I did a seminar recently. My seminar was on what to expect at an IEP/504 meeting. Here are some of the comments I heard from parents spoken to them by school districts:
“We are at our quota of eligible disabled students already. We can’t have more.”
“Evaluations must be done in the summer time.”
“Your child (with muscular dystrophy) is not allowed to use a wheelchair in school.”
“[A disciplinary action against a child with a disability and IEP] is completely an internal school matter. You don’t need to worry about it.”
[From a case manager] “I’m not sure what to do. What do you want me to do?”“You want a person assigned to your child (in a manual wheelchair) to ensure they get out of the school during an emergency? We don’t do that.”
“[A child with MD but not in a wheelchair] is not entitled to use the elevator. She must use the stairs.” (Child falls a lot).
“Your child is depressed.” (No, exhausted from fatigue by the middle of the school day.) “She needs to be on anti-depression medication so that her grades improve.”
[Child has received 50s and 60s on math tests, yet child got a “B” on her report card].———————-
I heard these statements with great dismay. They are not only false, hurtful, and deceitful, they are illegal. The law protects against all of these things, but too often parents don’t know that the schools are wrong.
If you think the school is telling you incorrect things concerning services or accommodations for your disabled child, please contact a special education lawyer or advocate and ask questions.