Comments on: Parent Perspective of the Integrated Services Stakeholders Meeting

By: lek

lek — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:44:16 +0000

Hi Stephanie, actually it’s not chip it is ciis sorry i am booked after schoo; but if you have any preschoolers or half day kindergartners i’m open. And most of the teachers have been open to sugestions but after the school year progresses and behaviors pop up they get overwhelmed and less willing to work with me. Last year when we moved here within the first week all three of my kids were assaulted by different kids. The behavior of allot of theese kids are out of control. The teachers are overwhelmed with behavioral problems and I think some of them just dont have the energy to deal with my son. And David Douglas is better now but they actually faught my sons medical diagnosis from cdrC; it took over a year of fighting and the help of Jane Rake. David Douglas also started to really reach out to the famillies. That is definately lacking here.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 07:59:19 +0000

If you are ever looking for more work through DD I know a lot of families with funding that cannot find providers. Is CHIP the waiver program for medical/behavioral through CIIS?
I have found my daughter’s teachers to be receptive and eager to learn how to modify her work in gen ed. Teachers know that inclusion is the future but for some reason the district wants to turn back the clock to institutions and warehousing kids. I don’t believe all admin feel this way as I have spoken to the Superintendent and the CAO about this. There are people in the SpEd department though that have no vision whatsoever and really low expectations of kids with disabilities. Discipline in PPS in general for all kids is so old-timey that it could be an SNL skit at best and a civil rights law suit at worst. I would not be surprised to find a classroom with a dunce cap and a stool in this district still. I am trying to get a workshop set up through FACT to have parents bring in their school behavior plans so I can help parents understand them. I actually saw some pretty good behavior plans in David Douglas but actual behavior consultants write those plans through MESD vs, making an undersupported teacher write it for free or in their precious and too short planning minutes. This new IIS model is supposed to address that problem…we’ll see. David Douglas or at least SpEd in David Douglas is positive behavior supports and even the life skills classrooms are pretty good from what I have seen as far as being supported for academic and behavior challenges.
I know what you mean about blindsiding a school with actually knowing your rights and how to wield them. At my school so far that knowledge is appreciated and even tapped into.

By: lek

lek — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:44:29 +0000

Thanks for letting me know Stephanie, we moved here last year from David Douglas. It took many years to get DD to properly educate my son; and now I have to start over. I contract through Multnomah County DD and CHIP. There are some great people at Lents they just need to learn special ed law. They werent ready for a parent to advocate so strongly. Im amazed at the lack of training these teachers have in dealing with mainstreaming and further dismayed of the lack of support given to theese teachers.I have the utmost respect for the teachers they are trying very hard.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 06:20:47 +0000

PPS took feedback from staff and parents on special education services awhile back for an audit and this meeting was mostly administration, teachers, staff, and only a small handful of parents such as myself. I question how thorough the parent portion of the audit was because the data that came back made parents look pretty happy. I only learned about the audit because I am part of the special education PTA but I have no idea how they got the word out to other families and especially parents of kids who are mainstreamed? My kid is also a student with autism in general ed and her teachers have been great and I have been fairly lucky with my SpEd services in general but I am also an autism/behavior consultant so I can train my teachers myself and don’t have to wait around for PPS to do their job. I know firsthand working with families as a consultant that the services are dismal with a few bright spots here and there and the district is constantly breaking the law. I used to be a skills trainer for foster children. Are you independent or do you work out of an agency? I am guessing that you are like me and that the reason your child is not facing placement is because you have the training to support your teacher?

By: lek

lek — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:58:49 +0000

I am a low income parent with an autistic, mainstreamed child at Lents. I have never heard of the stake holders or about any meetings to give input on special ed. I have had a horrible time with special ed services here. I would love to give some input, im also a skills trainer for children with dds. I came across this site buy looking for info on Portland Public Schools problems for mainstreaming.