Okay-- understand that the following ASSUMES that you've already covered eligibility. I want to emphasize that you need that LOCKED in before you address accommodations. To the point that you will need to play stupid if they try to side-step and figure out what you "want" in order to decide whether or not they are willing to do it (ie-- grant eligibility in the first place, since that obliges them to make accommodations).
Look over at Wrightslaw about the "letter of understanding."
Use that to get this word....
REASONABLE...
from them in writing.
Then bring in Letter to Zirkel (also available at Wrightslaw as a PDF, I believe) to disabuse them of this erroneous notion. "Reasonable" does not apply to this part of ADA. In K-12 education, it's about FAPE and LRE. NOT 'reasonable.'
Smile wolfishly and sweetly tell them that you understand completely that they were CONFUSED about this word, and that perhaps they'd like to confer with district counsel-- or, better yet (!!) that they could CALL OCR THEMSELVES. For
technical assistance in understanding this matter. Maybe even add that (if you've called the helpline yourself) OCR is incredibly helpful at explaining this matter clearly.
I did that. Seriously. It was
very effective. The school was entirely taken aback that I was SO certain of my standing on this point that I
invited them to consult their attorney and OCR.
<cue Princess Bride quote here...
This word.... I do not think it means... what you think it means...>
For clarity, the "letter of understanding" is a method of documenting verbal weaseling that happens in e-mails, but mostly in meetings, conversations, and phone calls.
An example of how it can be used:
Mr. Malevolent Administrator,
I appreciated our conversation after school today (date). It was enlightening. I need to make sure that I have understood our conversation correctly, however, so I am following up with you in this letter/e-mail.
When I asked about including disabled children in the considerations in our new playground design, you responded that those kinds of children should be happy just to be included in the educational activities at school in the first place, and that a wheelchair ramp was going to add a lot to the project's initial costs. When I expressed surprise that the committee had not researched ADA compliance, you promised to "look into it" at some point this week.
I want to thank you for your willingness to find out more information about ADA compliance as it pertains to the new playground. Can you let me know what you learn?
My apologies if I have misunderstood our conversation, or left anything important out. If I have not had a response from you by {date} then I will assume that my understanding expressed above is correct and complete.
Thanks so much,
Mrs. Why-yes-I-AM-that-big-a-pain