Comments on: The Special Education Epidemic http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-special-education-epidemic/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:21:33 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Jamie http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-special-education-epidemic/comment-page-1/#comment-402202 Jamie Mon, 21 Sep 2009 02:15:34 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-special-education-epidemic/#comment-402202 I would just like to say that I have an autistic son. As I have read through the statements I was a little disheartened to hear some of the comments. Not all parents of disabled children are drug users/or missing fathers. Not all of them are on welfare seeking SSI. I am able to take care of my son with no state/federal funding. I have a great job, and do you think maybe that the parents and schools are trying to do what is best for the children that have special needs? I think it is not very rational to put all parents and all schools in the same catagory. I am not saying it does not happen, I am sure it does somewhere. Although if you put all parents and schools in a catagory like this it is very unjust. I want what is best for my son, he can not help he has needs above the typical child. Until someone has a child or a relative with a disable such as LD or Autism they will never know what those children, parents and caregivers do just to make sure that child is given a shot. My child will not have the same options that typical children will have. He will not be able to go to college, he is limited in his options for a future. I think it is time to pick on another population for awhile. How about paying for substance abuse services not just one time but several times for a substance user that has no insurance. Or paying for a killer to live in prison. Keep away from these kids that have no choice for how they were born and keep away from the parents and care givers that work hard getting them what they need. Remember what comes around goes around. You never know when you will be on the other side of the desk during an IEP meeting. I you never have to face that, and if you have bless you. You are really trying to take care of your child. I would just like to say that I have an autistic son. As I have read through the statements I was a little disheartened to hear some of the comments. Not all parents of disabled children are drug users/or missing fathers. Not all of them are on welfare seeking SSI. I am able to take care of my son with no state/federal funding. I have a great job, and do you think maybe that the parents and schools are trying to do what is best for the children that have special needs? I think it is not very rational to put all parents and all schools in the same catagory. I am not saying it does not happen, I am sure it does somewhere. Although if you put all parents and schools in a catagory like this it is very unjust. I want what is best for my son, he can not help he has needs above the typical child. Until someone has a child or a relative with a disable such as LD or Autism they will never know what those children, parents and caregivers do just to make sure that child is given a shot. My child will not have the same options that typical children will have. He will not be able to go to college, he is limited in his options for a future. I think it is time to pick on another population for awhile. How about paying for substance abuse services not just one time but several times for a substance user that has no insurance. Or paying for a killer to live in prison. Keep away from these kids that have no choice for how they were born and keep away from the parents and care givers that work hard getting them what they need. Remember what comes around goes around. You never know when you will be on the other side of the desk during an IEP meeting. I you never have to face that, and if you have bless you. You are really trying to take care of your child.

]]> By: Gary Lane http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-special-education-epidemic/comment-page-1/#comment-271285 Gary Lane Mon, 01 Jun 2009 02:29:50 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-special-education-epidemic/#comment-271285 *doesn't reflect* - damn, need to proof read. *doesn’t reflect* – damn, need to proof read.

]]> By: Gary Lane http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-special-education-epidemic/comment-page-1/#comment-271284 Gary Lane Mon, 01 Jun 2009 02:28:55 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-special-education-epidemic/#comment-271284 Although your article is interesting, it is also reflect the actuality of what is happening. Perhaps there are financial incentives, I can't say, but from personal experiece I can say that schools do not want the label of "Special Needs" on a child. My son is severely autistic (can't speak, has no receptive language, etc...)and it took three assessments for the school district to finally admit he was handicapped and provide him with special education. It was like pulling teeth. So if they had some financial incentive they sure didn't want it. Although your article is interesting, it is also reflect the actuality of what is happening. Perhaps there are financial incentives, I can’t say, but from personal experiece I can say that schools do not want the label of “Special Needs” on a child. My son is severely autistic (can’t speak, has no receptive language, etc…)and it took three assessments for the school district to finally admit he was handicapped and provide him with special education. It was like pulling teeth. So if they had some financial incentive they sure didn’t want it.

]]> By: wilson http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-special-education-epidemic/comment-page-1/#comment-256951 wilson Sat, 09 May 2009 14:19:11 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-special-education-epidemic/#comment-256951 Natalie this issue you are having should be pushed to the superintendent of schools and you should make it known that the people that work with your child daily are in the majority and feel that this approach to medicate your son, and this new label is not necessary. As well this new administrator not seeing your childs language and speech barriers as a real issue for speacial attention is wrond and if it has to be public even at a board meeting then you do that. Districts don't normally like extremely vocal parents and parents that will take a stand and fight to the death. most districts are not used to that. My son was told that he needed medication in about the 3rd grade, and I refused. He is now graduating from high school in 3 weeks. He has striggled with school, but not because of ADHD but because the unchallenging education has made him not appreciate school because he personally teaches himself more through books at the library, the internet, and Borders than the teachers do. Their expectations in public schools are rarely high and do not push our children to be great. I believe he will be successful in life because he is determined but not because of his public education. Continue to refuse medication and not be manipulated. The system does not own our children. They belong to us! Natalie this issue you are having should be pushed to the superintendent of schools and you should make it known that the people that work with your child daily are in the majority and feel that this approach to medicate your son, and this new label is not necessary. As well this new administrator not seeing your childs language and speech barriers as a real issue for speacial attention is wrond and if it has to be public even at a board meeting then you do that. Districts don’t normally like extremely vocal parents and parents that will take a stand and fight to the death. most districts are not used to that. My son was told that he needed medication in about the 3rd grade, and I refused. He is now graduating from high school in 3 weeks. He has striggled with school, but not because of ADHD but because the unchallenging education has made him not appreciate school because he personally teaches himself more through books at the library, the internet, and Borders than the teachers do. Their expectations in public schools are rarely high and do not push our children to be great. I believe he will be successful in life because he is determined but not because of his public education. Continue to refuse medication and not be manipulated. The system does not own our children. They belong to us!

]]> By: natalie http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-special-education-epidemic/comment-page-1/#comment-122452 natalie Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:50:27 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-special-education-epidemic/#comment-122452 I have a question that I hope someone can help me with. How do you find out if your state or school district recieves money for every student diagnosed with an attention deficit disorder, whatever that may be? I have searched all over the internet and can't find the info I had an Iep meeting for my 7 year old son, as I do every year to address sensory issues and speech and language delays. There was the new administrator of the special ed dept in attendance. Never met him before but informed me within the first two minutes of our meeting that my son needs to be on medication. Now, no one including all of the teachers in attendance had ever suspected and attention disorder. This guy tells me that he observed my son for 15 minutes a week ago and he was fidgeting in his seat while doing his work. Its been common knowledge that due to his sensory issues that he fidgets when the noise level gets too loud for him in the class. Well, he tells me that if I refuse to label him adhd and medicate him then he will be out of the special ed system because he doesn't consider speech/language and sensory processing disorder to be a diagnosis. There have been major budget cuts to the special ed dept in my town this year, a half million dollars to be exact. He has an aide that helps my son with one on one instruction since he has delalys due to his language issues and he threatened to take away the aid if I don't agree to medicate him. I will homeschool him before I agree to do that, but I wonder if its more about the money than anything, since there were 6 teachers and therapists that work with my son all week and none of them felt he has an attention problem, they felt his sensory issues just made it appear that way, yet this guy was relentless. I ended up walking out of the room. If anyone can help me find out how to get information regarding any bounty Massachusetts schools may get it would be greatly appreciated. I feel like I just need to know. Thnaks Natalie I have a question that I hope someone can help me with.
How do you find out if your state or school district recieves money for every student diagnosed with an attention deficit disorder, whatever that may be?
I have searched all over the internet and can’t find the info
I had an Iep meeting for my 7 year old son, as I do every year to address sensory issues and speech and language delays.
There was the new administrator of the special ed dept in attendance. Never met him before but informed me within the first two minutes of our meeting that my son needs to be on medication.
Now, no one including all of the teachers in attendance had ever suspected and attention disorder.
This guy tells me that he observed my son for 15 minutes a week ago and he was fidgeting in his seat while doing his work.
Its been common knowledge that due to his sensory issues that he fidgets when the noise level gets too loud for him in the class.
Well, he tells me that if I refuse to label him adhd and medicate him then he will be out of the special ed system because he doesn’t consider speech/language and sensory processing disorder to be a diagnosis.
There have been major budget cuts to the special ed dept in my town this year, a half million dollars to be exact.
He has an aide that helps my son with one on one instruction since he has delalys due to his language issues and he threatened to take away the aid if I don’t agree to medicate him.
I will homeschool him before I agree to do that, but I wonder if its more about the money than anything, since there were 6 teachers and therapists that work with my son all week and none of them felt he has an attention problem, they felt his sensory issues just made it appear that way, yet this guy was relentless. I ended up walking out of the room.
If anyone can help me find out how to get information regarding any bounty Massachusetts schools may get it would be greatly appreciated.
I feel like I just need to know.
Thnaks Natalie

]]> By: Choice and the special ed child « Chariho School Parents’ Forum http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-special-education-epidemic/comment-page-1/#comment-70753 Choice and the special ed child « Chariho School Parents’ Forum Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:22:35 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-special-education-epidemic/#comment-70753 [...] we wrote a column here on Pajamas Media drawing attention to the problem of financial incentives in special education. [...] [...] we wrote a column here on Pajamas Media drawing attention to the problem of financial incentives in special education. [...]

]]> By: Webloggin - Blog Archive » The Special Ed Explosion http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-special-education-epidemic/comment-page-1/#comment-70441 Webloggin - Blog Archive » The Special Ed Explosion Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:31:08 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-special-education-epidemic/#comment-70441 [...] weeks ago an expose appeared in Pajamas Media about the bounty on special education students. The point of the article: There are “lump sum” [...] [...] weeks ago an expose appeared in Pajamas Media about the bounty on special education students. The point of the article: There are “lump sum” [...]

]]> By: House of Eratosthenes http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-special-education-epidemic/comment-page-1/#comment-70208 House of Eratosthenes Sun, 06 Jul 2008 03:27:43 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-special-education-epidemic/#comment-70208 [...] weeks ago an expose appeared in Pajamas Media about the bounty on special education students. The point of the article: There are “lump [...] [...] weeks ago an expose appeared in Pajamas Media about the bounty on special education students. The point of the article: There are “lump [...]

]]> By: Pajamas Media » Yes, Virginia, There Is a Special Ed Bounty http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-special-education-epidemic/comment-page-1/#comment-69835 Pajamas Media » Yes, Virginia, There Is a Special Ed Bounty Sat, 05 Jul 2008 08:20:10 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-special-education-epidemic/#comment-69835 [...] we wrote a column here on Pajamas Media drawing attention to the problem of financial incentives in special education. [...] [...] we wrote a column here on Pajamas Media drawing attention to the problem of financial incentives in special education. [...]

]]> By: Charles http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-special-education-epidemic/comment-page-1/#comment-68421 Charles Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:55:27 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-special-education-epidemic/#comment-68421 I certainly agree that schools are failing a disproportionate number of students, and that individualized instruction is the way to go, but also think IEPs are not very useful documents. They -could- be useful, but that at this point, they are typically of limited utility. I say that as a former special education teacher, administrator, building principal, and school/clinical psychologist. I also agree with you that "teaching disabilities" are real, but must disagree with you about student disabilities, which are rendered nearly meaningless by our educational system. What we need are specific, descriptive diagnoses . . . -not- broad classifications such as LD, ED, MR, etc. We should be developing actual treatment plans that specify student assets as well as limitations. To do so would require far greater professionalism than we now have in our schools, more time and more money. But, as the saying goes, you get what you pay for. By the way, I disagree with the authors' contention that schools cash in on students with disabilities. In fact, it typically costs school districts extra funds to provide special education programs. Districts -are- given financial incentives to provide services in least restrictive environments (LREs), however. In some cases, this deprives kids who need more restrictive settings, and just don't get them. I do believe the increase in the number of special ed students we have seen is due to changing perspectives about what "disability" is, and is not. As a politically liberal individual, I think we need to tighten up the reins. I certainly agree that schools are failing a disproportionate number of students, and that individualized instruction is the way to go, but also think IEPs are not very useful documents. They -could- be useful, but that at this point, they are typically of limited utility. I say that as a former special education teacher, administrator, building principal, and school/clinical psychologist.

I also agree with you that “teaching disabilities” are real, but must disagree with you about student disabilities, which are rendered nearly meaningless by our educational system. What we need are specific, descriptive diagnoses . . . -not- broad classifications such as LD, ED, MR, etc. We should be developing actual treatment plans that specify student assets as well as limitations. To do so would require far greater professionalism than we now have in our schools, more time and more money.
But, as the saying goes, you get what you pay for.

By the way, I disagree with the authors’ contention that schools cash in on students with disabilities. In fact, it typically costs school districts extra funds to provide special education programs. Districts -are- given financial incentives to provide services in least restrictive environments (LREs), however. In some cases, this deprives kids who need more restrictive settings, and just don’t get them.

I do believe the increase in the number of special ed students we have seen is due to changing perspectives about what “disability” is, and is not. As a politically liberal individual, I think we need to tighten up the reins.

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