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Posted: Aug 21st, 2009 at 09:38 am
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Wow- that's impressive and very, very helpful. Thank you for sharing it. |
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DS- 10/30/04- ana. to milk and mustard; allergic to eggs, peanuts, treenuts; asthma; IgA deficient
DD- 9/27/06- nka
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Posted: Aug 21st, 2009 at 11:16 am
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that is a wonderful compilation and worthy of a thesis, and I mean that well, but really, our physician's letter was worded well enough that we were basically offered either a 504 or an IEP, our choice. It wasn't brief, but was short enough, to the point, and left no loose ends.
In the end, I let them choose, and they agreed he qualified for either (IEP/OHI or 504) on the basis of a food allergy alone. Oh, and the phys letter included describing us, as parents as knowledgeable individuals wrt our son's development and needs surrounding his allergy. (Thanks Rhonda!) It solidified our role as a team member at the eligibiity meeting. The initials "K.I." after our name.  I didn't catch that in your posting. Was it there?
I don't think it boiled down to the letter alone, but it was a well constructed safety net. |
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"We're going to make everyone get along whether they like it or not."
~Oldest son, age 16, upon being asked what most typifies his generation.
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Posted: Aug 21st, 2009 at 11:17 am
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As most people here know, (who post), we ended up with OHI/under an IEP to cover his food allergy. At my behest, we have added goals this year. And accountability wrt to measuring outcomes. |
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"We're going to make everyone get along whether they like it or not."
~Oldest son, age 16, upon being asked what most typifies his generation.
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Posted: Aug 21st, 2009 at 11:41 am
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It would be great if the doc's letter alone were sufficient everywhere. Unfortunately that's not the case. Unfortunately even this type of document with all the supporting documentaton that so many of us use--incuding a copy of the ADAA--doesn't work in some districts.
It's awful, but it's reality for many on the board.  |
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"Words are our most inexhaustible source of magic. They are potent forms of enchantment, rich with the power to hurt or heal."~Albus Dumbledore
Me: shellfish, chamomile, sesame and a few odds & ends
DS: peanuts
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Posted: Aug 21st, 2009 at 11:57 am
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Aug 21st, 2009 at 11:41 am, McCobbre wrote:
It would be great if the doc's letter alone were sufficient everywhere. Unfortunately that's not the case. Unfortunately even this type of document with all the supporting documentaton that so many of us use--incuding a copy of the ADAA--doesn't work in some districts.
It's awful, but it's reality for many on the board.
oh, and my district was on of the worst. At least they used to be, where f/a accomodations were concerned. It hasn't been *that* long, you've forgot where I've been in that regard, has it? |
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"We're going to make everyone get along whether they like it or not."
~Oldest son, age 16, upon being asked what most typifies his generation.
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Posted: Aug 21st, 2009 at 12:14 pm
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Aug 21st, 2009 at 11:16 am, Arkadia wrote:
that is a wonderful compilation and worthy of a thesis, and I mean that well, but really, our physician's letter was worded well enough that we were basically offered either a 504 or an IEP, our choice. It wasn't brief, but was short enough, to the point, and left no loose ends.
In the end, I let them choose, and they agreed he qualified for either (IEP/OHI or 504) on the basis of a food allergy alone. Oh, and the phys letter included describing us, as parents as knowledgeable individuals wrt our son's development and needs surrounding his allergy. (Thanks Rhonda!) It solidified our role as a team member at the eligibiity meeting. The initials "K.I." after our name. I didn't catch that in your posting. Was it there?
I don't think it boiled down to the letter alone, but it was a well constructed safety net.
I thought you didn't like well-crafted physicians letters?? I swear I remember you being bothered, at the very least, (maybe even scoffed) by the idea of constructed letters. Please correct me if I'm wrong....just trying to understand. My memory might fail me....lack of sleep even, little coffee. |
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"Those of us who were bewitched by his eloquence on the campaign trail chose to ignore some disquieting aspects of his biography: that he had accomplished very little before he ran for president." ~ Drew Westen, a professor of psychology at Emory University, on Obama, New York Times.
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Posted: Aug 21st, 2009 at 12:25 pm
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But Arkadia, your physician's letter, however perfectly worded it was, might not mean squat in Missouri. Really, my posting our hard work has no huge relevance for those of us who have already accommodations. I'm hoping to be of help to those who haven't gotten a designation, though they've tried, and those just entering the process.
Your district was obviously more advanced than my school was if the letter was enough. I had three letters--of varying strengths--but my school did not understand the law. Here, I spelled it out for them. Made our case. It worked.
Like I said, even this might not be enough in some districts. Some people may need attorneys. However, this was an effective strategy for our situation, and it could be for some others.
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"Words are our most inexhaustible source of magic. They are potent forms of enchantment, rich with the power to hurt or heal."~Albus Dumbledore
Me: shellfish, chamomile, sesame and a few odds & ends
DS: peanuts
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Posted: Aug 21st, 2009 at 12:28 pm
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Mc- that's the same basic strategey I used at our old school. Once I spelled it out for them & gave them everything to read, they really had no issues with giving ds the 504. It was just that he was the first FA kid to ask for one. |
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Posted: Aug 21st, 2009 at 01:47 pm
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Aug 21st, 2009 at 12:14 pm, lilpig99 wrote:
Aug 21st, 2009 at 11:16 am, Arkadia wrote:that is a wonderful compilation and worthy of a thesis, and I mean that well, but really, our physician's letter was worded well enough that we were basically offered either a 504 or an IEP, our choice. It wasn't brief, but was short enough, to the point, and left no loose ends.
In the end, I let them choose, and they agreed he qualified for either (IEP/OHI or 504) on the basis of a food allergy alone. Oh, and the phys letter included describing us, as parents as knowledgeable individuals wrt our son's development and needs surrounding his allergy. (Thanks Rhonda!) It solidified our role as a team member at the eligibiity meeting. The initials "K.I." after our name. I didn't catch that in your posting. Was it there?
I don't think it boiled down to the letter alone, but it was a well constructed safety net. I thought you didn't like well-crafted physicians letters?? I swear I remember you being bothered, at the very least, (maybe even scoffed) by the idea of constructed letters. Please correct me if I'm wrong....just trying to understand. My memory might fail me....lack of sleep even, little coffee.
don't know. depends on the context and what you're leaving behind in favor of one. I certainly mentioned mine with outright satisfaction ad nauseaum. I remember just gloating over the "knowledgeable individuals" portion...please, direct me to what you are thinking of. A well crafted letter isn't going to do someone squat if they don't have their sh** together personally.
And....you have to be ready when the rubber hits the road. Willing to stand behind your beliefs. I remember quite a few people who just cringed at the idea of following through with things I did. Hey, either someone believes their child's safety/well being is worthy of the accomodations they are asking for or not. I made that exceedingly clear with my school district regarding both my sons and Izzy. They weren't going to practice on them. I believed in what I was requesting as accomodations enough to limit their attendance until it was made so. Hey, that's not advice, just saying I don't jerk people's chains for the hell of it. |
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"We're going to make everyone get along whether they like it or not."
~Oldest son, age 16, upon being asked what most typifies his generation.
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Posted: Aug 21st, 2009 at 01:53 pm
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.....and really, if you think I have an aversion to having to explain the district their own job, via a physician's letter, you can just imagine how I feel about a thesis. 
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"We're going to make everyone get along whether they like it or not."
~Oldest son, age 16, upon being asked what most typifies his generation.
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Posted: Aug 21st, 2009 at 01:55 pm
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I can't venture to guess. It might really depend on how big your aversion is to having an unsafe and noninclusive environment for your children at school. |
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"Words are our most inexhaustible source of magic. They are potent forms of enchantment, rich with the power to hurt or heal."~Albus Dumbledore
Me: shellfish, chamomile, sesame and a few odds & ends
DS: peanuts
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Posted: Aug 21st, 2009 at 02:06 pm
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Aug 21st, 2009 at 01:55 pm, McCobbre wrote:
I can't venture to guess. It might really depend on how big your aversion is to having an unsafe and noninclusive environment for your children at school.
It's certainly much bigger than sending them into a hostile environment because I don't believe in what is necessary. I have a tendency to cut to the chase. A conduct disorder.
I've never been accused of being lukewarm, that's for sure. |
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"We're going to make everyone get along whether they like it or not."
~Oldest son, age 16, upon being asked what most typifies his generation.
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Posted: Aug 21st, 2009 at 03:27 pm
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Aug 21st, 2009 at 02:06 pm, Arkadia wrote:
I've never been accused of being lukewarm, that's for sure.
I'd have to agree with that!  |
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DD12 allergies: peanuts
DS8 allergies: eggs
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Posted: Aug 21st, 2009 at 04:35 pm
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Our physician letter last year was 15 words. Very concise.
It is imperative for DS to be in a peanut-free environment.
Sincerely,
Dr. XXX
Didn't do the trick. The long one didn't do the trick either. Depends on your SD. It is the luck of the draw.
Thanks McCobbre for sharing. I think this will be invaluable to the newbies on the board. Lots of very good information. Thanks for sharing! |
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“The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.” Scott Peck
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Posted: Aug 21st, 2009 at 06:16 pm
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this is invaluable. thank u very much...you F. A. E. E. E.
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Ds 8 PA/TNA/EA/SFA/Asthma
Dd 6 Latex Allergy; born with VAERLS of VACTERLS
LoUiSiAna
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