Hello, everybody, long time no see - I have questions.

Drake is starting Kindergarten tomorrow and I want to go in fully aware of his rights. Can anyone tell me if I can demand that he have his own para or aid? He really needs it but this school is acting like, because of budget cuts, he may not have one.

Any and all feedback appreciated!

Kelley

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Kelley, Chris's wife
mom of Taylor 14, Daulton 11, Cameron 9 & Drake 6 (DS)

Can't help as I live in the wrong country - but wanted to say 'Great to see you on here again!' And, I think it's time you posted us a new photo of your gorgeous little man! Hope school goes well tomorrow, x

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Helen

Mum to ...
Rachael Kinza (25/07/01), Matthew Isaac - DS & Autism - (14/06/03) and Hannah Cerys (14/06/05) - my gorgeous kids!

I am in the wrong country too and here we have to have all of that in place and funded before they start. BUT, if they need help the school has to provide it. If I were you I would be providing whatever evidence you have that proves he needs support (like therapist reports) and asking for assistance for him.

I am holding Talitha back from school an extra year because they said she wouldn't get a full-time aide and she just isn't ready for school yet. She will start when she is 6.

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Karyn
Mum to Nikki (Jul 89), Stefanie (Sep 96), Joel [June 98] and Talitha (DS) (Nov 05) AVSD/PDA repaired 23 March 06

"I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well." Psalm 139:14

Hi. We just went through this here in California. I am in Southern California and I know the outcomes to these type of things vary greatly from state to state and even district to district. Due to the budget cuts the "need" for a para-educator is being strictly monitored - your best bet (as far as our experience goes) is to get a "Psycho Educational Assessment" done by the district psychologist. In this assessment it is necessary for the psychologist to specifically state that it is in your child's best interest to have a para-educator. This used to be a slam dunk to get one but now-a-days that isn't even a guarantee...but it is uber necessary to get the ball rolling.

Hope this is helpful. Step one is to request IN WRITING at the district level that you want to have a 'Psycho Educational Evaluation"...then just be honest with the evaluator and tell them that you are looking to have in writing the need for a para-educator.

Good luck!! ~Lauri

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Just wanted to wish you all that is good for tomorrow.......hope it's a good one!

No advice on your entitlements!

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Linda & John
mom to Hannah Kate (Age 12 ), Robert (Aged 6 - DS)


First day at school

Hope they surprised you with an assistant. Nate doesn't get one but their will be one aide for 4 classrooms (off the records per the Exceptional Education assistant) who just may end up keeping a closer eye on him for the first few weeks till he transistions and gets the routine.

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Sherry
Evan 10, Olivia 9, and Nate 6*

Hosted on Fotki

We went through this last year. Abby was not given an aide at first, but a notebook was impletemented from the resource teacher. With her running, impulsivness and inability to focus for long times, the notebook acted as our log. It was so hard to read emotionally, but in the end, we got a full time aide.

Good luck.

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Eli
Mom to Abby (DS 10/21/03), James Thomas (01/31/06), Katie (08/12/08.)

Thank u all very much! I'll work on that pic, Helen. In the meantime, this was today's report:
She said: " he's doing excellent, he fits right in, but we really need to work on potty training because I don't have anyone who can change him." --- i'm a bit miffed as just this morning she told me an aid was coming every hour to take him to potty?? Grrrr

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Kelley, Chris's wife
mom of Taylor 14, Daulton 11, Cameron 9 & Drake 6 (DS)