IEP question

[neetling]

my daughter has a medical condition (cyclic Vomiting Syndrome) that is likely going to cause her to miss more than the average amount of school. Sometimes her older sister misses as well, because I am not willing to drive younger DD around when she's so sick.

She just missed 3 days because a vomiting virus just went through our home (older DD got it on Thursday, I kept both home on Friday and Monday, Older DD went back to school on Tuesday and they are both back today)

The vomiting bug caused DD to have an episode and we ended up in the hospital for IV fluids.

The school was notified at registration that she has this issue.

My question is whether or not we should do an IEP for her at some point?

The episodes are random but are triggered by illnesses. She does tend to get hospitalized at least once a year for fluids.

I got a nasty letter from the school last year due to absences, despite the fact that we contacted them and also had doctor's notes. It made me angry. I felt like we played by their rules of notification and we weren't keeping the girls out willy nilly.

[Linda on the move]

Originally Posted by neetling

Sometimes her older sister misses as well, because I am not willing to drive younger DD around when she's so sick.

I highly recommend you find an alternate way for your other child to get back and forth to school. A retired neighbor or something. "My sibling is sick" isn't an excused absence most places. And it doesn't show the school that you take attendance seriously.

My question is whether or not we should do an IEP for her at some point?

double post this on the sn board. Some of the moms there are experts.

I got a nasty letter from the school last year due to absences, despite the fact that we contacted them and also had doctor's notes. It made me angry. I felt like we played by their rules of notification and we weren't keeping the girls out willy nilly.

Was it a computer generated letter or was it personal? If the letter was computer generated for all kids who missed over X days, it doesn't mean anything.

Have you discussed this with anyone at the school? How do they really feel about it? How supportive are they?

I have a kids with sn who missed about 50 school days last year. I know the principal, secretary, school nurse and all the teachers VERY well.

What would you want the IEP to say? What exactly do you want?

[KCMichigan]

If she is academically on par--- request a 504. That is a plan that will allow modifications and adaptations due to a medical reason. This will give you some leeway in absences and work make up.

If she is doing poorly at school they may consider an IEP, but if she has a lot of absences they may determine that they can not determine that her learning difficulties is due to a disability or lack of exposure (term used when child does not attend school regularly and therefore did not get exposed to material)

IEPs are for students that have a disability that impacts their education. 504s are for students that have a disability that does not impact their academic success, but they do require modification from the standard expectations.

( For example one of my DDs is not potty trained due to a digestive disorder. She will have a 504 next year to meet her unique needs - assistance in the bathroom, access to a private bathroom for changing herself, and extra time for toileting)

504s and IEP give you some legal rights- an IEP more than a 504. Without them (even with Dr notices) you can get caught up in truancy if your daughters miss too much school (in our area it is more than one absence every two weeks---or a less than 80% attendance rate). Too many absences can also be grounds for retention.


Dig around the website www.wrightslaw.com for specifics on IEPs and 504s.

Without and IEP or 504-- with too many absences you can get called for truancy and it can get messy.

The older sister needs to be in school, as a PP said " my sister is sick" will not work in the courts if a truancy officer gets involved. You need to try to get an alternative plan (another parent/friend to drive her on the days your other DD is ill, a bus, etc).

[neetling]

We do not often have another option for her sister to get back and forth from school. Our neighbor drives the kids in the mornings and I pick up the kids in the afternoons. Neighbor does not have access to a vehicle in the afternoons. My husband's schedule changes a lot and occasionally he can do the picking up, but it isn't consistent. When we do have the option, of course we use it. We have no other family/friends in the area. We moved for my husband's job.

That may not fly with the school system but it is a hill I'm willing to die and homeschool on. I'm not willing to make the vomiting worse and make a hospital trip that much more likely. I can't leave a sick 6 year old at home alone, nor do I feel her 7 year old sister can walk home alone. It is what it is at this point.

Our school website says absences are excused if a student or family member is ill.

The letter was a form letter.

I think the 504 sounds more like what we need. She's on track academically. I've heard of the wright'slaw website but had forgotten about it. I'll bookmark it and go over it thoroughly.

Thanks

[TiredX2]

I'd definately get acknowledgement from the district IN WRITING that her absences are excused. Definately ask in Parenting the Special Needs Child for specific advice.

Originally Posted by neetling

We do not often have another option for her sister to get back and forth from school. Our neighbor drives the kids in the mornings and I pick up the kids in the afternoons. Neighbor does not have access to a vehicle in the afternoons.

Could you let the neighbor borrow your vehicle or come over and watch your younger child while you go pick up the kids?

[neetling]

Originally Posted by TiredX2

I'd definately get acknowledgement from the district IN WRITING that her absences are excused. Definately ask in Parenting the Special Needs Child for specific advice.



Could you let the neighbor borrow your vehicle or come over and watch your younger child while you go pick up the kids?

I suppose that's an option. She hasn't missed much school yet due to this, but it is something to think about. Older DD got the bug first, so there's been a couple of missed days for her too. It's flying through the school. (and our house)

[KCMichigan]

Originally Posted by neetling

I suppose that's an option. She hasn't missed much school yet due to this, but it is something to think about. Older DD got the bug first, so there's been a couple of missed days for her too. It's flying through the school. (and our house)

Ditto this. Also talk to the school if your older DD is missing too much school- they may have someone in the area that they can suggest 'help' or a family nearby that could work in a pinch. I have even known teachers to walk ( to nearby) to escort kids to school if that is what it took to get them there (due to transportation or other issues).

As for your DD w/ vomiting, get a 504 started now since they do need a paper trail and documentation.

Usually a few days absence here and there are OK w/ Dr notice. Esp if a n illness is going through a school---but if they look back at a semester and see a pattern of excessive absences they will call you on it and usually in most states, they are legally required to do something about it (letter home, truancy officer, etc).

[HopefulJo]

I know for my (much younger) BIL who got debilitating migraines throughout high school, he did end up getting an IEP. The IEP allowed him to have a modified schedule & come in later, and spelled out how schoolwork and tests would be made up. The kid got a full ride scholarship to college, so it's not like he was slacking- the only poor grades he got throughout high school were due to teachers marking him off for missed tests or late homework.

It was a very frustrating fight that my MIL went through to get the IEP, but it worked out better in the end. Mostly, it was convincing the administration that he's *not* faking it, he really can't function (... or, stand up, or walk) when he's sick. If it helps, I think, one term, he missed like 1/3 of a semester- so, there were significant absences that led to the IEP.

[CarrieMF]

Our neighbor drives the kids in the mornings and I pick up the kids in the afternoons. Neighbor does not have access to a vehicle in the afternoons.

how do the neighbor kids get home in the afternoons if you can't pick them up?

How far of a drive/walk is it?

[neetling]

I let the neighbor use our car to go get her kids the one day I kept both kids home, but it felt a little odd. I suppose it's not the end of the world though and it's not a nice car, it's a 20 year old suburban.

I don't know what neighbor would do if I refused her use of the car. I suppose she'd have to figure something out.

The school boundary lines were redrawn this year and the kids were moved to a different school. Last year they took the bus and it wasn't an issue.

We're .90/mile from the school and my kids are 6 and 7. We get nasty icy and snowy weather here and I'm not comfortable with them walking that w/o an adult. We're .10 a mile too close to qualify for bus service this year. I measured it. lol.

We actually hurriedly bought a second vehicle this summer because of the new school. They gave parents about 2 weeks notice of the new boundaries. I didn't want to be walking nearly 4 miles each day with a ton of snow everywhere and an uncooperative 3 year old.

[Llyra]

My DD2 has CVS, as well. She isn't in school yet-- she's 3 1/2-- but I do plan on sending her to public kindy. So I've been trying to think this through...

[Linda on the move]

On the car thing, there are most likely other parents that live near you and talking to the school to help connect with them could help them out as well as your DD. As you get to know your neighbors, you might have some one else on your street that would pitch in when you need a hand, even if they don't have a child in school.

I really don't think it's right to routinely keep a child out of school because of their sibling. You need a long term plan for your well child. It's not fair to her.

The process to start a 504 or IEP is the same. Request it in writing, in a real letter with a signature and a date. Briefly state what you want (her absences to be excused, extra time for make up work, that she cannot be retained based on excessive absences, etc) and state *why.* Include her dx. I attached a letter from our doctor (written on his nice doctor letterhead) stating her dx. Be polite, be specific, be brief.

Good luck. Our school was really great to work with and really just wanted to figure out what we could all do to make my Dd successful.