it. You may need outside help to do this.

There are cases on the list where your state lays down laws you are supposed to abide by.

I personally wouldn't attempt to fill in any forms by yourself. Get professional voluntary help: we have people here who specialise in just this but they don't charge you the parent. So I'm not talking lawyers with educational knowledge but small self help community groups.

The others on the mail list will be along to put all this into American perspective.

Sincerely Chris
(on a very cold English day hugging her computer for something to do)

--
Chris McMillan

Gretchen Osteen

Kimberley
I had a similar experience to Gretchen and Berenice growing
up - their suggestions below are similar to my experiences with the
exception that no accommodations were ever made for my condition. would
also go and see the teachers and staff at the school and explain your sons
condition and needs up front. (If you have access to the archives you will
find considerable information on the bet ways to handle the situation
written by others who have went through the process as either student or
parent.

Best wishes

Stephen
36 with CN, HHT
Australia

In message <007f01c407ef$81e2f750$6101a8c0@Gretchen>, Gretchen Osteen <thegretch@...> writes

I have found as an adult it is better to address it up front with new people than to wait and wonder what they are thinking.

I don't tell people much until I have to. Even in class (I am doing a course on music appreciation for fun), I only told the tutor because I knew the admin staff didn't pass on the info. They're meant to, I write it on the form, but they don't. Apart from that I tell new members of class as an aside.

We watch a lot of videos with our new tutor and today someone said to me 'you have a vision impairment?' Yes, I said. Nystagmus. We were sitting a long way away from each other so she came over closer and said: 'I used to know someone with that condition. Turned out it was the daughter of a friend many years ago. She'd been born with only one eye, it had Nystagmus. But it was obviously 20.20 vision in it because she qualified as a doctor. In the UK that would have been almost unheard of 20 years ago. Sadly they've lost touch, 'cos I'd love to know more about the person.

After class we walked out together because we were watching an opera based in China (Turandot if you care) and we share an interest in matters Chinese. *Then* I discovered her daughter has been playing in some of the local youth orchestras that we record - and its possible her daughter knows the daughter of another lady in our class who has more recently left local orchestras for university. Unfortunately Linda wasn't in today, and June won't be in next week. We are a total of SIX students in this class, and we come from a wide geographical area so this is amazing. June was going home to check her cassette collection!

Sincerely Chris
(Programme folding being done behind my seat, with slips being inserted, music stands still to arrive - but otherwise everything is on target. Even the snow we had first thing has all washed away - thankfully!)

--
Chris McMillan

Kimberly Roswech

Thanks all for your advice. I have a social worker friend and she suggested that I contact Student Services in our district. I did just that and I got the ball rolling. Connor will do an extra year of preschool anyway-he is a Sept birthday-but if he qualifies for for their preschool program- we may go ahead with it. We live in a great town and have excellent public schools- so before I totally dimiss them and run to a private school- I will hear them out- they may be able to offer us more help than a private school. I have noticed that Connor recognizes all of his letters and numbers and can spell his name- but he doesn't write at all and absolutely hates to cut out anything. So- here we go. Maybe I've been in a little denial. I need to toughen up and help Connor- I am scared!! I cried on the phone with the Dir of Student Services. She probably thinks I am a crazy mom- but you know- he's my baby! It is hard to see your kids have a hard time with anything. Time to grow up!! My hubby and I are taking a long needed weekend away this weekend- kids are with grandma! I'll be offline til Monday.
Thanks again!!
Kim-mom to Connor 4 1/2- CN and Megan 3

From: "Stephen Clague" <sjckdd@...>
Reply-To: ann-list@...
To: <ann-list@...>
Subject: Re: *Nys: getting started in public schools - expecting baby
Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2004 00:20:30 +1000

Kimberley
I had a similar experience to Gretchen and Berenice growing
up - their suggestions below are similar to my experiences with the
exception that no accommodations were ever made for my condition. would
also go and see the teachers and staff at the school and explain your sons
condition and needs up front. (If you have access to the archives you will
find considerable information on the bet ways to handle the situation
written by others who have went through the process as either student or
parent.

Best wishes

Stephen
36 with CN, HHT
Australia
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gretchen Osteen" <thegretch@...>
To: <ann-list@...>
Sent: Friday, March 12, 2004 3:04 PM
Subject: Re: *Nys: getting started in public schools - expecting baby

Kimberly,
This might sound a little crazy but be sure he understands about his

vision impairment and why his eyes look different to other children. My
mother never made an issue of my CN, she wanted to treat me like a "normal"
child. But she forgot to explain that my eyes were different. I found out
the first day of K when three children sat across from me and mimicked my
eyes while laughing hysterically. I had no idea what was going on except I
was being made fun of. If I had known what CN was I could have been more
prepared. I have found as an adult it is better to address it up front with
new people than to wait and wonder what they are thinking. Encourage him
not to be ashamed to explain his condition. Kids make fun of what they
can't understand. Prepare him to ask for what he needs from the teacher.
You will not be there to be sure the material is bold and big so he will
have to advocate for himself. Have him start this from the beginning. You
may have to point out to him things like recognizing when he is having to
strain to see ( we don't always recognize it ourselves, we just get
frustrated.) hope this helps.

For further information about ANN, Inc. please refer to

http://www.nystagmus.org/

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Kim-
I'm jealous! A weekend without kids?!?! I'd be happy with a shower without
kids! :o)

I'm glad you are going to look into the public preschool program. I bet if
Connor has any delays, etc. he is going to catch up quickly. And, you know,
if he didn't have N and didn't like to write or cut, you would chalk it up
to Connor just being Connor...so who knows!

Lucy

Gretchen Osteen

Hi Gretchen,
Thanks for your reply. I think that when I was growing
up there were not the resources, reasearch, and understanding of the
condition that exist today. Basically you went to a regular school or
special school - if you went to a regular school it was assumed (in my area
anyway) that you needed no additional accomodations.

My parents were certainly just as caring as those on this site, it was just
that they did not have the information that we have available today. In any
case I turned out OK (I think). Interestingly until I came across this site
i assumed and had never been aware of accommodations available to students.
Although I am nearly finished my current university studies I have only just
found out about allowances for my N. - I am about to apply to get extra time
in exams - my writting has always been slow and this has meant even though I
may know a subject very well I run out of time especially in essay type
exams. I think that the accommodations have been in place for a considerable
time, however have never considered myself as disabled (which is what you
have to register as) and as I always studied externally the university never
picked up the issue although lecturers were aware of the visible signs of my
N.. I now blame myself for not looking into things sooner.

Best Wishes

Stephen
36 with CN, HHT
Australia

Gretchen
Great to hear that you are finding the assistance you
deserve. Please keep us posted as to how your studies progress.

Best wishes

Stephen
36 with CN, HHT
Australia