Schools for children with Learning Disabilities (Charlotte, Fletcher: health insurance, home, law)

[LibraMom]

I have an 8 year old son with C.A.P.(central auditory processing). He is receiving additional services within cms, has an I.E.P. and before losing my job and health insurance...he was also getting services from a speech therapist that was extremly helpful. However, I am really unsatisfied with the progress that my son is making. I'm not really sure where I'm supposed to point the finger. Yes, CMS is providing him additional services but I'm not quite sure that it's to the potential that it should be. I've researched Dore and Fletcher Schools but as I've said above...I have lost my job and my husband will be laid off as well within the next week. Even if we were employed...I'm pretty sure we could not afford $15,000-$18,000/PER YEAR for my son to attend. Does anyone have any suggestions about what my next step might need to be? I am aware that Dore and Fletcher schools have tuition assitance but it is extremely low and would not even put a dent in the above tuition amount. If I'm not satisfied with the services that I'm receiving from CMS, shouldn't they be responsible (as well as myself) for either helping me find other services or paying a portion of the tuition for my son to attend a school that will meet his needs? I know this is probably not possible but it makes sense to me. AND does anyone know of any CMS, Fort Mill, Rock Hill schools that do exceptionally well with children with learning disabilities? I've researched and researched and have become very frustrated with this entire process. I am supposed to be my sons advocate and voice but I'm just not getting the help that I believe should be extended to each and every child. Any comments, referrals or tips will be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading my post. I hope everyone has a wonderful day. Thanks again

LibraMom :- )

[bandibadji]

I am a former educator and had certification in special ed. as well as other fields. You need to be specific about the services you claim are not being met. Whatever you and the staff decided to include on the IEP must be met according to law. If you are dissatisfied, you need to call a special IEP meeting and get things back on track. First, ensure that your child is participating in the program in an acceptable manner and goals that have been mutually set are being met. My bet is that the school is probably doing what they can do, but some teachers are better and more experienced than others. You said the you are not sure that the school is to the potential it should be. What do you mean? Whatever you want should be included in the IEP and you can have conferences whenever you want. It is the law that every child be provided an appropriate education. If you do not think that your child's present school isn't providing the education he/she should be getting, the county will review the case at your request and take appropriate action if neccessary. Make sure that the problem is with the school and not the student. If it is the student, things will get no better by moving. Good luck.

[LibraMom]

Yes, I understand what you are saying. And that makes sense. I guess what I'm really saying is that this particular school and possibly every CMS school for all I know...does not have the resources to give the attention needed for "certain" students with learning disabilities. They are overcrowded as it is. How could you possibly modify each of his assignments and teach him how he "needs" to learn when you have 19 other students that need attentioon as well? Kids with certain learning disabilities learn differently. Well we all learn differently but especially kids with dissabilities. I'm responsible for him as well but I'm NOT a "teacher"...that's not my specialty. I would hope that they know more about this than I do...and if they don't...then a school that specializes in working with and teaching kids with learning disabilities is what he needs. I am pretty sure that the school is doing what they are supposed to...to a certain extent. But the bottom line is that they just don't have the resources to do what is needed to provide my child with the education that he needs.

[cball75]

The more assistance he may get could end up pulling him out of his regular ed class. You also need to figure out the definition of "appropriate." I am sure it will differ when you compare your definition and the states. My first call would be to the EC office and speak to a program specialists. Describe your child's needs and what you believe to be appropriate. There must be more to it since you had a private SLP and gets served by the SLP in CMS but satisfactory progress was not made in your opinion. Is Speech his only IEP qualifier? In other words, is he just receiving speech from CMS?

[ecrawfordw]

There are many resources in Charlotte, but I'm not sure which ones you've tried and have not. Even with an IEP in place, it must be hard to navigate the system at CMS. I haven't had to go through what you have, but I have a friend who is an EC tutor - she understands the process because she has a son who struggles with learning disabilities. And she says it is very difficult to maintain patience and keep advocating.

There are some good resources on Charlotte Parent's Special Needs page.
CharlotteParent.com | Special Needs Resources

Maybe one agency there can help you. Good luck!

[reganr3]

Hi,
I'm sorry to hear about your situation, but remember that there are alot of people going thru it and you are not alone! The most important thing is your family and to my husband and I we will do without anything and everything to get our son the help he needs.
My son is 6 and has a severe speech delay. So, I know what you are going thru and I understand the frustration. I myself struggle each day with the whys and how did this happen to my sweet little boy...?
We had him evaluated at a local "learning center" and their plan included us paying over $6000. (Yup, you read it right...) for approx 6 months of tutoring after school at their center 3 days a week. That was actually a discount for paying the whole thing in one lump sum with the help from my parents...like I said we will do anything for our child but that seemed a little outrageous...
Do you think you can get him a private tutor? I would suggest talking to some of the teachers at his school...maybe the speech teacher or special ed teacher...if you are totally unhappy with them try to call or send an email to the speech therapist that he was seeing...times are tough for alot of people right now and people are always looking to make extra money! I actually was lucky to get an awesome tutor that is helping him 3 days a week for 1 1/2 hrs after school...please feel free to contact me privately if you need more info on what I am paying. He is also getting speech therapy once a week for 45 min privately. Do you think you could qualify for the insurance you can get for kids with disabilities? I don't know what it is called but have heard about it...That might get him back into a ST program?
I sometimes think my son isn't getting his speech services though that is required in his IEP...Today he came home and I asked him if he had speech and he said...NO...So I dunno I'm gonna have to check on that.
But as far as the afterschool tutoring I can't say enough about it...You never know until you ask.
Please feel free to contact me if you need anything, even if its just to talk to another mom who is going thru a similar situation!
Good Luck to you and your family.

[bandibadji]

I am confused. Is your child in a self contained classroom, a resource room, or in a regular ed. classroom? I can't imagine a special ed. classroom having 19 students. I am sure that any resources that you require are available. It is a matter of coordination, on going meetings, and a mutual understanding of what you want. What is he getting presently as far as assistance?

[LibraMom]

Originally Posted by ecrawfordw

There are many resources in Charlotte, but I'm not sure which ones you've tried and have not. Even with an IEP in place, it must be hard to navigate the system at CMS. I haven't had to go through what you have, but I have a friend who is an EC tutor - she understands the process because she has a son who struggles with learning disabilities. And she says it is very difficult to maintain patience and keep advocating.

There are some good resources on Charlotte Parent's Special Needs page.
CharlotteParent.com | Special Needs Resources

Maybe one agency there can help you. Good luck!

Thanks so much for the website!! I really appreciate it. Have a good one