behavior specialist

[Momwhosdrowning]

In the beginning of the year my son’s teacher had large gaps of absences so they have multiples subs, the first 504 meeting was with his sub and the second was with his teacher . We have had 2 504 meetings and his teacher has yet to put anything into place. The first thing I did when the school year started was email the teacher, introduce myself and told her about my sons 504. So she has know he about this since the beginning but She literally said he isn’t doing enough work to warrant any accommodations. She continues to not put anything into place, like having an arms length of space for him to stand up, stretch, he was even allowed to stand outside the classroom door for a few minutes, along with fidgets and breaks. According to her he isn’t doing his classwork so he doesn’t need breaks.

So I emailed the vice principal who is also the “504 facilitator” of my son’s school. I emailed her my concerns AGAIN and she wants another meeting because a behavior specialist recently sat in during my son’s class and she wants to go over her findings and find other ways to accommodate my son. I was aware she would be sitting in during class but I asked if I could possibly get a copy of her report so when we do have another meeting I can have my questions or concerns ready. She said the behavior specialist does not give reports to parents.

She than ended her email saying he isn’t willing to work with them to accommodate the 504. It just all sounds contradictory.

My son says he keeps getting his fidgets taken away, water bottles taken away and he sits in the front of the class so everything he does is grabbing her attention even more. He finishes his test and is using his fidget and she takes it away saying it’s distracting and I personally bought that for him so I know it isn’t. It’s a spinner rubic cube. She also takes his backpack in the beginning of class. Don’t get me wrong I reprimand my son the best I can whenever he does do something wrong, I encourage him to listen and reward him for all the good he does but he just doesn’t like her. She’s constantly saying he has a bad reputation in class and that was it for him.

I feel like if the teacher is forward in telling me she isn’t implementing the 504 because he has to earn it, is what it sounds like than sitting down for another meeting after we had 2 isn’t going to work. The teacher isn’t willing to change. My son feels depleted and is constantly getting detentions for not following directions or standing up etc.

My question; is it true that we cannot receive a copy from the behavior specialist of her report?

do you think I should just schedule another meeting and see what happens next?

thank you for taking the time to read all this and any advice is appreciated!

thank you,

exhausted and drained Mom

[Aspen797]

Regarding your questions, you have the right under FERPA to request all school records regarding your child. That is not under the law governing 504’s. You’d have to request under FERPA through the school district’s administrative office.

I would encourage you to look at the Wrightslaw book, From Emotions to Advocacy. It not only is a guidebook on advocating for your children’s needs at school, it also talks about ways to try to build a positive, working relationship with the school in order to more effectively advocate. A congenial relationship doesn’t always end up working out in the end, but if it’s possible to maintain it, it really does make things much easier and better for your child.

Based on what you have written it sounds to me as though your son needs more support than that offered by the accommodations on the 504. I can hear your frustration with the school’s failure to implement the 504 and with the teacher’s attitude towards your child and your desire to fix things. You can continue to escalate the fight. You can file a state OCR complaint. You can contact an advocate to attend meetings with you.

But those things may not immediately make things better for your child. To help him now, you may need to move him to a different school that you find to support him better or increase the services and supports he now receives. Have you sought neuropsych testing? A developmental behavioral pediatrician? A child psychiatrist? They can help you figure out what issues are causing him to struggle. Some kids with pure ADHD respond amazingly to medication alone. It curbs the impulsivity and enables them to attend. They make friends. They feel good about themselves, often for the first time at school. Others may have genetic differences that require certain nutrients. Some have anxiety that needs to be addressed. And many have underlying weaknesses or deficits that can be strengthened with working with a speech therapist (social skills), occupational therapist (sensory, emotional regulation skills, fine motor), or behavior therapist (positive behavioral supports, CBT, etc).

You can ask the school for a comprehensive evaluation —list all areas of concern for a more thorough evaluation that brings more useful services. Depending on the results, he may qualify for an IEP that will help him acquire needed skills as well as offer accommodations. With an IEP, behavior plans can be devised. Your child will also have more legal protections relating to their behavior. It sounds as though the school may possibly be bringing this up to you if they are having a behavior specialist observe.

Reach out to your state’s parent resource center for advice and advocacy. You’re not alone.

[Momwhosdrowning in reply to Aspen797]

Thank you, I have been very happy to work with the school and teacher. I have emailed her multiple times with suggestions and things she can do that have helped me at home with my son. I have offered to buy things off Amazon to help with a reward system. She just isn’t interested she doesn’t believe ADHD is a real thing and accommodations of any kind are the earned based off her response in emails.

My son is currently taking Brillia and other multi vitamins to help with his ADHD but he told me he doesn’t like his teacher because she’s constantly picking on him and has said on multiple occasions he has a bad reputation in class. He feels depleted and as I.

[Aspen797 in reply to Momwhosdrowning]

Telling your child that they have a bad reputation is really inexcusable. Refusing to implement accommodations (vs not understanding how or not seeing them help) is also inexcusable. I agree with others that it may be a good idea to seek the help of an educational advocate. Your state’s parent resource office should be able to give you some names. Broad spectrum micronutrients have been shown to help behavior/mood/communication in some children with genetic differences that affect their processing of nutrients. If your child has this, you should expect to see a pretty noticeable change within 3-4 months. If not, it is probably not the issue. If your child is struggling with his relationships and at school, you may want to consider seeing a more advanced level practitioner for medication or therapy suggestions. Helping our kids is a three legged stool—school support, therapy, and medication. Take time to nurture yourself too! It’s a marathon.

[Momwhosdrowning in reply to Aspen797]

This is why I adore this community. My son and I feel understood here. The school makes me feel like I’m coddling my son and my son feels like he’s not a good person. I love how you said it’s a three legged stool, schook support, therapy and meditation! That’s completely right!

[MomOfSuperheroes]

If the teacher isn't properly executing your child's 504, you need another meeting including the Vice Principal and anyone who is key to executing the 504 (in my son's case, that's the school nurse). Make sure not to start with an antagonistic attitude. Simply establish that the terms of the 504 aren't being met, and you need to work with them to determine how to properly execute it, as required by law.

If the behavior specialist doesn't have documentation, you could have a meeting with them before the 504 meeting, in lieu of a physical report. I would require the separate meeting in order to gather information. During the meeting, I would create a report, together. Read it back at the end of the meeting, and share it via email afterwards. Cc the vice principal if they're not in the meeting.

[MomOfSuperheroes in reply to MomOfSuperheroes]

I thought I'd add this: I send emails after every one of my meetings with teachers and administration. I thank them for their time and write an overview of what we discussed and what, if any, decisions we made. This provides a paper trail, sure, but it also helps to make sure everyone is on the same page.

[Momwhosdrowning in reply to MomOfSuperheroes]

Thank you, I have done this as well and I have the copies of the meeting notes and documents

[MaudQ]

As far as I’m aware the specialist is supposed to write up their findings and submit them as part of the 504/IEP materials which you can see. This all sounds really mixed up: accommodations come before the work - not after. You might need to go up the chain in your school district to the district manager - it sounds like the principal is confused. Your state’s department of education website should have information on the 504 process and what your rights are. They might even have the blank 504 forms which can be helpful because then you can see what the steps are and what information needs to be submitted. It’s really hard to untangle the mess from the inside as a parent. You might need to hire a consultant or a lawyer. I’m sorry you’re going through this - we had a similar experience - so stressful!

[Momwhosdrowning in reply to MaudQ]

Thank you for your response and that is exactly what I told the teacher and vice principal (504 facilitator) that the 504 is a mandatory accommodation plan set by law it is NOT something that needs to be earned but they keep coming back with the same “ no work getting done, not meeting them halfway”. I have been going through this since the beginning of the year and I’m exhausted from the constant emails and calls. An educational lawyer would be our final step. I am unsure if I want t have this 3rd meeting because the teacher does not seem like she wants to adhere to the accommodation and te vice principal isn’t giving me a copy of the behavior specialist report.

[MaudQ in reply to Momwhosdrowning]

Many lawyers and consultants will give you a free half hour before you sign on with them. It’s a good way to learn something even if you don’t decide to go forward with them. If you think it’s time to level up, it probably is.

[Fish1fish]

We had a related experience with our daughter’s school. Not that anyone wasn't willing to accommodate, but because it was mid covid when we were trying to get her extra help and they were just trying to put out the biggest fires first at the time. We had a raging bonfire!

Anyway, what we did was hire and advocate. It was pricey but we nicknamed her “The Wolf” because she got stuff done. She spoke on our behalf, reviewed all district records, and made sure everything was followed to the letter if the law. She was even able to determine extra domains that my daughter should be tested for, and also that the school did not collect enough samples in making their determinations. They even indirectly skewed the paperwork in their favor so they didn't have to provide assistance they should have been offering. If nothing else you can probably find someone with an hourly rate to review the paperwork and testing to make sure it was done correctly.