Ladies and Gentlemen,
Please excuse me…I have to get this off my chest. It is eating me up inside. So, if it sounds like I am yelling, I am on the inside, I probably should be on the outside.
I got a call today from a counselor. Lovely lady whom I have had the pleasure to work with at another school. She called to tell me (a day after open house) that the parent of soandso was in her office and that the teachers are not giving her daughter the 504 accommodations from the memo I sent out two weeks ago. I asked the counselor to please ask the parent if the student has spoken to the teacher (this is self advocacy) about the issue? Has mom spoken or emailed the teacher? The answer was no.
Now the next part I am going to type is what when through my mind in a flash. This child is not diabetic, nor does she suffer from seizures. She has ADD or some form of it. She is to get extended time on assignments, frequent breaks and extended time on tests. I did the memo, I made sure each teacher, testing chair, counselor and administrators got a copy. I deal with students who can’t even say their name or feed themselves and this child is whining about a break? I have a break for her. Additionally, in the real world, no one cares!!! It is not my job to make the teacher read the memo, nor to check the classroom to see if the teacher is following the suggested accommodations. A 504 case is not worth my effort. I just spent 6 years getting disability on my husband and in the process working so hard that I am now so ill I will probably die before I can enjoy any of his money. And this girl who can walk, talk, eat, drink and go to the bathroom with a normal IQ is worried about her accommodations!! Give me a break. I am not paid enough for that.
I calmly told the counselor that there was a hierarchy of contact that needed to be made. The child must first advocate for herself. Then, when that fails, mom needs to speak to the teacher. When that fails, mom can speak to the counselor or get an administrator involved. This office only provides the 504 and memos.
The counselor said thank you.
I just put my head in my hands and thought, are we raising a bunch of victims? Has the food become so poisoned that everyone is handicapped in some way?
I just spent a year going through the process of trying to find out what is wrong with me(still don’t know completely). I had to apply for a disabled parking pass, buss pass and working accommodations. I had to jump through hoops to get those. Then there are the loops and hoops and red tape I jumped through to help my husband and daughter and still jumping.
I so wanted to stomp over to the office and tell the girl to put her big panties on and stop whining, and give her a tour of my most special students who REALLY NEED ACCOMMODATIONS. I restrained myself. Also, if the parent was so concerned, why didn’t she ask to speak to the teacher last night at open house.
Parents – teach your children how to talk to teachers nicely. Teach them that the real world is mean and most people don’t care you have a problem. They look on the outside and see a perfectly healthy person. You either accept that or not.