Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Anonymous wrote:I am shocked. Just appalled at the parents on this forum who are so insensitive. This particular forum is supposed to be a place of support for parents who have kids who need extra help. I think what is going on here is similar to what happens on the private school forum, where parents bicker over the choice of private over public. Public school parents feel as though families who choose private over their public school are somehow snobby or too good for their public school. And now this is the public school population striking back at those private school parents...even on the special needs forum!! Come on people. These are children with special needs. They are entitled and NEED these services because a lot of private schools (especially the inexpensive parochial ones) do not have the resources!! OP does not have to explain why she chose private. But it appears she had good reason. Even if the reason was because she just wanted her DC to have a religious education, it should NOT matter. She chose this private school based on the fact that those services were available to her. Now she may have to send her child back to public only to have to withstand bullying again. How sad, and shocking that you people have no compassion for this child.

Anonymous wrote: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:

"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 <your School> 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 <your daughter's> 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 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

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP and any others in similar situation,
I'm late to the party here as I was on vacation when we received our similar letter, plus it took me a few days to realize it actually meant what it meant (you are cutting all my preK 4 daughter's services - 8 hours a month of direct therapy which to me is a meaningful amount - after we just agreed to this a month ago)? My main issue is with the timing of how this is all communicated. I have already signed a contract with the private pre-school - I might have made a different decision if DCPS had been upfront about not providing the services this year. I know it won't make a lick of difference but I will feel better if I complain to someone - have you contacted anyone in the DC government, council, media etc. as was suggested by many? Or pursued legal options? I would love to add our voice to whatever chorus has already been started (if any).
Thank you,
Amanda[/quote

Hello Amanda this is OP. I starting to think my family was the only one who got the letter! I think many more parents are in for a rude awakening once they try to schedule services. Wevhave contacted city council, deputy mayor for education, and US Dept. Of Ed. Feel we have very strong procedural arguments over lack of consultation and notice. Archdiocese is suing. Would love to connect with all parents who have been blindsided like I was. Trying to think of best way to share my contact info without giving it to the trolls?