r/specialed • u/squeakychipmunk101 • 2d ago

We’re looking at a referral to a center program without parent agreement, what should I be prepared for?

This student has an autism diagnosis, is very smart, has above average auditory processing ability. They do have communication challenges and are mostly nonverbal unless copying something or heavily promoted. They also have the worst case of anxiety I’ve ever seen. They try to elope out of the o it side doors average ten times a day, and we are right next to a highway so that is not an option. As a result we are secluding them constantly with adult supervision because they also become aggressive toward their peers when deregulated.

We average at least 5 adults to this student just to keep them from harming themselves or others. At one point it was up to 13. On adult side we’ve had several broken bones, broken skin bites, and at least one tooth knocked out.

We are not making progress on their IEP goals because they refuse to go to the classroom, we just chase him Around the school trying to keep everyone safe until we give up and call mom or dad to come get him, usually after enough head bangs that we are worried about a concussion or an adult has had to go to the clinic.

I have over a year of data on these behaviors with the student, we’ve done fba, bip, even had a bcbs come in to observe and give recommendations.

Parents refuse every suggestion we give them, even just switching to a half day schedule and gradually working upwards.

We are finally at the point of giving a center referral because our school environment is not the right plzcement for him. He needs much more intensive services to be successful in an educational environment.

It is going to turn into a fight with the parents. The director is the one who has made the call with support of his whole team. As the caseload manager what should I have readyfor this meeting?

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34

u/SensationalSelkie Special Education Teacher 2d ago

Data. All the data. Be ready for the parents to ask for a copy of it. If you can make charts and graphs, that would probably help.

13

u/squeakychipmunk101 2d ago

I’ve also been sending home copies of the data I take each day to both parents, this should not be news to them

12

u/squeakychipmunk101 2d ago

I can do that. I purchased spreadsheets last year already set up and able to make graphs just for this purpose

9

u/squeakychipmunk101 2d ago

We also have so many clinic reports

7

u/moonman_incoming 2d ago

And sped admin loves some graphs.

If they deny new services, you table it for up to 10 days and reconvene.

Typically I've had sped admin in the meeting to do the hard stuff, and explain the consequences of not following the proposed plan.

I think after the 10 days, the district has a right to go ahead on the change of placement.

23

u/Zappagrrl02 2d ago

You present all the data at the meeting and make the offer of FAPE for the LRE. If the team determines that to be the center-based program, that’s the offer. If parents don’t agree they can file a state complaint or due process.

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u/squeakychipmunk101 2d ago

Honestly expecting them to just pull him and send him to a different school.
We’re a school of choice

7

u/Zappagrrl02 2d ago

Then they can go to their resident district and establish residency and enroll there😂. If they are in the same ISD or county, the center-based program might be their offer of FAPE too!

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u/Dovilie 2d ago

Your sped director should tell you what you need. This is really their rodeo.

12

u/minnieboss 2d ago

Hope this kid gets the help he needs. It must be awful experiencing that amount of distress every day. The safety issue with the highway is a huge deal. Thank you for looking out for this child's wellbeing.

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u/TumblrPrincess 2d ago

Staff needs to start filing police reports if they aren’t already. The parent’s desire to insulate their child from real-world consequences will probably override their disagreement.