Friday, February 26, 2010

Brain Freeze

And it's not from this ridiculously cold winter either.

I am spending every day off & each spare minute I have putting together my administrative complaint for the state board of education. Each complaint I have has to be backed up by the correct part of the law as well as show data (or lack of) supporting my complaint. It is a large amount of research & tricky wording to get the complaint "just right". I have worked on it for several hours each day off until my head hurts & my eyes can't focus. I feel like I am back in school again too with as much work & research I am doing here.

Sadly, the list of complaints I have is at 8 items. This means that MM's rights under IDEA and to receive FAPE have been violated that many times. It is ridiculous! This school district is so lacking & they have a culture of poor service for special education. I can't figure out if it is the entire county or just this school. I think it is a mixture of both.

It makes me even sadder to think that I will be putting up with this for at least the next 11 years. I hope that we will be able to eventually sell our house & move to the next county over. I am not naive to think moving will magically make all of our problems disappear, but I do think a large majority of them will be alleviated.

After I file this administrative complaint & receive notice they got it, I will be filing the papers for mediation. Waiting to file for mediation is in hopes that it will give me some leverage when they realize they are being investigated. This was on advice from a wonderful parental advocate. She is so super helpful! I need to get her & my bestie a gift card once this is all done. I am hoping I do not have to go to Due Process, but will if needed.

Have you ever had to file a complaint, go to mediation or due process? If so, I would love to hear from you!


On a different note: Some of these feelings I keep posting about may be medically related. I had a dr appt the other day. I have had some problems with my heart since this last illness. The dr checked my thryoid. It appears I have a major hypothyroidism! (googl.e some of the symptoms and you will find many things I have complained of: severe fatigue, loss of energy, weight gain, difficulty losing weight, depression, headaches, allergies that get worse, hypertension, increased heart rate, lack of libido, memory loss, irritability, fuzzy thinking, difficulty following conversation or train of thought). I am curious to see if some of my elevated BP comes down with treating this, as well as my depression. Fingers crossed that it is a simple little pill that will give me the boost I need & help get me off of some of the crazy high doses of BP meds & anti depressants!

And MM has ANOTHER cold/upper airway infection. I hate auto immune issues.

3 comments:

Brenda Rothman (Mama Be Good) said...

That's fantastic news on figuring out your health issue! I know so many women who find out about this after a slew of symptoms. You will feel so much better with meds!

I can't help you on the lawsuit with the IEP (we're homeschooling right now). Can only wish you luck!

DKR said...

I have been to mediation - when my daughter was 3! It was worth it, sort of. We ended up compromising. I know what you mean about feeling like I'm in school again studying all this law and red tape! I also felt like an attorney preparing for a case.

Katy said...

Several family member og mine have wonky thyroids--can really mess with you. Do hope you can get the situation worked out.