Looking for info on educational advocates with lawyer support for low cost or free in Plainfied/Joliet area. Daughter who is a twin 9 1/2 in 3rd grade having trouble spelling and writing and falls in grey area of special ed. Going through evaulation process right now and had to fight the school to have the evaulation done at all, even though she has been in a flex program since 1st grade.We had both twins held back in 1st grade when we saw them having problems in 1/2 day Kindergarten. She might have any one of these Dysgraphia,ADD/ADHD,Sensory issues or ASD?? from what I am researching on the net. She also has a hard time focusing on anything but reading, she is an excelllent reader! Any help on navigating the special education systeym would be greatly appreciated.
I am in the same boat as you, I am researching it for my 4 year old, we had the screening and let me tell you it didn't go well so I am looking for help too.
If I find someone, I will let you know and maybe you can do the same for me, it is so frustrating!
my email is ____@____.com, I live in bolingbrook..
A.
I agree with one of the other moms....Go through your peds dr if you have not already.....I did the same for my son when he was younger. He gets special ed help, but started his when he was 2..Or go through your special ed program from your county....Also another good program is AID, They are all over....Good Luck to you.
Hello-
Please know that district 202 has a very bad reputation about this issue. I've heard from many from parents the same exact story. I would definitely go through your pediatrician and then once there is a diagnosis, I would mail the diagnosis with a letter to the principal, vice principal, special ed cord,superintendent of the school, and the president and vice president of the board of education. Be sure to mail it CERTIFIED. Be very specific about your request and what outcome you expect from your letter. I'm sure you will get results.
Your pediatrician should be able to help you find an agency or someone who deals with these types of situations.
well wishes!
M.
I have a non for profit organization that supports families & kids with disabilities. We refer our families to Catherine Whitcher, M.Ed ###-###-#### Office. She is in the Joliet area. She does not have an attorney but she is great!
You could also goggle & look at the Writeslaw Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities. There is an extensive listing of different service providers in the state of Illinois.
Good luck in your search!
Hi C.,
I'm the "C." that Rebecca was referring to. She just invited me to this network, so let me see if I can help you out a bit.
1. Getting a medical diagnosis sometimes can be helpful, but overall a medical diagnosis will not get special education services. Any disability must show educational impact for sped services to be considered.
2. Assure your paper trail is in depth. No more talking with the school about anything except how the weather is. If you do have verbal communication and any case details are discussed, you must follow up with a written letter to confirm the conversation.
3. Assure a complete case study is being completed. You can look up details at www.wrightslaw.com
4. If the school district's testing denies special education there may be a need for outside testing. This is done by specialists in the area that you are concerned about.
5. As Rebecca mentioned, I am not a lawyer, but I have over 12 years of professional experience in the special education system as a certified special education teacher and educational consultant. I also have a brother with Down Syndrome, which means I understand what is going on in your home!
As a special education consultant I assist parents in navigating the special education system specific to their child. Together we will always look at pros/cons of each decision and work towards the best long-term solutions. I work with parents via online consulting, phone consults and in person meetings both with parents and schools.
Best Wishes,
C. Whitcher, M.Ed
###-###-#### or Toll Free 800.432.0170
Nationwide Special Education Consulting
www.precisioneducation.com
Blog: www.precisioneducation.com/blog
You might want to try calling or setting up a meeting with the School Social Worker at your daughter's school. He/she is part of the special education evaluation process, but their primary role is to be an advocate for the child and family in that process. Also, if you feel your daughter exhibits behaviors that are indicative of ADHD, sensory issues or Asperger's you might want to get a referral to a specialist from your pediatrician. School personnel are not able to make these type of diagnosis. Good luck!
