Oklahoma & Autism {Kind of like oil & water}

     When we tried to get our son the help he needed at school we hit walls. Even though we tried everything from IEPs to working at home to meeting, meetings, meetings we never got a hand.  While checking into what to do we called our school board, Autism non-profits, & even contacted a State Representative to see if anyone could please oh please at least point us in the right direction. What we got was 4 options:

  1. Relocate your family to one of the two cities in Oklahoma that have parents with autistic kids that have sued the schools & won some of the benefits that are needed.
  2. Relocate to another state that has better funding for schools & programs to not only train but equip teachers with what they need. {A NY Times article showed that Oklahoma Public Schools were in the bottom 5 states in the NATION as far as how much they spend on their students}
  3. Home school
  4. Utilize the  Lindsey Nichole Henry Scholarship For Students With Disabilities Program Act. A program where a special needs student can be sent to a private school that may offer what that student needs, if you can even find such a school. The school/state pays for this because it is cheaper for them to pay for these few students to go to the school than it is to keep them at the public school.
     Well since the State Of Oklahoma was running behind on actually visiting each autistic child's home & in person punching them in the face they decided to just take one of those 4 options off the table! The Lindsey Nichole Henry Scholarship Act is now, according to a Tulsa, OK Judge unconstitutional. Wow! If you want to read the story feel free to visit the local Tulsa news station here. OR you could just do what I did & throw up in your mouth a little bit!
     Sorry for the rant but I saw it on the news & wanted to throw up! They say it's unconstitutional because some private schools that the special needs parents may want to send their kid to might be religious & that would be public money going to a religion. Wow! Okay...I think I'm okay.....wait no might stab myself in the eye with a toothpick....okay I'm okay now. Thanks for reading & sorry for the rant!
P.S. anyone have a 4 bedroom for rent in a state that doesn't kick you in the jimmy for trying to give your kid a better life? Sorry, guess I'm irritable tonight!
Posted by
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

7 comments:

  1. LizbethMarch 28, 2012 at 7:35 AM

    All I can say is, "Pass the toothpick." Kansas is not much better. Sigh.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousSeptember 19, 2012 at 10:13 AM

      I am a paraprofessional in Tulsa, OK. The student that I shadow is so incredibly smart, he loves to learn. He is in "gifted and talented" classes...this doesn't mean anything at TPS. The classrooms are so loud that it makes it very hard for him to learn. When and if I remove a student for being disruptful, I get in trouble. I was told that if my student couldn't handle the class then we would have to have an IEP to deal with it. Thanks. I am sure his mother appreciates you saying her child is the problem, when actually its the teacher's problem for not being able to manage his classroom and having NO regard for the Asperger's child in the room.

      Delete
  2. JonMarch 29, 2012 at 9:07 PM

    Mmm, hmmm. Sorry, man. We have similar troubles here in UT. I urge you to get in touch with Autism Votes. You have some serious artistic skills that could help them get the message out.

    They might also be able to help you find insurance coverage that will help with ABA, etc.

    That said, I'm envisioning a legal aid society that would help parents get through IEPs. Right now, it feels like we all have to find out individually what we have to ask for. It delays things significantly...by the time you come to grips with what you need to do, you're kid should have been in therapy for a year. I'd like to see someone take charge and say, "by federal law, your kid has a right to this. If your school district can't do it, join this suit."

    Love your blog. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Daniel "Captain" KirkMarch 30, 2012 at 9:07 AM

    I'm stealing the Willy Wonka graphic! Oh, the ridiculous advice I've gotten from people who should know better, or at least realize they don't understand the situation!

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousDecember 21, 2012 at 3:02 AM

    Geez.....I never get enough of people telling me I should spank my son or learn to control my kid....he was kicked out of pre k not even half way thru the year because and I quote " we just don't know what to do with him" when traditional teaching methods don't work the only plan B they have is.....send em home its the parents problem not the schools. Wow! Oklahoma is required to provide free education and public schools to ALL children as a matter of fact u get ticketed, taken to court, and fined for your children not attending school can someone please explain to me how and why expelling a 4 year old can even be considered an option? Do the kids with AS just not matter why is my sons education so much less important than that of a "normal" kid?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Me+2December 31, 2012 at 8:34 PM

    Talking to brick walls is my specialty. As well as being a one man show. No one to work as a team- all just staring at you waiting for you to do something--- like you know what to do?! I am definitely sympathetic. My son visits sensational kids weekly in Edmond for OT. I've learned a lot from them. He is still having difficulties in kindergarten, but we really have no options where we live.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousSeptember 15, 2013 at 10:05 AM

    I understand completely. My sympathies.....

    ReplyDelete

Your comments are what make this blog awesome! Reading comments always makes my day better!

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
blog design by ♥♥