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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAutistic boy shows up for standardized test with his service dog. Here’s what happened next.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/04/03/autistic-boy-shows-up-for-standardized-test-with-his-service-dog-heres-what-happened-next/This story involves Pinellas County parent Elizabeth Shea and her 9-year-old autistic son, whom she does not want to name. Sheas son attends the online Florida Virtual School and is required to take the state-mandated standardized test at a neighborhood public school. He went to do so recently with his service dog. Because he is too young to handle the dog alone, his mom has become a certified dog handler, and she accompanied him to the test site. He has an Individual Education Plan, or IEP, which is designed to ensure that a child who has a disability identified under the law and is attending an elementary or secondary educational institution receives specialized instruction and related services....
They told me this would invalidate his test, to which I agreed. But once again, they would not let him do that with his dog and me in the room, and he was getting visibly upset because they were making me leave the room with his dog. He started crying, babbling loudly and hitting himself in the face. I had to get down on my knees in front of him, face to face, put my hands on his shoulders and tell him that I would be right outside the door with his dog, he would sign his name and we could leave hoping he would calm down. But then, they decided that me being outside the door with the dog (that his IEP says should be with him) would violate his IEP, so we could not do that either.
We left without being allowed to take the test, or even minimally participate. I hope they work this out by tomorrow, Thursday and Friday, when we are required to report for more testing. At this point, all we want is for him to minimally participate as required by law, with his service dog and handler present, as required by federal law, and school district policy.
GOLGO 13
(1,681 posts)tymorial
(3,433 posts)Or conservatives but that's a misdirection. This type of crap happens everywhere yes even in blue States. I've seen my fair share of special needs students ignored and provided not even subpar education simply because it costs more money to provide education. In this instance you just have an an individual or group of individuals forced to adhere to Draconian rules that only apply to the gross majority of students. When students such as this boy arrived it is left to the proctor to interpret the rules accordingly. When you have an uninformed and ignorant person acting as a proctor you want help with this situation. Administration would always back the proctor unless receiving pressure from the community which the news media is providing
tymorial
(3,433 posts)What makes this even more disgusting is the fact that if this wasn't taken up as an issue by the news media then this mother and boy would be ignored.
roguevalley
(40,656 posts)state and I'm sure its same there. People need to read their rights book and KICK SOME ASS! They need to go to their state's educational advocate center and see about this. F this stuff. Poor angel. He, his mom and dog are in my heart.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)They have this bizarre belief that families are trying to scam them out of services, and behave accordingly.
tymorial
(3,433 posts)However how often are they ignored simply because special needs students or even mainstream students with IEPs just cost too much money? All depends on where you go to school.