Pretty much every public school will have at least one special education teacher and access to OT and SLPs at the school level. If you are in MCPS this is a non-issue. For example at my kid’s APS school alone there are about 8 special education teachers, 2 SLPs, and an OT. If your child was not in a co-taught classroom or received services you wouldn’t be aware most likely because your kid wouldn’t see these teachers or know who they are. Please do not worry.

Some students with particularly extensive needs are sent to specialized programs in other schools because they need more than what their home school can provide. But that would be discussed by the IEP team. Your home evil can provide a moderate number of speech, OT, and special ed hours.

Anonymous wrote:Your neighbor doesn't know what they're talking about.

If your kid needs speech and therapy isn’t currently a speech therapist assigned to that school, Central Office will change the assignments to make sure there will be a provider for your kid. N

But every ES has at least part time speech and OT on staff.

Anonymous wrote:Time to lawyer up

Because OP heard thirdhand information that may or may not be true from someone who doesn't work in the system so their knowledge is limited?

OP take the advice of BTDT 7:16. Reach out this summer with introductions, remember that classroom teachers return a week before school starts but administrators work year round, ask who your child's case manager will be, and get in touch with them, attend Back to School Night, but remember that it's not an appropriate time for questions specific to your child, and go from there.

I have BTDT -
Start the school year with the mindset that the school is going to deliver on the IEP exactly as written.

Write a letter that explains your child -
The wonderful things, situations where there might be challenges, things teachers in the past have commented etc.

I am not sure what your school has for back to school night / meet the teacher etc. But go and introduce yourself. Let them do their job.

We have been in the situation where the school OT quit in October (they were not a good fit for the position), the school sent us a letter, and informed us of the plan for providing services.
We have been in the situation where the Special Education Teacher went out on maternity leave - the school dropped the ball every which way and then some. But this was for a high school student- so please do not think it will be your case. We needed to file a complaint and received compensatory education services.

Anonymous wrote:Your neighbor doesn't know what they're talking about.

+1 and maybe don’t tell her so much private information about your child’s plan

I suspect that your neighbor is resentful of all the services your child is getting and she likes to stir the pot. Please don't fall prey to people like this.

I don't think it's time to drop $$ on an advocate/lawyer when nobody at the school said the iep can't be followed. Is the advocate going to have an IEP meeting with your neighbor?

A lot of districts have floating slps and ots that travel to multiple schools. I wouldn't take your neighbor seriously.

Time to lawyer up

Which elementary school are you claiming doesn’t have speech or OT? I am fairly certain your neighbor is completely wrong.

Go pull up the school roster, there are definitely speech therapists and OT's listed. At the end of the school year there could be vacancies, but they are typically filled by the start of the school year and if they are not then they will use contractors. It is a very large school district. They have resources.

Anonymous wrote:Get an advocate. Most school districts offer this as a free service.

PP can you say more about this? I don't know of any advocates who are not private pay, working on behalf of the student (not the school system).

Your neighbor doesn't know what they're talking about.

If this is in MCPS, speech therapists and occupational therapists work at multiple schools. There is definitely someone assigned to the school, they might not just work there full time. I would not listen to your neighbor.