IEP and Homebound questions
I'm new to the site and this forum and I look forward to reading all the info that's available. I am having trouble finding a direct answer to my questions and wondered if any of you know the answers or where I might find the answers.
My child was put on homebound in March of last school year because she had an outburst and got physical. The manifestation determination meeting determined that it was due to her disability and therefore requested that while we were working with the doctor to get her meds in alignment that we needed to do homebound instruction and required the doctor to sign the form authorizing this through the end of the school year. We were in agreement with this as was our daughter.
Now, we come to this school year and I contaced the process coordinator a month before school started and she kept telling me one thing or another and wouldn't let us pick a schedule for our daughter (an 8th grader) and wouldn't give us answer on how to proceed except to say that any child on homebound must stay on homebound until we have a placement meeting.
Our daugher has improved greatly over the summer as we actually cut the amount of one of her meds and this almost immediately alleviated her anxities and self-harming behaviors. With this great improvement we all wanted her to be able to start school on the first day.... what a crushing feeling when this didn't get to happen. (We've had problems with the school for the last three years.)
My questions...
1. Can they force my daughter on homebound even without a doctor signature. ( I asked them today if this was legal and wasn't given an answer.)
2. Doesn't my daughter have a right to have classes scheduled? (They want us to start working with a homebound teacher this week but she hasn't even been able to select her electives or know which teachers she has.)
Thank you in advance for your assistance,
Tena
It is my understanding that the terms of the IEP stay in place until a new IEP is held (if the homebound status was determined in an IEP meeting?). Was she placed on homebound status after just one incident? And she remained on homebound for three months over one incident? It seems unreasonable not to let her return to school. If you do not have an IEP, I would request one as soon as possible and get the accommodations in place that she will need. One incident? I'm not sure what accommodations she will need, but once you have the IEP and she has the accommodations in place then she must be allowed to go to school unless she reaches a point at which she cannot function in school.
... while we were working with the doctor to get her meds in alignment that we needed to do homebound instruction and required the doctor to sign the form authorizing this through the end of the school year. It seems you have satisfied this requirement and she should be returning to school on the first day.
That being said though, I would like to point out that my daughter as well has done beautifully throughout the summer. I do not anticipate this to last through the beginning of school, which is two weeks away. I am already beginning to see little remnants of old behavior due to the anxiety of returning. Take a moment to ask yourself if you want to "throw" her back into the school situation full time right off the bat, or ease her back into it. It might make sense to talk to the doctor as well about a modified schedule ... a few hours at school and a few hours at home until she can return to school on a full time basis.
You can learn about the IEP process here: http://www.bpkids.org/learn/library/mastering-the-iep-process - if you have any questions, there are many people on this site who can and will be glad to help you.
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Shelle, 49 in So Cal - stressed - Celexa 20mg, Xanax 0.5mg rarely as needed
Family Response Team member and CABF Support 11
rmadmom@hotmail.com
Single Mom to Rachel, 12 - BP, anxiety, ADHD (or maybe not) - Lamictal 200mg am+Seroquel 50mg am/200mg early pm, Modified schedule in public at end of last school year / Hoping for placement in therapeutic school for the fall
We also have Birdie, the love bird - she bites; and Scarlet, the kitten - she does too
Tena -- I recommend contacting the school's special ed director and requesting in writing as well as over the phone an emergency IEP meeting. There is no reason for the homebound to stay in place -- those are usually set up for emergency situations. I would recommend you go into that meeting with a list of accommodations recommended by your dds treating pdoc and tdoc as well.
As Shelle mentioned, there is a lot of good information on the CABF website about the IEP process under Learn/ Education Corner. Plus if you look under resources, you'll find a lot of good information about advocacy. Sometimes it is worthwhile getting an educational advocate to work with you and the school district, as many of the rules and regulations are local or state ones and some don't make sense, LOL.
Joan
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Joan in CA
Co-Moderator of Dual Diagnosis/Substance Abuse group with Becky
Family Response Team Volunteer
Link to my bio: http://www.bpkids.org/user/29354
To support CABF, go to https://www.bpkids.org/donate
Thank you both for your information. It's so hard to find straight answers because the school always protects themselves and dodges my questions and reading the paperwork they hand out is of very little help!
go to sate
http://specialchildren.about.com/b/2007/01/31/your-iep-questions-answered.htm
http://dpi.wi.gov/sspw/pdf/homeboundqaforsd.pdf
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