My meeting with the school psychologist went very well. He spent the first half hour trying to tell me that J. is doing very well (she is) and all the accommodations I'm requesting (five) are already in practice for all their students (they are), blah, blah, blahdy, blah, blah.
When he was finished, I looked at him directly and said,
"I realize that this school is a shining example of early elementary education, and I wholly credit my daughter's success thus far to your dedication and programs. I am proud that my children have gone to school here and I am grateful that my district has such a facility for kindergarten. However, J. has issues that go beyond the classroom and while they are not presenting themselves at the moment, they may very well do so in the future. I am asking for a 504 plan to be put in writing in her file, all the while realizing that nothing will really change in her experience because you all do what she needs already. I am doing this because I am sick of the bureaucracy and bullshit, as I am sure you are. I know you are not trying to deny her services because you are meanspirited, I know you have to report to someone and it is all very politicized."
He nodded his head at this point. I continued,
"That said, I have the diagnosis and I have a clinicians report and I am legally entitled to a 504 plan to be in place, in writing, for my daughter... and I shall have it, because I realize now that I have to cover my ass, and next year when she transfers to a new school in first grade, I refuse to deal with months of evaluations and meetings simply because there is no written record of her having accommodations in the past."
He leaned back in his chair, and started to laugh.
He knew I had his number at this point, and the conversation then turned to what the plan to get this all in order would be.
I have a meeting with the team that deals with this on October 10.
Mama ain't playin' no more.
Suddenly we were both on the same page and all these ideas were available and on the table.
I expressed my surprise at these ideas since I had been told at my last meeting with her study team that my only option to get services for her was litigation. He sort of stumbled around that and our conversation continued pleasantly... I sat there for an hour.
I am so relieved.
I feel like a rock star right now.
Comments (25)
I wish more mamas would advocate for their children!!!!!!!
Way to go!!!!
You Go Girl! Fight for J's education!
Or maybe it's just because I get off on beating up on authority figures that I say that. When I fight authority, authority always bleeds... :D
Be well!
Love ya
M