Out of my desire to help my child, I did a lot of research on the web and joined many . In August 2009, i read some posts about a parent access bill to children's special education classrooms that was passed just a few months ago in Ill. I understood this to be the secon state to have such a bill.  I researched for the bill and after I found it, I thought to myself "Why not here?"  I emailed my friend Donna Obermeyer and sent it to her and asked her about it. Well, she was enthused about it and with her help and experience, I was able to get the paper work together about the Ill. bill and PA. bill and contacted Representative Kathy Haigh. We met with her and she graciously said she would support a bill of this sort If you would like to support this bill, please send an email to Donna at : [email protected]     or Sarah at  [email protected]   .
Please feel free to leave a comment. Click on 'comment' .

The following is some of the proposed language of the bill and NOT set in stone as of yet. I will use this page to keep you up-dated about it.

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To insure that parents of children with disabilities can participate fully and effectively with school personnel in the consideration and development of appropriate educational programs for their child. It shall provide that, upon request by a parent, parents and parent-designated independent evaluators and educational consultants shall be afforded timely access for observations of a child's current program and of any program proposed for the child, including both academic and non-academic components of any such program. Parents and their designees shall be afforded access of sufficient duration and extent to enable them to evaluate a child's performance in a current program and the
ability of a proposed program to enable such child to make effective progress. No conditions or restrictions may be imposed on such observations except those necessary to ensure the safety of children in a program, the integrity of a program while under observation, or the safeguarding of personally identifiable information consistent with the requirements of the federal family educational rights privacy act and applicable state laws.
Jacki
10/18/2009 02:19:45 am

What a great blog here. I am in Pierce County and am definitely for this bill.

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Ray Pate
10/18/2009 04:15:05 am

I am a father of four children with a mixture of needs caused by early biological and environmental insults. Three almost died in the process. One was premature by 28 weeks and required surgery the day after he was born. Do I have a right to find out what is going on with my children during the school day? Yes.

I also have been a teacher and a counselor for 30+ years at the high school level. There are concerns teachers have as well. Risking a fight in the classroom because two parents want to come into the room after a fight is not reasonable for a parent. Having a meeting with both parents and the two with the problem in a counseling setting with a staff member would be the appropriate response.

There are issues on both sides worth working out on this because the desired outcome is an open school coordinated with parents who care about their kids, trying to find real solutions to the needs. If the needs are fulfilled, the kids will strive to meet their highest expectations. When they are not met, the reverse is true. Caring parents and caring teachers are feeling the effects right now of unmet needs impacting their children.

It is shameful that teachers have placed themselves in a castle and parents feel they have to bring in machines to break down the walls. None of this is in the best interests of the child and should not be considered to be. Right now, the schools have locked themselves into a so legally defended position, that a legal remedy is the only answer for parents.

Mutual respect and healthy dialogue, a more cooperative approach to behavioral and mental health issues in the communities, states, and the nation are the right answers for our children. The status quo is unacceptable in real time for our children, who despite debates and political and financial issues, are still growing through their milestones to adulthood. Debate may take time but kids don't.

The kids we raise are part of our community today and will be running it tomorrow.



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Jackie from Indiana
10/29/2009 06:22:15 pm

What a great idea. You are so super. That is why you are super mom! Good work, and good luck on getting it passed. God bless-
Jackie

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Pat
11/24/2009 10:01:50 am

I think you are doing a great job. We have twin girls with special needs. I went to a private Preschool, and parents are required to volunteer their time at least twice a month, if possible. The parents provide support to the teacher. I think that would help other teachers, in other grades, by having more adults in the classroom. Teachers complain that they have too many kids, but exclude the parents from getting involved. Thank you for your efforts. God Bless.

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1/13/2010 05:35:26 am

UPDATE:
The last of Dec., 2009, I rec. email from Rep. Haigh stating she does not have time to sponsor the parent access bill due to working on the budget. She stated that perhaps we could find another sponsor. I replied to her I would not give up on this bill. Please keep your comments coming and letters. We have another sponsor in the works as of now. I will post when we get more information.

Sarah

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12/19/2010 11:37:26 am

Way to go, I think you're doing a great job, my wife has a 10 year old down syndrome child and goes to a normal school and believe me it has it's challenges but also has its blessings, thank you

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    I am just a parent that would like all children to have an appropriate education. As a parent to a unique child with needs, I want a FAPE for him and others like him. Our special needs children can live productive lives and should be valued, loved and respected no matter what the disability
    ." Some folk think my hands are full...I wish they could see my heart*

    To view this bill and  update information on this bill, please go to :

    http://www.ideacouncil.net/

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    October 2009