special education programs in schools? (San Antonio, Alamo: middle school, cost, best)

[AFWife1029]

I am trying to research for my grad school class what kinds of benefits a special education program provides for parents in san antonio schools if that makes sense.

The hypothetical project is a parent support group for parents of middle school students with learning disabilities that provides a free hour of tutoring with a qualified professional for their child for each time the parent attends the support group.

I have been searching on the school websites all over san antonio and surrounding areas to see what they tell about their special education programs in general and not finding much. So I figured Id ask everyone here if they think that a program like this was put into action hypothetically if it would be used? if there is anything like this support group wise or otherwise for special education parents?

any help is greatly appreciated and any insight is too.

Thanks
AFWife1029

[neddy]

I would be very surprised if a support group was out there for LD in the San Antonio area through one of the schools (beside Winston which is an LD school). Dr. Bob Strauss at Busy Bodies might be able to help you out some and tell you the history of the lack of LD programs in SA. I called Northside ISd early this year since we are in private right now to see what sort of services they had and the lady said none and "relly what can we do for a 1st grader with an LD" not very pleased with this. Good luck though

[wCat]

Neddy...I'm hearing you! I was very displeased with the "special ed" services in private and public! Private schools often lack the funding to have a diagnostician and special ed classes or counseling because of the smaller size of enrollment. They seem expensive because we pay a lot of money out of pocket....but when measured by the cost per student in the public schools, it sort of surprising how they measure up.

My son simply had ADD. He did not have behavioral problems and was/is brilliant. He just didn't excell at doing 100 math problems at one time for homework. He just saw an overwhelming page of numbers and just shut down. For that diagnosis, he was put in "Special Ed". It was really hard on him because "special ed" is a huge umbrella covering behavioral problems, mental retardation, emotional problems and LD, which further covers dylexia, dysgraphia, aspergers syndrome, and ADD and ADHD. He had that stigma attached to him in school, and it was very difficult to avoid. He really would have excelled in the "gifted and talented" classes because they were more "hands on" with visuals, experiments and field trips beyond the Zoo and the Alamo. But....he had to take a battery of tests where he had to score 95% on all of them to qualify. His problem was that he couldn't get it finished in the time allotted. He did however score 100% on the 80% that he did finish! The GT teacher just brushed it off and said he wouldn't qualify. In my mind, he was being prevented by this "handicap" from doing the best thing for him! I can't tell you the amount of ARD meetings I called and attended from the 2nd grade on. He was always and still is very advanced for his peer group age......he has a huge vocabulary and very analytical mind.....but just learns differently. I was always his biggest advocate.....but I always told him that his ADD was a reason for his challenges, but was never going to be an excuse for being a "victim" or for being lazy. Just like all of us, we all have our difficulties and challenges.....his were just different.

AFWife.....sorry to have gone on so long....but I suppose my point in all this is that "Special Ed" as it is defined in Texas schools encompasses a very broad group of children that learn "differently". I don't see that my attendence in a support group with parents that have dissimilar challenges would have been helpful to me or my son. My son did have some tutoring by some teachers that saw the potential in him and felt they could make a difference. Those are the ones that helped my son the most because they took time to let him know they validated him and believed he could do it. I'm not sure awarding a student extra "tutoring" for parent attendence in support groups would "connect" to my child. The rewards should come from accomplishments made by the child. And tutoring should be provided without an incentive. That's just MHO from a parent who's been there!

Write me if you'd like more specifics. I could write a book on how badly the teachers, counselors and principal handled my son over the years....and what it took to get their attention. I was not a parent to run rough shod over. They cringed when they saw me coming!....but it was not over trivial things. I picked my battles....and I made my son carry his fair share.

Looking back, he did better the older he got and studied in more advanced classes. His little mind was just light years beyond his major and minor motor skills.....it was hard for him to understand what was out of sync.