Anyone not pursuing a 504 or IEP due to political climate

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I think your fears are unfounded. I wouldn’t stop the IEP or 504 process for any of those reasons. I live in a red state and this is not remotely a concern.

However, as other posters have noted, services aren’t really worth it in most places. Private services are an absolute must no matter what.

But, my kids have received the most services here than anywhere else we’ve lived, including N. Arlington.

I want to know all of these parents who got IEPs but the “services weren’t worth it.” Yes the OT for example is probably better privately and became a waste of time when kid got older but I would never have thought my kid could qualify for an IEP if he didn’t need the services. And of course the IEP involves a lot more than pullouts. Of course like most other parents I have complaints and wish there was more, but everything we got we really needed. Are y’all talking about speech therapy for a lisp or something?

[Anonymous]

My kid has an actual disability and need, so this isn't something I've actually considered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid has an actual disability and need, so this isn't something I've actually considered.

Many disabilities are not as apparent at younger ages when the academic and social demands are not as high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid has an actual disability and need, so this isn't something I've actually considered.

Many disabilities are not as apparent at younger ages when the academic and social demands are not as high.

My kid's were. He had an IEP from K to 11th grade, and a 504 in 12th grade. Currently successful in college, with accommodations, and right now has a summer job.

OP's question is ridiculous and borderline offensive. No one is rounding up kids with "labels", or stamping their Life File For Eternity Such That They Can't Get Jobs. As another poster said, this smacks of cold feet and denial.

Those of us whose kids could not function in school without services and accommodations are thankful that they exist, and plan to utilize them for as long as they're still offered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid has an actual disability and need, so this isn't something I've actually considered.

Many disabilities are not as apparent at younger ages when the academic and social demands are not as high.

My kid's were. He had an IEP from K to 11th grade, and a 504 in 12th grade. Currently successful in college, with accommodations, and right now has a summer job.

OP's question is ridiculous and borderline offensive. No one is rounding up kids with "labels", or stamping their Life File For Eternity Such That They Can't Get Jobs. As another poster said, this smacks of cold feet and denial.

Those of us whose kids could not function in school without services and accommodations are thankful that they exist, and plan to utilize them for as long as they're still offered.

I agree that it is highly unlikely that OP's child would be harmed by the Trump administration if they get an IEP or 504 plan, but it is not "offensive" to worry about this. Jfc

I get that you have a different situation on your household, but my child's or OP's child's situation is real and not an affront to you. We exist and have a right to exist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid has an actual disability and need, so this isn't something I've actually considered.

Many disabilities are not as apparent at younger ages when the academic and social demands are not as high.

My kid's were. He had an IEP from K to 11th grade, and a 504 in 12th grade. Currently successful in college, with accommodations, and right now has a summer job.

OP's question is ridiculous and borderline offensive. No one is rounding up kids with "labels", or stamping their Life File For Eternity Such That They Can't Get Jobs. As another poster said, this smacks of cold feet and denial.

Those of us whose kids could not function in school without services and accommodations are thankful that they exist, and plan to utilize them for as long as they're still offered.

I agree that it is highly unlikely that OP's child would be harmed by the Trump administration if they get an IEP or 504 plan, but it is not "offensive" to worry about this. Jfc

I get that you have a different situation on your household, but my child's or OP's child's situation is real and not an affront to you. We exist and have a right to exist.

it kind of is offensive though. I agree with PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My ASD child has a 504 that we obtained before the current MAHA talk of forming a registry of autistic people. I’m horrified by the possibility that DC’s information will be furnished to the current administration in extraction for school funding. The rhetoric from RFK Jr. especially sounds like eugenics to me. I get what OP is talking about.

Respectfully you need to distinguish between fears and reality. I was disturbed by the resigstry idea but guess what … my kid’s data is already everywhere. How do you think they do the annual research on autism rates for example? Presumably OP’s kid has a diagnosis- their data is already out there.

The actual threat from the Trump Admin is that cuts to federal funding will lead to reductions in services available by schools - and the gutting of the ED complaints office. But to believe that kids with 504s and IEPs are going to get rounded up and that therefore you won’t get your child services is just … not supported by any facts I am aware of.

OP’s question is really just another variety of a question that we get here often about whether some perceived stigma of a diagnosis or label is negative enough to avoid the diagnosis. Sometimes that question indicates that the child actually doesn’t have anything that big going on and the parent is having cold feet when they think about it. Sometimes it’s a phase in denial. But those of us who have kids for whom NOT getting an IEP was ever an option can tell you that this kind of waffling likely bears little relationship to getting your kids actual needs met.

There are kids that can get by without an IEP/504 but still would benefit from it. They are people and are not an insult to you. The lower the support needs, the less benefit there is from an IEP so yes the calculus might be different. In some cases, elementary schools put all the IEP and EML kids in one class to make it easier to provide services to them. I have emails from school staff confirming this. If your kid is barely getting any supports, it's not worth the disruption of being in that class which has multiple staff pushing in throughout the day. Especially if your kid have anxiety/autism/adhd which makes those disruptions even more distracting.

Hopefully, OP's school does not do this (which I think is a huge disservice to IEP and EML kids, and which I think most schools do not do). Ultimately I agree with you that OP should pursue services because I think even a small amount of services can be valuable and I think it is important for school staff to be aware of the kid's specific needs. Kindergarten is very different from preschool and the demands are different. A lot of times as these kids get older they need more support because of the increased academic and social demands.

If they can “get by without it” then they don’t meet the legal criteria. And I guess if you don’t want your kid to be one of “those” kids then that is also a consideration. I guess you are one of those parents whose kid is SN enough to need unlimited time on the SAT but certainly not actually disabled.

Rude

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid has an actual disability and need, so this isn't something I've actually considered.

Many disabilities are not as apparent at younger ages when the academic and social demands are not as high.

My kid's were. He had an IEP from K to 11th grade, and a 504 in 12th grade. Currently successful in college, with accommodations, and right now has a summer job.

OP's question is ridiculous and borderline offensive. No one is rounding up kids with "labels", or stamping their Life File For Eternity Such That They Can't Get Jobs. As another poster said, this smacks of cold feet and denial.

Those of us whose kids could not function in school without services and accommodations are thankful that they exist, and plan to utilize them for as long as they're still offered.

I agree that it is highly unlikely that OP's child would be harmed by the Trump administration if they get an IEP or 504 plan, but it is not "offensive" to worry about this. Jfc

I get that you have a different situation on your household, but my child's or OP's child's situation is real and not an affront to you. We exist and have a right to exist.

it kind of is offensive though. I agree with PP.

Disagree. I assume posters on this forum, esp those new to navigating the educational services world, are genuinely asking for help. I try to offer it in the same spirit. We were all new once.

If you can’t say something nice…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid has an actual disability and need, so this isn't something I've actually considered.

Many disabilities are not as apparent at younger ages when the academic and social demands are not as high.

My kid's were. He had an IEP from K to 11th grade, and a 504 in 12th grade. Currently successful in college, with accommodations, and right now has a summer job.

OP's question is ridiculous and borderline offensive. No one is rounding up kids with "labels", or stamping their Life File For Eternity Such That They Can't Get Jobs. As another poster said, this smacks of cold feet and denial.

Those of us whose kids could not function in school without services and accommodations are thankful that they exist, and plan to utilize them for as long as they're still offered.

I agree that it is highly unlikely that OP's child would be harmed by the Trump administration if they get an IEP or 504 plan, but it is not "offensive" to worry about this. Jfc

I get that you have a different situation on your household, but my child's or OP's child's situation is real and not an affront to you. We exist and have a right to exist.

it kind of is offensive though. I agree with PP.

Disagree. I assume posters on this forum, esp those new to navigating the educational services world, are genuinely asking for help. I try to offer it in the same spirit. We were all new once.

If you can’t say something nice…

I've been reading this forum for more than 15 years. We try to be supportive and helpful, but the landscape has changed recently. I reported posts that were deleted, that called people morons for thinking that we would still live in a democracy and that our SN kids would be flagged for ever. Clearly political trolling has found the SN forum.

OP's question is borderline, because those of us who are still rational can see that the political fear she's claiming to be operating under is overblown. And if it's not, and we are doomed to live in a world where having special needs will send kids to concentration camps, then WE WILL HAVE WORSE PROBLEMS TO DEAL WITH. That sort of extremism doesn't come on its own as a single policy, does it?

If OP doesn't want services right now, fine. Her kid is lucky not to need them at this time. But let's try to be rational about which risks are valid and which are not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid has an actual disability and need, so this isn't something I've actually considered.

Many disabilities are not as apparent at younger ages when the academic and social demands are not as high.

My kid's were. He had an IEP from K to 11th grade, and a 504 in 12th grade. Currently successful in college, with accommodations, and right now has a summer job.

OP's question is ridiculous and borderline offensive. No one is rounding up kids with "labels", or stamping their Life File For Eternity Such That They Can't Get Jobs. As another poster said, this smacks of cold feet and denial.

Those of us whose kids could not function in school without services and accommodations are thankful that they exist, and plan to utilize them for as long as they're still offered.

I agree that it is highly unlikely that OP's child would be harmed by the Trump administration if they get an IEP or 504 plan, but it is not "offensive" to worry about this. Jfc

I get that you have a different situation on your household, but my child's or OP's child's situation is real and not an affront to you. We exist and have a right to exist.

it kind of is offensive though. I agree with PP.

Disagree. I assume posters on this forum, esp those new to navigating the educational services world, are genuinely asking for help. I try to offer it in the same spirit. We were all new once.

If you can’t say something nice…

I've been reading this forum for more than 15 years. We try to be supportive and helpful, but the landscape has changed recently. I reported posts that were deleted, that called people morons for thinking that we would still live in a democracy and that our SN kids would be flagged for ever. Clearly political trolling has found the SN forum.

OP's question is borderline, because those of us who are still rational can see that the political fear she's claiming to be operating under is overblown. And if it's not, and we are doomed to live in a world where having special needs will send kids to concentration camps, then WE WILL HAVE WORSE PROBLEMS TO DEAL WITH. That sort of extremism doesn't come on its own as a single policy, does it?

If OP doesn't want services right now, fine. Her kid is lucky not to need them at this time. But let's try to be rational about which risks are valid and which are not.

She is a parent trying to navigate an environment that is complex and adversarial in the best of times. And it is not the best of times.

If you can't muster up some empathy for her don't post here ffs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid has an actual disability and need, so this isn't something I've actually considered.

Many disabilities are not as apparent at younger ages when the academic and social demands are not as high.

My kid's were. He had an IEP from K to 11th grade, and a 504 in 12th grade. Currently successful in college, with accommodations, and right now has a summer job.

OP's question is ridiculous and borderline offensive. No one is rounding up kids with "labels", or stamping their Life File For Eternity Such That They Can't Get Jobs. As another poster said, this smacks of cold feet and denial.

Those of us whose kids could not function in school without services and accommodations are thankful that they exist, and plan to utilize them for as long as they're still offered.

I agree that it is highly unlikely that OP's child would be harmed by the Trump administration if they get an IEP or 504 plan, but it is not "offensive" to worry about this. Jfc

I get that you have a different situation on your household, but my child's or OP's child's situation is real and not an affront to you. We exist and have a right to exist.

it kind of is offensive though. I agree with PP.

Disagree. I assume posters on this forum, esp those new to navigating the educational services world, are genuinely asking for help. I try to offer it in the same spirit. We were all new once.

If you can’t say something nice…

+1 some people get some kind of validation out of bashing other people. Gross.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I think your fears are unfounded. I wouldn’t stop the IEP or 504 process for any of those reasons. I live in a red state and this is not remotely a concern.

However, as other posters have noted, services aren’t really worth it in most places. Private services are an absolute must no matter what.

But, my kids have received the most services here than anywhere else we’ve lived, including N. Arlington.

I want to know all of these parents who got IEPs but the “services weren’t worth it.” Yes the OT for example is probably better privately and became a waste of time when kid got older but I would never have thought my kid could qualify for an IEP if he didn’t need the services. And of course the IEP involves a lot more than pullouts. Of course like most other parents I have complaints and wish there was more, but everything we got we really needed. Are y’all talking about speech therapy for a lisp or something?

I’m the PP of the referenced comment and nothing the public school in terms of instruction did moved the dial for my DS. He has dyslexia and the methods used to remediate dyslexia were completely inadequate. Everything he accomplished was done privately.

He had five hours of reading instruction pull out a week. Sounds great, right? Nope, wasn’t great. The kids were all in a room and paired up. Not sure if they were at the same level. They had an instruction book that they reviewed together. The teacher would stop in to check on the pairs in turn to see if they had questions. I’d rather him not be there at all. What a waste of time. He had OT once a month for 30 minutes for fine motor skills.

Once he got into middle school and beyond, some things became helpful. Access to the resource room to ask for help if he didn’t understand something. Extra time on tests. Access to audio books, if needed. But no actual instruction or remediation was helpful at any time.

When we moved to a different state, he was beyond elementary at that point. People here swear that the public schools do provide adequate remediation. I didn’t see it for myself though. We did send him to an OG accredited private school for language based learning disabilities for a while. They were fantastic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid has an actual disability and need, so this isn't something I've actually considered.

Many disabilities are not as apparent at younger ages when the academic and social demands are not as high.

My kid's were. He had an IEP from K to 11th grade, and a 504 in 12th grade. Currently successful in college, with accommodations, and right now has a summer job.

OP's question is ridiculous and borderline offensive. No one is rounding up kids with "labels", or stamping their Life File For Eternity Such That They Can't Get Jobs. As another poster said, this smacks of cold feet and denial.

Those of us whose kids could not function in school without services and accommodations are thankful that they exist, and plan to utilize them for as long as they're still offered.

I agree that it is highly unlikely that OP's child would be harmed by the Trump administration if they get an IEP or 504 plan, but it is not "offensive" to worry about this. Jfc

I get that you have a different situation on your household, but my child's or OP's child's situation is real and not an affront to you. We exist and have a right to exist.

it kind of is offensive though. I agree with PP.

Disagree. I assume posters on this forum, esp those new to navigating the educational services world, are genuinely asking for help. I try to offer it in the same spirit. We were all new once.

If you can’t say something nice…

These questions all imply that being one of “those” kids is something to be avoided or even worse that the 504/IEP system is something to be gamed to get advantages like extra time on tests but not at the cost of “stigma”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I think your fears are unfounded. I wouldn’t stop the IEP or 504 process for any of those reasons. I live in a red state and this is not remotely a concern.

However, as other posters have noted, services aren’t really worth it in most places. Private services are an absolute must no matter what.

But, my kids have received the most services here than anywhere else we’ve lived, including N. Arlington.

I want to know all of these parents who got IEPs but the “services weren’t worth it.” Yes the OT for example is probably better privately and became a waste of time when kid got older but I would never have thought my kid could qualify for an IEP if he didn’t need the services. And of course the IEP involves a lot more than pullouts. Of course like most other parents I have complaints and wish there was more, but everything we got we really needed. Are y’all talking about speech therapy for a lisp or something?

I’m the PP of the referenced comment and nothing the public school in terms of instruction did moved the dial for my DS. He has dyslexia and the methods used to remediate dyslexia were completely inadequate. Everything he accomplished was done privately.

He had five hours of reading instruction pull out a week. Sounds great, right? Nope, wasn’t great. The kids were all in a room and paired up. Not sure if they were at the same level. They had an instruction book that they reviewed together. The teacher would stop in to check on the pairs in turn to see if they had questions. I’d rather him not be there at all. What a waste of time. He had OT once a month for 30 minutes for fine motor skills.

Once he got into middle school and beyond, some things became helpful. Access to the resource room to ask for help if he didn’t understand something. Extra time on tests. Access to audio books, if needed. But no actual instruction or remediation was helpful at any time.

When we moved to a different state, he was beyond elementary at that point. People here swear that the public schools do provide adequate remediation. I didn’t see it for myself though. We did send him to an OG accredited private school for language based learning disabilities for a while. They were fantastic.

Same. I think the dyslexia "services" actually were harmful. The teachers didn't think it was real diagnosis and certainly did not know the right way to help. It was truly awful. We spent $20K so our daughter could read.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid has an actual disability and need, so this isn't something I've actually considered.

Many disabilities are not as apparent at younger ages when the academic and social demands are not as high.

My kid's were. He had an IEP from K to 11th grade, and a 504 in 12th grade. Currently successful in college, with accommodations, and right now has a summer job.

OP's question is ridiculous and borderline offensive. No one is rounding up kids with "labels", or stamping their Life File For Eternity Such That They Can't Get Jobs. As another poster said, this smacks of cold feet and denial.

Those of us whose kids could not function in school without services and accommodations are thankful that they exist, and plan to utilize them for as long as they're still offered.

I agree that it is highly unlikely that OP's child would be harmed by the Trump administration if they get an IEP or 504 plan, but it is not "offensive" to worry about this. Jfc

I get that you have a different situation on your household, but my child's or OP's child's situation is real and not an affront to you. We exist and have a right to exist.

it kind of is offensive though. I agree with PP.

Disagree. I assume posters on this forum, esp those new to navigating the educational services world, are genuinely asking for help. I try to offer it in the same spirit. We were all new once.

If you can’t say something nice…

I've been reading this forum for more than 15 years. We try to be supportive and helpful, but the landscape has changed recently. I reported posts that were deleted, that called people morons for thinking that we would still live in a democracy and that our SN kids would be flagged for ever. Clearly political trolling has found the SN forum.

OP's question is borderline, because those of us who are still rational can see that the political fear she's claiming to be operating under is overblown. And if it's not, and we are doomed to live in a world where having special needs will send kids to concentration camps, then WE WILL HAVE WORSE PROBLEMS TO DEAL WITH. That sort of extremism doesn't come on its own as a single policy, does it?

If OP doesn't want services right now, fine. Her kid is lucky not to need them at this time. But let's try to be rational about which risks are valid and which are not.

She is a parent trying to navigate an environment that is complex and adversarial in the best of times. And it is not the best of times.

If you can't muster up some empathy for her don't post here ffs

OP has a valid concern with this administration. They are clearly targeting various groups. RFK jr. has threatened to do away with stimulant and psychotropic meds, create an autism registry, and send those with mental health issues off to "wellness canps." I'm concerned and have secured extra meds for myself and my child. The incompetence of this administration to carry about robust systematic damage has eased some of my concerns but OP has a right to some angst.