23 May 2013
The lesser of many evils
Yesterday the psychologist asked me “If you are so dismayed with the school and the district, why don’t you send Pearlsky elsewhere?”
- There is no residential program that can possibly give her the love, affection, and caring that she gets at home. Don’t you read Kelly’s blog?
- There is no other school within commute distance for her that would be any better.
- There is probably no other combination of home and school that would be better anywhere.
- With a year left, it would be foolish to move her even if I had a place.
How about instead of me moving Pearlsky somewhere else, YOU DO YOUR JOB?
I am not sure if I am dreading the upcoming IEP or looking forward to it. Let’s just say, it won’t be quiet.
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She sounds a tad clueless, that one.
I often get the feeling that the “experts” and others who haven’t raised a disabled child naively think that there are loads of services readily available to anyone who wants them. That just isn’t always true. In our case, Monkey can’t attend our local public school. Period. They just can’t/won’t come close to meeting his needs. I’ve been asked why I don’t either: 1. Just take what the PS offers so I can get a break (because, you know, I could sleep well knowing my kid was getting shortchanged); or 2. Just put him in private school. The therapeutic day schools within a two – hour drive that could possibly meet his needs would require me to either rob a bank or sleep with Hugh Hefner to afford. I’m not equipped to do either.
I’m imagining you showing up at the IEP completely wasted drunk, laying fifths of liquor at each “professional” place at the table and then leading the group in a rousing chorus of some Jewish dirge.
At this point in the school game that psychologist is clueless or has a massive set of BALLS to suggest removing your girl from the school now….what did she expect your answer to be “golly gee I never thought of that, I’ll sign her out of their inadequate hands today!” WTF
-facepalm-
I wonder, in larger cities at least, would it be possible to start a public charter school for the severely disabled where the entire point is quality of life, NOT pointless attempts at academics?
Granted, it might be a little difficult to, well, market… and I’m not sure how or if one can legally start a non-private school where the entire point is giving the finger to state requirements.
(I suppose there’s always non-accredited schools, too, but I imagine there’s NO WAY IN HELL those can get state funds.)
Oddly enough, over in Finland, they HAVE no state/federal academic requirements or standardized tests… yet their kids do better than ours do. It’s a mystery.
I love that idea, Corrinn. The only problem is that as public schools, charter schools are still required to follow the same NCLB bullcrap as any “regular” public school.
The closest I’ve ever heard of is a public special needs school in a nearby district that also accepts out – of – district placements. The small classes, close individual attention, absolutely incredible recreation program, and stellar therapeutic services make it pretty much the Harvard of special needs schools in my book. It’s the only place I’ve found that could meet my eight – year – old son’s needs without requiring me to pull a bank job to afford it, but we have so far been unsuccessful in getting him a spot.
Oh yeah, and been meaning to ask you something, SD, since I imagine you’ve noticed this too…
Folding shop crane (capacity 1 ton): $100 – $300
Patient lift (capacity 500 pounds): $500 – $2,000
Is it just me, or the biggest difference between the two (besides the price tag) the part that actually lifts the shop equipment or disabled person?
I ask because this might be a pipe dream, but I’m wondering if it would be possible to attach a patient sling to a shop crane, to improvise a lift for a total price tag that might beat even a co-pay on “the real thing”. The biggest obstacle I see is that obviously shop cranes are a little bit less focused on keeping their loads perfectly level, and even then I found one at Northern Tool + Equipment with a crane head that does just that.
I should note that I’m not in charge of or even familiar with anyone who needs such equipment, in case I’m worrying anyone. 😉 But too many people out there can’t afford specialized equipment they need, with or without insurance, and that… sucks. So, just because that bugs me, I’m trying to look into ways to help change that.