Being the parent of a child with special needs means that once a year (perhaps even more) you face the dreaded CSE meeting. For most, that means facing your child's teacher, therapists, and the head of the special education department to try and have a spirited discussion on what is in the best interest of your child. However, when I attend meetings, I am not only sitting among the professionals who educate my child, I am sitting among my colleagues and my boss.
This is a tough balancing act. There are time when I want to go all mama-bear on them and fight for what my daughter needs, yet I need to maintain a level of professionalism for the sake of my career. Still, on occassion, I have been known to remove my working cap and represent myself solely as the parent who needs to advocate for my child.
Just yesterday I sat at a meeting and listened to the school assure me that there was a plan in place for her and it was safe to remove her special alerts off her IEP. After all, I was just being an over protective mother and they want to foster independence in my child. Then the very next afternoon the plan that they had in place fell through and I was caught up in a panic attack
wondering where my child was. Sadly, this is not the first time this has happened.
Yes, my child's legally binding IEP has not fully protected her in the way that it should.
Parents, please don't be intimidated to stand up for what your child needs. Bring advocates to your meeting. Supply the committee team with paperwork backing your reason for your special request. If you are not happy with the way the meeting is going, you have the right to table it and reconvene at a later time. You also have the right to call a meeting whenever you like. You don't have to wait until next year's scheduled meeting. Do whatever you need to do in order to get your child what they need to get them through their school years. You know your child better than anyone else, and you are the only person who is going to fight for your child's rights. I am proud to say that today I switched my ID badge from Amy Quonce: school professional, to Mama Bear: parent on the prowl.
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This is a tough balancing act. There are time when I want to go all mama-bear on them and fight for what my daughter needs, yet I need to maintain a level of professionalism for the sake of my career. Still, on occassion, I have been known to remove my working cap and represent myself solely as the parent who needs to advocate for my child.
Just yesterday I sat at a meeting and listened to the school assure me that there was a plan in place for her and it was safe to remove her special alerts off her IEP. After all, I was just being an over protective mother and they want to foster independence in my child. Then the very next afternoon the plan that they had in place fell through and I was caught up in a panic attack
wondering where my child was. Sadly, this is not the first time this has happened.
Yes, my child's legally binding IEP has not fully protected her in the way that it should.
Parents, please don't be intimidated to stand up for what your child needs. Bring advocates to your meeting. Supply the committee team with paperwork backing your reason for your special request. If you are not happy with the way the meeting is going, you have the right to table it and reconvene at a later time. You also have the right to call a meeting whenever you like. You don't have to wait until next year's scheduled meeting. Do whatever you need to do in order to get your child what they need to get them through their school years. You know your child better than anyone else, and you are the only person who is going to fight for your child's rights. I am proud to say that today I switched my ID badge from Amy Quonce: school professional, to Mama Bear: parent on the prowl.
.
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