Quote:Originally posted by Rhonda RS:
[b]If you want a full time nurse under IDEA or 504, ask for it in writing.
[/b]
Clarifying..........
Do you *think* my letter include a request for accomodation for PA and Asthma and Orthopedic Impairment under [b]IEP/OHI[/b] designation?
Do you *think* my letter include literature citation from the Mass Document re: the need for a full time school nurse in every school that has a child at risk for anaphylaxis?

Quote:Originally posted by Rhonda RS:
[/b]Hi MB,
I have not been following your other posts, and I'm not sure where you are in the process of obtaining a formal disability designation for OI, food allergy and asthma.[/b]
[b]How old is this cub?[/b]
9 at the end of this month.
[b]He's been in school with no accommodation plan in place for food allergy?[/b]
He was homeschooled last school year and part of the previous. We withdrew him when we deemed the 504 plan obtained to be insufficient, among other reasons. (some big items were refused).
[b]From what I can tell, you already have an IEP to address you child's OI needs. Correct? But you don't have any disability protection in place for food allergy and asthma? [/b]
An IEP meeting was held at the end of this last school year in preparation for the fall. At that time a case study was conducted. (No surprise. We were previously informed per final disposition letter from the district attorney that a full case study not limited in scope would be conducted if we ever chose to re-enroll our child, and that due-process/mediation would be pursued to achieve it. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/wink.gif[/img] ) Among the findings is a classification (#1) that opens the door for various interventions/implementations that otherwise might not be deemed necessary or even found on an IEP. [b]Related Services[/b], I believe.
[b]You've never asked for a full-time nurse before?[/b]
[i]not directly.[/i] didn't want to get "shot down". I think it is harder to achieve after a flat out denial. We also came to the resolution to have one after the dismal failure of the previous 504 meetings. I mean, the school nurse was never present for those many meetings. Meetings for a [b]health need[/b]. Should the nurse have been the team leader? Or at least a key team member?
[b]Have you already had your PPT for OI needs for next year?[/b]
Hmmmmmmm. They, We, have Planned for his Placement. They just cannot tell me where it is to be yet. (They are deciding where to put the program this year among three schools). We, They, agreed that the PA, Asthma, Food Allergies would be Planned for upon that decision, since we didn't know the layout or resources of the environment he would be in. We are not even aware of what the program day will actually even be like aside from the minutes outlined for specific need in his IEP. They did outline minutes for OT. But, they are aware we are currently seeking outside medical intervention for orthopedic needs that may or may not affect his needs at school (most likely will). They are waiting on that. The results of his recent gait study will require at least 3 weeks for interpretation.
[b]If you have, the SD is not required to give you another PPT meeting for OI before the year begins. (You know the strict IDEA schedule.)[/b]
Understood, but would it behoove them to do so? I mean, *we* are moving as fast as we can, given the fact they can't even tell me where the program is to be. (looking at calander...........worried)
[b]So, just discuss allergy/asthma issues in your letter if this is the case.[/b]
Thank you for your response. It means much to me.
[b]Whatever you are looking to obtain, you should write a letter to the 504 Coordinator/Director of Pupil Services.[/b]
The superintendent directed me to The Special Education Director. Is this the same thing?
[b]Keep the letter to one page long.[/b]
Absolutely. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/biggrin.gif[/img] Hopefully, our Plan will be no more than a few pages. (Although the IEP is pretty long) I've heard you loose people after the first page. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img] I know I have a tendency to really ramble. My husband is never amiss in pointing it out and telling me to stay focused and not lose people in my babbling. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
[b]Your letter might go something like this...
"We would like to request an accommodation plan meeting with the appropriate individuals who have the authority to assign a disability designation and determine my child's eligibility for accommodations and modifications under Section 504 and IDEA for severe food allergy and asthma. We hope to hear back from the them in one week's time to set a date for the meeting...In this meeting, we would also like to discuss the current schedule of school nurse in cub's school and how this may impact the safety of a child with severe food allergy and asthma."
I'd also include your carefully crafted doctor's letter - stating that the 'life system of breathing is affected, skin, cardiovascular and respiratory during anaphylaxis' - outlining the severity of you child's allergies and asthma issues.
That should get the ball rolling. Once you get into the meeting, you can bring up the need for a full-time nurse, and ask what you need to do to achieve this.
After you send this letter, I myself would put together an accommodation plan proposal, print off copies of the Mass. Doc., Nathan Walter's story and give all those documents to the principal and 504/DOPS three days before the meeting. Call ahead of time before you do this and say you want to share some resources with them.
[url="http://allergysupport.org/rhondadocs/Outline.htm"]http://allergysupport.org/rhondadocs/Outline.htm[/url]
Take care,
Rhonda[/b]
Thank you. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img] Hope I made sense and did not babble.
[This message has been edited by MommaBear (edited July 26, 2004).]

Minutes:
2500/week as of this note.
The conference report of the IEP includes mention in at least two places, of evaluating the need for a 1:1 aide (no specific need mentioned) after the school year begins.
The Educational Accommodations section indicated: "Needs medical plan."
ps.....thank you. I'm looking very closely at the IEP right now. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
(fighting off the urge to take my cubs and retreat to the cave, however)

[b]Are you working with a whole new set of educators and school?[/b]
Yup. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/biggrin.gif[/img]
[b]Same Superintendent?[/b]
Nope. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/biggrin.gif[/img]
[b]I'm guessing some of the players have changed.[/b]
(counting on fingers.......)
That I can think of offhand or even know of? The super, the vice super, the principal (although we won't be at that school and anywhoooooo.....[i]before summers end, the principal changed yet again for a second time[/i]), and the school psychologist. At his prior school. But this school *is* a whole new set as well. But the team at the *old* school developed the IEP and conducted the case study.
But just noting, [i]I will be sure to put things in writing[/i] and request the same of others, as I can see there is a heavy employee turnaround.
Wouldn't ya know..........one of the original players popped up in [i]one of the other[/i] original player's positions recently. That's ok, since that person is leaving a position that(to do that position change) I will need to communicate with on a regular basis. Lemonaide even.
And no offense to anyone and not placing blame, we just didn't. Communicate. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/biggrin.gif[/img] Our karma didn't mix. Crossing auras........ wrong signs.........[i]whatever[/i]. Sometimes, that happens.
[b]You already had a 504 Designation for him previously and a 504 Plan from the district...Interesting.[/b]
Actually, [i]we never signed the final draft[/i]. Key elements, accomodations, recommended, standard interventions [i]were missing[/i].
[b]So the district recognized cub's allergy and asthma as being covered under Section 504? [/b]
Yes. As far as I could tell, the document was entitled a "504". Part of the meeting was devoted to addressing the recognition and establishment of his LTFA and Asthma as [i]a disability covered under section 504.[/i]
We received a formal invitation to the "504" meetings several times. The look like the iep invites and list persons who will be present, some legalities, some rights, and dates to do things by. We also received an "explanation of procedural safeguards" document for [i]parents/guardians of students with disabilities[/i] at the time....... (on my own, I obtained [b]"A Parents' Guide, The educational Rights of Students With Disabilities"[/b] revised 2001, which is more [i]in-depth[/i] in my meager opinion)
[b]I'd do this by the book so you do not run into problems later. Here are my suggestions:
Since the SD is throwing out the possibility of OHI under IDEA for food allergy, I think it's best to fire off a new request letter and all the documents I mentioned. It's also important to do this since the 504 Plan from a few years ago was not adequate. And since you've already had your OI PPT at the end of last year, I think it's best to request a new meeting and keep the food allergy and asthma issues separate for now. [/b]
Completely Understand. I don't want it buried in those 50 some pages of his current IEP. I believe people *do* look at those pages (they have to), but most of what is in those pages are what they are very accustomed to and were formally trained to interpret. Probably what they [i]expect[/i] and know [i]second nature[/i].
[b]Even if the SD wants to give you an OHI designation under IDEA for food allergy over the phone - let them tell you that in a formal meeting that you request in writing.[/b]
Yes. absolutely. Good you remind me tho, since [i]everyone is being so, so..........accomodating.[/i] I think it is [i]real[/i], but this is an imperfect world, and memories fail, especially when dealing with many faces, and many needs, and many stressors. I recognize that my family is not always (or ever) going to be #1 priority on anyone's list. I am also keeping in mind that sometimes, people change positions, or even leave the institution. Sometimes, more frequently than I am used to. Nothing wrong with that, just that I am not personally used to it. I'm one of those people whose job grows on me. I like *my* parking space, you know? I'm rambling, so I'll just say:
Document. Document. Document.
[b]Get your letter out ASAP. Once the SD receives your letter, the SD may try to give you the run around on the phone by saying that they are just going to tack on an IHP to the IEP. As this point, you will need to insist on having a separate meeting to determine your cub's disability designation: 504 or IDEA OHI. Either way, you need to create accommodation plan.[/b]
Yes. I'm working on it tonight. (I made some more phone calls, and you were [b]right[/b]..........my cub has been assigned a school. (Actually, they gave me the choice of several. *JOY*)
I even found out, the program my youngest cub is assigned to will most likely receive the funding it needs. Still, I'm not counting on it, and can only pray........it is a [i]fabulous[/i] program. ) I will note, however, they were numbers the district office suggested I call. Just thought that if anyone knew, it would be the district office. Guess I should have called other offices first. That or maybe the paperwork finally got through.
[b]Also, request in writing that the school nurse be present the disability designation meeting. Yes - the school nurse is a key member of any critical educational meeting where a serious health issue is the focus. She would be considered a "knowledgeable individual" under the law. As an accommodation to assist in allergy management, request in your letter that you would like cub's next year's teacher to attend the meeting as well since she will be the person implementing the accommodation plan.[/b]
From what I'm told, the nurse at his assigned school will most likely make it a priority. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/biggrin.gif[/img] (crossing fingers) I am also eager to meet his teacher. (Many of the 3rd grade teachers I've met are soooooooooo cooooool). Must be the age group they teach. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img] I loved my third grade teacher.
I might really enjoy this year along with my cubs. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/cool.gif[/img]
[b]Let's add OCR's Allergy as a Hidden Disability Document to the documents that you'll be sending in. (Go to the OCR web site, type in keywords: Allergy Hidden Disability - it should come up as the first document). I think that if your 504 Plan was not adequate a few years ago, you need to make the SD understand that OCR recognizes food allergy as a hidden disability, and they will be more likely to take the issue more seriously and provide more appropriate accommodations this time around. The OCR Hidden Disability Document should achieve this.[/b]
The letter is in my paws.
[b]The Director of Pupil Services usually holds the dual position of 504 Coordinator and Director of Special Education.[/b]
Makes sense to me.
[b] Call the superintendent's office and ask if this is the case. You need to know and understand everyone's titles.[/b]
[i]There are so many......[/i] I've got to remember those in [b]Early Childhood[/b] and those in [b]Special Education[/b].
[b]The school district *can* tell you where cub will be next year if they wanted to (how could they not know?).[/b]
Like I said......[i]you were right[/i]. Sometimes, I can't see the forest for the trees. How did I let that one get by????
[b]If knowing who the teacher is will assist in planning and your child's success for next year, you can request that you be told who the teacher is as an accommodation under IDEA. Request this in writing in a letter separate from the food allergy / asthma letter.[/b]
They gave me the name of the teacher for his original assignment today, but we picked a different school.........I asked so many things over the phone, [i]I forgot to ask[/i]. I think I will start writing things down before I call. Again.
[b]In general, the SD is not going to give you any meeting that they don't have to. When it comes to IDEA, they are quite conscious of the federal rules. This is the reason I framed the request for a meeting the way I did - they would be hard pressed to refused this meeting given the way I wrote the paragraph.
Now, based on your last post the SD wants to give you a "Medical Plan" to address food allergy and asthma - which is *exactly* what I anticipated they would do. This is not sufficient. Make the district meet with you and your husband again for the purpose of giving cub either the OHI IDEA Designation or the 504 Designation in writing. Nothing less is acceptable if you don't want to run into problems again later down the road.[/b]
Understood. I was told the school I picked has a full time school nurse who is very involved [b]and[/b] and an assistant nurse. Coincidence???? [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/wink.gif[/img] Either way, I want [b]A Full Time School Nurse (RN) [i]and[/i] all that entails[/b] written into his Plan. You know, just in case........
[b]Fight or Flight - human instinct. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img] No you did not ramble [/b]
Thank You.
BTW, you are very patient with me. Thank You, again.

Quote:Originally posted by Rhonda RS:
[b]Also, request in writing that the school nurse be present the disability designation meeting. Yes - the school nurse is a key member of any critical educational meeting where a serious health issue is the focus. [/b]
specifically:
[i]"She would be considered a "knowledgeable individual" under the law."[/i]
love it. Lot of motivation in those words. I know. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/wink.gif[/img] I mean, there is also an [i]expectation that certain persons posess certain knowledge.[/i] And keep it current. There must be, or at least [i]a need be[/i], or I wouldn't keep updating my knowledge base and gleaning continuting education credits even tho it is not required of me. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]
How many thousands of posts I've made, and I could not find the words you did??????
Oh, for the gift of that clarity. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/cool.gif[/img]
thank you thank you thank you. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/biggrin.gif[/img]
[This message has been edited by MommaBear (edited July 26, 2004).]