Anonymous wrote:Long story short: My Kindergartner has sensory processing disorder which manifests as anxiety. We tried to get a 504 for minor accommodations but it is a fight and taking a long time - even if the 504 came through the school wasn’t sure how to implement with current staffing challenges, over crowding and COVID restrictions. After talking to our (private) child psychologist, we pulled DD out of school as she was at a breaking point. No follow up from ES or responses to previous emails, phone calls or requests for meetings.

We can’t afford private school for the duration of ES. Kid can’t go back to home school.

I’d like to COSA to one of the 3 ES that are within 2 miles of our house that are under capacity (current ES is 200 kids over capacity). In hopes that with less kids, they could accommodate. What’s our chances? Do I need an advocate? An attorney? Or just pack up and move?

Note: We are up county. Not in DCC.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Psychologist here- sensory processing disorder was specifically excluded from the DSM because it does not have unique nosology- symptoms overlap with asd, sdjd, anxiety, etc. May be helpful to get a thorough testing to figure out what the underlying diagnosis is. If it is anxiety we generally do not recommend avoidance or any accommodations that include avoidance of the anxiety provoking situation. I would assume there may be something beyond anxiety or if it's just anxiety that it would be beneficial to find a psychologist that practices cbt

OP, you need a neurodevelopmental pediatrician, not a psychologist. SPD (quite understandably) can cause anxiety, not the other way around.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

A 504 is just a plan, usually medical to help kids (i.e. food allergy).

This is not true. 504s are quite common for kids with anxiety, ADHD and other conditions. OP hasn’t offered enough information for anyone to help. But there are a ton of accommodations offered for “non medical conditions. “

You need a medial diagnosis.

Anonymous wrote:Psychologist here- sensory processing disorder was specifically excluded from the DSM because it does not have unique nosology- symptoms overlap with asd, sdjd, anxiety, etc. May be helpful to get a thorough testing to figure out what the underlying diagnosis is. If it is anxiety we generally do not recommend avoidance or any accommodations that include avoidance of the anxiety provoking situation. I would assume there may be something beyond anxiety or if it's just anxiety that it would be beneficial to find a psychologist that practices cbt

Anonymous wrote:

A 504 is just a plan, usually medical to help kids (i.e. food allergy).

This is not true. 504s are quite common for kids with anxiety, ADHD and other conditions. OP hasn’t offered enough information for anyone to help. But there are a ton of accommodations offered for “non medical conditions. “

A 504 is just a plan, usually medical to help kids (i.e. food allergy).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, being under capacity does not lead to smaller classes or more available staffing.

Your best bet is to drop the 504 request and go directly for an IEP. An IEP is the only way to increase staffing formulas. Write to the principal request edging an IEP meeting. By law, they have (I think) 30 days to schedule the meetings.

I would suggest an advocate to help you, but if she already has a diagnosed disability that should help.

This is good advice, but I was struck by the part where the OP is upset that the school didn't reach out after she withdrew her child. That's correct, a public school is going to focus on the children who are enrolled, not the children who are not enrolled.

Also good advice are the folks talking about how a COSA is probably not going to help here. Staffing levels follow the number of kids in a school, so a school with more kids is going to have more staff. Just becuase a school is under-enrolled does not necessarily mean their team will have more time for OP's child, becuase there will by definition be fewer of them.

Basically, OP, if you want a specialized placement you are going to need to work the system to get it. That means an IEP and all of the hassles that go along with it. I get the impression that you don't think your child needs that level of intervention, but that's the only way you are going to have legally protected accommodations.

Curious what the OP told the school when she unenrolled her kid because usually you have to tell the school which school the child is going to next so they can send their cumulative records. You can't just unenroll and then say you're going to Cosa somewhere else you have to actually be enrolled in a school to do a cosa

Unclear if she unenrolled or is taking a “break”.

But, I think because it’s a 5yo kindergartner, they could just go with “going to try again next year”.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, being under capacity does not lead to smaller classes or more available staffing.

Your best bet is to drop the 504 request and go directly for an IEP. An IEP is the only way to increase staffing formulas. Write to the principal request edging an IEP meeting. By law, they have (I think) 30 days to schedule the meetings.

I would suggest an advocate to help you, but if she already has a diagnosed disability that should help.

This is good advice, but I was struck by the part where the OP is upset that the school didn't reach out after she withdrew her child. That's correct, a public school is going to focus on the children who are enrolled, not the children who are not enrolled.

Also good advice are the folks talking about how a COSA is probably not going to help here. Staffing levels follow the number of kids in a school, so a school with more kids is going to have more staff. Just becuase a school is under-enrolled does not necessarily mean their team will have more time for OP's child, becuase there will by definition be fewer of them.

Basically, OP, if you want a specialized placement you are going to need to work the system to get it. That means an IEP and all of the hassles that go along with it. I get the impression that you don't think your child needs that level of intervention, but that's the only way you are going to have legally protected accommodations.

Curious what the OP told the school when she unenrolled her kid because usually you have to tell the school which school the child is going to next so they can send their cumulative records. You can't just unenroll and then say you're going to Cosa somewhere else you have to actually be enrolled in a school to do a cosa

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, being under capacity does not lead to smaller classes or more available staffing.

Your best bet is to drop the 504 request and go directly for an IEP. An IEP is the only way to increase staffing formulas. Write to the principal request edging an IEP meeting. By law, they have (I think) 30 days to schedule the meetings.

I would suggest an advocate to help you, but if she already has a diagnosed disability that should help.

This is good advice, but I was struck by the part where the OP is upset that the school didn't reach out after she withdrew her child. That's correct, a public school is going to focus on the children who are enrolled, not the children who are not enrolled.

Also good advice are the folks talking about how a COSA is probably not going to help here. Staffing levels follow the number of kids in a school, so a school with more kids is going to have more staff. Just becuase a school is under-enrolled does not necessarily mean their team will have more time for OP's child, becuase there will by definition be fewer of them.

Basically, OP, if you want a specialized placement you are going to need to work the system to get it. That means an IEP and all of the hassles that go along with it. I get the impression that you don't think your child needs that level of intervention, but that's the only way you are going to have legally protected accommodations.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, being under capacity does not lead to smaller classes or more available staffing.

Your best bet is to drop the 504 request and go directly for an IEP. An IEP is the only way to increase staffing formulas. Write to the principal request edging an IEP meeting. By law, they have (I think) 30 days to schedule the meetings.

I would suggest an advocate to help you, but if she already has a diagnosed disability that should help.

This is good advice, but I was struck by the part where the OP is upset that the school didn't reach out after she withdrew her child. That's correct, a public school is going to focus on the children who are enrolled, not the children who are not enrolled.

Also good advice are the folks talking about how a COSA is probably not going to help here. Staffing levels follow the number of kids in a school, so a school with more kids is going to have more staff. Just becuase a school is under-enrolled does not necessarily mean their team will have more time for OP's child, becuase there will by definition be fewer of them.

Basically, OP, if you want a specialized placement you are going to need to work the system to get it. That means an IEP and all of the hassles that go along with it. I get the impression that you don't think your child needs that level of intervention, but that's the only way you are going to have legally protected accommodations.