Is there any way I can put my disabled daughter in regular mainstream classes at school?

Question

My daughter was in an accident which resulted in her becomming paralyzed from the neck down (quadriplegic). Since her accident she's had to be in a special ed class in school if she wants to go to school at all because there are lots of teachers' aids to help with the disabled kids. But she doesn't like it and wants to be around normal kids. However, she's totally helpless, cannot use her hands at all, and would need to have a personal assistant with her all throughout the school day everyday if she were to be in regular classes. She's very smart and does not want to be in a special education class, and I've come to see that I don't want her in the special ed class either, but we can't really afford to hire a personal nurse to be with her at school every single day if she were to be in regular mainstream classes and the school wont pay for it. Is there any other options that anyone knows of? Any ideas/suggestions?

Answer 1

No way should she be put in a special education class!  Contact the special education administrator to set up an IEP meeting, and make sure you have an advocate with you.  There are probably local workshops that can hook you up with an agency in your area.  I have used them many times myself, and they are a godsend, not only to be present at your meetings, but a source of good information about your rights.  If no luck, contact the State Board of Education and file a complaint.

Answer 2

According to federal special ed laws she IS suppose to be in regular ed classes. The only reason she shouldn't be in regular ed classes is if she can't be sucessful with the school work while in the reg ed class.

They  did not follow the special ed law and put her in the reg ed class first to see if she could progress and succeed.

Do you think she can do ok in regular classes?

They probably just put her in the sped class just so they don't have to get an aide to help her in the reg ed class.

Federal sped  law states children ARE to have aides if they need them, even in reg ed classes.

They are to pay for the help she recieves, NOT you.   Does she have a personal assistant to help her while in the sped class?  There is no difference in having an aid in reg ed or special ed classes.

YOu have to follow the federal special ed process to handle this.

First, write a letter to the district special ed director requesting an IEP meeting because you are requesting her to be placed in the reg ed classes because  IDEA law specifies that children are to be in the 'least restrictive environment'.  

The WHOLE IEP team has to make this decision, including you. They can NOT make this decision without an IEP meeting and without the whole IEP team agreeing to this decisions.

I know they told you NO to reg ed classes, but if  they did not make this decision in a legal  IEP meeting with the whole IEP team agreeing to this,  then having her in sped classes is illegal.

  If they say no to a meeting or say no to the reg ed classes, there is more you can do.  It's so complicated to explain here, so if you need help please email me  [e-mail]

Answer 3

First, you need to call for an IEP meeting with the school. Tell them you would like to discuss your daughter's placement. It does not sound like this room is the Least Restrictive environment for your daughter. If she has normal intelligence, but needs one on one assistance, there is no reason she needs to be in a special education classroom if she is unhappy there. Unless she needs a nurse to take care of her medical needs, she should not have to have a nurse with her during the day. Does she currently have a personal nurse? Most teacher's assistants can perform any self-care duties that are necessary- assistance with toileting, feeding, etc. At the IEP meeting, you should let the school know you feel your daughter's needs are not being met and ask them how you can resolve this. Explain that your daughter is unhappy and ask for the justification for having her in a special education classroom. There could possibly be additional factors you are not aware of. If not, request a personal assistant for your daughter. There may be a delay until someone new is hired and trained if necessary, but this should be easily resolved. Good Luck!

Answer 4

I agree with the other posters so far.  Your daughter is not being educated in her LRE (least restrictive environment) and it is the legal obligation of your school to meet her LRE needs.  Call the IEP and take a special ed. advocate with you if you are not comfortable with the ins and outs of the law.  You are allowed to invite whom ever you like to come to that meeting so take advantage of that option.

Your school doesn't want to pay but it HAS to if the team agrees that your daughter's LRE is regular education.

Answer 5

Your daughter has the right to be in a mainstream school. The school has to provide the aide. You need to call an IEP to get her an aide and into the school. Even children with mental handicaps can go to a mainstream school, why not your daughter... just because she has physical handicaps should she be excluded? My daughter is physically AND mentally handicapped and we have the choice of special ed or mainstream. You have that option also. The best thing for her is to be around peers...kids with the same or higher intellect.

Answer 6

Request an IEP meeting.  Make sure someone from Administration is at the meeting.  Let them know in advance that if there isnt a member of Administration there, you will suspend the meeting.  They must hold an IEP meeting if one is requested.  If they dont hold one, contact the state orgainization that controls schools (dept of ed, dept of public instruction, whatever its called in your state).  If you lodge a complaint there, chances are you will hear a response pretty quickly.

Answer 7

Call an IEP meeting to discuss the Least Restrictive Environment for her.  She does not need to be limited to a special education classroom just because of a physical disability.  If she is cognitively aware and functioning at the level of other 15 year olds (or near to that), then she should have the opportunity to be in a classroom with her peers.  It is not right to limit her only because of a physical deficit.  The best thing you can do is go to the meeting as prepared as possible.  Bring in any supporting documentation that shows her level of performance in general ed subjects (test scores, report cards). Does her paralyzation allow her to talk for herself?  If so, she can be her own biggest asset in the meeting.  Allow her to either talk for herself in the meeting, or dictate what she says to the team members.  She has the right to be involved in her education decisions.  Part of IDEA is that children are afforded an "appropriate education" which is in the "least restrictive environment" for them.  That means, that the setting has to be appropriate for her and her needs.  Yes, it would cost the district money to have a full time nurse be with her during her school day, (and boy, do they hate to part with their money) but if it is what is best for her and her educational goals, then they need to do it.

Answer 8

There is no reason why she can't be in class with her peers before teh accident.  In the USA-the school needs to legally accomdate her-it may mean installing lifts or a hygiene area.

If all she needs is physical assistance-she qualifies for a 504 plan-basically she gets a personal aid to physically assist her with books, writing, personal hygene and eating, etc...If she has medical needs that require constant nursing care-the school is responsible for providing that.........

The law in the USA-is a free and APPROPRIATE education in teh LEAST restrictive environment.

From what you describe the laws of teh USA are being violated