Banding Together
Alec's self-contained early intervention pre-school class with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is going to be moved by CMS to a program designed for kids with socio-economically disadvantaged kids next year. While that is a good program in itself, the program was not designed for the needs of kids like Alec. There is a real discrepancy of needs there.
In addition, these classrooms will have 19 kids in them... a big change from the 8 that are currently in Alec's self-contained class. I cannot image having 19 kids, some with sensory disorders and some with behavioral issues, in one class of 4 year olds. It's beyond my comprehension.
Apparently CMS doesn't care, so the parents of kids affected with this move are banding together and researching the legality of this decision by CMS... and what the rights of our kids are.
Has anyone out there been successful in a similar battle? We are looking for advocates and also possible representation from persons with expertise in kids with special needs. I'm open to comments! Send them on!
posted by K. Langston @ 12:02:00 PM
1 comments
1 Comments:
I would be exciting if CMS offered a logistically feasible ABA program in this "normal" sized classroom. Although I am finding study after study that say smaller classrooms are more beneficial. Maybe a limit of 12?
What we have been offered is 1 certified teacher, most, to my understanding, without experience in teaching kids on the autism spectrum, with another assistant. The assistant, to my understanding, would not be trained. These two individuals would oversee classes of 15 - 18.
Bright Beginnings is a literacy-based program (is this good for my kid?) designed for socio-economically disadvantaged kids. That's a great program, but the curriculum does not match the needs of my child right now.
That "typical" classroom will contain kids with behavior issues, English as a second language kids, and up to three kids requiring IEP's. I'm not sure I can qualify that as typical. Even so, I feel that there is far too little staffing in these classrooms to provide effective instruction.
EC children will be assigned to one of 22 classrooms, but I am told they are expanding that to 35. There will be 5 floating, trained teachers who will help deal with issues. I don't feel that 5 floating teachers between 35 schools spread across the city is enough to effective deal with the problems which are bound to occur.
If CMS staffed each of these classrooms with a trained teacher to assist in the methodologies such as ABA - working wonders with my son - then I would feel better about it. Right now, we are told to just "try it" and deal with problems later.
How long will resolving those issues take? Months of precious time, I expect.
I will contact the two individuals you mentioned, however. I am always open to possible solutions. I know there is one out there.
My husband and I are less concerned, at least right now, with Alec's "fitting in", than in his learning. This is an important year and we feel that his ability to learn and progress is critical. We don't want to waste time while the problems are ironed out.
I welcome responses to this post! I know I don't have all of the answers...but I am trying to find the best answer for my son.
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K. Langston, at
3/19/2005 10:19:00 AM
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