Special Education Metrowest (school district, live, legal)

[bos01]

Thank you in advance, and I apologize for the long-windedness....

I am currently in a metrowest suburb where I am fighting for the most basic of services for my child, who was diagnosed with a degenerative disease in infancy, which has created many educational issues for him. We have spent so much money on advocates, consultants, even a lawyer, and the school district where we live does not seem to care. It is constantly one step forward, two steps back with them, and if anything, our involvement of legal representation when we were at the end of our ropes seemed to have made things even worse--with the district appearing angry and defensive at everything, even though we had given them so many chances to compromise on the tiniest amount of support for our child. I have come to the long-resisted conclusion that we are being singled out as troublemakers, when we are only seeking the most basic of services, having always realized that we have to compromise and never expecting the perfect situation, just one in which we feel our child will be safe.

When my child was in early intervention as an infant until age 3, we were told by our specialists that we should move--that the town where we lived would never give our child the appropriate services once the transition from EI occurred at age 3. They knew the district well, and they were clearly concerned about the lack of support we would receive from them. However, I was optimistic and felt that the school would eventually come around with a little education and understanding re: my child's situation. We also love where we live, and have made close friends in our community, and have older, typical children in the school district who have made connections with their peers and are very happy here. I went into it all willing to negotiate and have private services implemented to supplement less-than-appropriate services from the district, but never expected to receive the treatment and turmoil we have experienced.

Instead of everything more or less "working out", as I had hoped, it has actually turned into a nightmare, and we have gotten to the point where we are considering a move to another town. It has become so bad that the disruption and complication of moving seems minor in comparison to the distress, disappointment, and frustration we experience every single year when we try to secure the most basic of educational plans for our child. I understand that all towns are tough on sped, esp. in these economic times, but I would so appreciate any feedback from parents w/children who have special needs in any of the Metrowest suburbs (pref south of the Mass Pike) or South Shore area who have had even just average experiences securing special education and/or assistance for their children. An involved and active SEPAC is also a plus. Thank you for your help, and I apologize for the length of this....Thank you for reading.