[johnfrink]

Gilliam said she believes her refusal to have an "Individual Education Program" drawn up for her daughter is part of the problem.

She said the plan would involve not only testing Chey-enne's intellectual capability, but also her mental and emotional health, something that is not required for most children.

Yes, idiot mom, that's the problem. I know it's horrible that your daughter has epilepsy, but she does, and you've got to go through an IEP if you want special services.

Face it, your daughter IS different, and if you want accomodations based on that difference, then you've got to, uh, follow the rules.

I can't stand parents who in one breath say they want their kids to be treated as though they are not different, but then in the next breath demand all sorts of special services.

[Shryke]

Perhaps the mother doesn't want her child to feel even more different than she does now? Or do you consider someone with epilepsy emotionally unstable/mentally deficient?

[thegreatbeast]

"It's my responsibility to see to the safety and the well-being of all," Hammond said. "I would rather look at getting an instructional assistant and training them."

Well, at least the family will get the $8,000 back. Plis a whole lt more. Unfortunately, it will be from the public coffers because of this horse's ass intervention.

Maybe they aren't acceding to all the rigamarole of psychological testing but you can bet your last dollar that the family will prevail in any proceeding. Look up the meaning of accommodation. I don't think it means what you think it means.

[politicalwit]

"When the family first bought their house in Rockcastle County two months ago, she said she began working with the school system to ensure that it was prepared for the dog, which came home with the family Sunday after five months of training. Gilliam said she had responded to the district's questions, sent in the paperwork officials required and worked with them to draw up plans for how the dog would be handled at school."

Obviously the parents have taken the necessary steps by communicating with school officials. It appears that only now does the school realize they are missing out on additional funds by dragging this child thru unnecessary evaluation and classification. The parents seem to have a grasp on "their" daughter's disorder and are not asking for extra services.

[freeeee]

you've got to go through an IEP if you want special services.

Why? And she isn't asking for services. She's providing her own.

[MortMan]

Face it, your daughter IS different, and if you want accomodations based on that difference, then you've got to, uh, follow the rules.

IEPs are for deviations from the academic curricula, not for physical accomodations. Kids in wheelchairs do not require IEPs - the gym issue can be handled by a doctor's note, I believe. "Special services" in this context are academic deviations, not physical accomodations.

BTW - Your hostile "idiot mom" comment says more about your attitude toward the issue, not the Mother's.

[MissEdie]

She doesn't even need an IEP, the parents can have a 504 Plan put in place (used more to address medical conditions than academic ones) which is generally easier to get and less time consuming to write up but it is as legally binding as an IEP.

[luckystarmom]

I agree with you. I have a daughter with brain damage. She has an IEP. It's for the school and the girl's best interest to have the IEP.

[SaveTheChief]

It is moronic, uneducated comments like yours which foster the ignorance about epilepsy and other medical conditions. People can live long productive lives with epilepsy and accomplish great things. It is not a disease, a mental disorder, or something that requires a person to be treated differently than "normal" people. I know. I HAVE IT.

I am suspicious that the ONLY reason this administrator wanted to give this child an IEP is to qualify for more federal funding.

What you apparently do not understand is that the family did not request any special services. They paid eight thousand dollars for a dog which will protect this child at the onset of a seizure. They want nothing more than to allow this child to go to school like everyone else. This dog will sit next to the child and is trained to ignore distractions like other children.

I see no difference between the dog and the millions of dollars of prescription medication pumped into young children with behavioral "disorders" just so they can sit in class like everyone else.