Reply to DCPS IS halting all therapy services for kids in private schools

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Reply to "DCPS IS halting all therapy services for kids in private schools"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Hi OP & all this is Amanda,

Wanted to share this update that I received from Child Find (Brigid Cafferty) explaining the policy change - in case you haven't already had this same info shared:

[i]"The consultation model provides for 1 consultative visit per month (minimum of 30mins/maximum of 60 mins) in each of the disciplines the student qualifies for services. As your daughter qualifies for speech, occupational therapy, and physical therapy she would receive 1 consultative visit by each related service provider, for a total of 3 consultative visits per month. The DCPS related service providers will come to &lt;your School&gt; for these visits and coordinate with the school's staff schedule. The consultation model consists of the DCPS related service provider first observing the student in the private school classroom, then modeling and discussing strategies the private school teacher can use to support the student in the classroom.

I see that &lt;your daughter's&gt; ISP was completed this summer by DCPS Early Stages. I appreciate that the timing of this practice change is frustrating. Unfortunately, a state complaint was filed against DCPS with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). In OSSE's letter of decision, OSSE determined that DCPS's previous equitable services practice of providing direct services at a DCPS local school placed an unfair burden on parents. OSSE ordered DCPS to change our delivery model for equitable services. This consultation model relieves that burden on parents and allows for greater integration of the student's private school curriculum into their ISP service goals."[/i]

I understand that some have had success with the coaching model but we have found it quite stressful in our family when Early Intervention started to transition to it during our daughter's last year with them.  We don't have the resources in our family to properly implement the training, and I'm not sure my daughter's school will either.  It is a terrific school but we have been pioneers in the inclusion model there and her teacher does not have a background or extensive experience with special needs children.  I really respect the education that therapists have; I have watched them work miracles with my daughter, where she acquired a new skill in only several sessions with them that we had been trying for months to get her to learn.

Anyway at the risk of having my email blow up (this is too important!), I can be reached at amandajprovostATyahooDOTcom.  I would love to connect directly with you to learn more about your advocacy and strategies for getting the best possible outcomes for our children.

Thanks,
Amanda

[/quote]

This is really weird.  So in answer to the complaint that it was burdensome to have to travel to a DCPS to get actual services (for however many hours) they now have "coaches" travel to the private schools instead?  That really makes no sense and seems like it is in retaliation for whatever that complaint was.  [/quote]

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