Special education parents meeting
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Last night, I was one of 50 parents of students with special needs at a meeting called by Garth Harries, the new Senior Coordinator for Special Education at the Department of Education. Held at PS 199 in Manhattan, the meeting was billed as an opportunity “to solicit informed and thoughtful input from parents as it relates to Special Education.”
The concerns voiced were not new: some untrained (and thus insensitive) paraprofessionals, untrained (and thus ineffective) general-ed teachers, CTT classes that are too large, under-served IEPs (Individualized Educational Plans), and schools misrepresenting parents’ rights, just to name a few. But there were also some bright spots: parents from the ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) Nest program (myself included) sung its praises and encouraged Harries to nurture and grow it, and a mom with a vision-challenged child reported her family’s very positive experience.
As was the case the last time I heard Mr. Harries speak, he began with a disclaimer: Although he has no background in special education, he is working very closely with those who do. No matter how many times he says this, it neither diminishes his insufficient qualifications nor inspires my confidence. He is the Senior Coordinator for Special Education, and he has no background in special education. His previous job at the DOE involved closing dozens of schools. The lack of logic here simply baffles me.
Even the way this meeting was arranged was unconventional: very short notice, with no public announcement, and the DOE reserved the right to handpick the participants. Regardless, many parents expressed their hopes that this was only the beginning of an open dialogue and wanted to know how and when and where it would continue.
To his credit, Mr. Harries did talk about the Arise Coalition and its recently published recommendations, and he also talked about the potential for good inclusion programs to help the general-ed population as much as the special-needs population. But for now, it is all just talk. Until Mr. Harries makes a systemic change that is directly responsible for helping an actual child, I remain skeptical.
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Very nicely stated, Marni!
Comment by janny226 — May 12, 2009 @ 1:58 pm
I attended the meeting as well, and more than a dialogue it was a chance for beleaguared parents to meet and share their often heart wrenching experiences of raising kids with special needs within the DOE Special Ed. system which is rife with not meeting the needs of our kids.
Next to me sat a mom whose son with Aspergers was forced to find another school and leave his friends behind because the zoned school for his neighborhood did not have a CTT class. Again the most vulnerable child has to pay the price.
Three mothers from the Bronx were lost as to how to get their children our of schools where they were not getting the services they needed. The DOE office in the Bronx gave them no help.
There were parents from Queens who were upset because their kids were not receiving the services outlined in their IEP’s and explained that the private agencies contracted by the DOE for Speech, OT, PT, etc. refused to work with them because the pay rate offered by the DOE was below market rate. Again our most vulnerable kids have to pay.
I asked about the ADNEST program on behalf of 5 Queens moms whose little kindergardeners and first graders on the Autism Spectrum were kicked out and one who is about to be kicked out of the program. Clearly that program touted by many media outlets as a wonderful program is still not doing enough and stepping on the backs of little children it rejects as failures at the tender age of 5 and 6 years old. It seems successful only because it carefully handpicks kids that will make the program look good.
Lets not forget that 75% of kids with IEPs do not graduate High School. Clearly something is terribly wrong and we are not worried about our kids without reason. That is a failure of epic proportions, maybe the Federal Government should look into why the NYCDOE allows this.
All in attendance cheered a mom who is also a professor at NYU and a specialist on devising tests and interpreting the data collected. She opened our eyes to how the DOE is unwilling to try better methods and has spent millions of dollars on math and reading programs that are ineffective for kids with special needs.
Time and time again it is proven how we parents of kids with special needs have to become experts and advocates for our kids and have even more insight that even the those in power at the DOE. Why aren’t they listening?
I just hope Garth Harries and his colleagues finally find the strenght to weild their opinion and vote and put an end to approving whatever the Mayor tells them to.
Parents of “normal” kids have no idea how easy the problems of their typically developing kids are and I wouldn’t wish it on anybody how we have to beg, jump through hoops and plead just to get our kids a decent education.
Fern
Comment by FCR — May 12, 2009 @ 4:56 pm
What are Garth Harries’ qualifications if he has no background in special education? Who chose him to do this job?
Comment by Anne — May 12, 2009 @ 8:04 pm
Garth was and still is in charge of implementing the city’s class size reduction plan, mandated by the state legislature in 2007. Last year, the city failed to make any of its class size targets, and despite more than $400 million in state aid, in nearly half of schools that were supposed to reduce class size, class sizes rose. This year, average class sizes citywide increased in all grades but one — by the largest amount in ten years.
Garth explained these increases the NY Times by saying it was the fault of parents — by insisting on sending their kids to popular schools.
Comment by leonie haimson — May 12, 2009 @ 9:49 pm
Thanks for reporting on this meeting. As the parent of a child with disabilities, I would have liked to attend, but didn’t find out about it until it was too late to register. And I also think the way people were “invited” and “confirmed” really should be investigated, so it doesn’t happen again. I never received a notice from my child’s school or parent coordinator (and they are wonderful!!). So I’m suspicious that people were “invited” from the programs/schools that are highly successful and already have great press. Stacking the deck to look good, with no tough questions for someone who really can’t answer?? Hmmmm….
Comment by Anonymous — May 13, 2009 @ 6:58 am
Was Mr. Harries accompanied by any other personnel from NYC DOE? Usually he travels with at least 1-2 people from Office of Special Ed Initiatives who have “institutional memory” and expertise and knowledge of current systems and problems.
Regarding his acknowledgement of the ARISE Coalition’s most recent report, he did meet with Coalition immediately after the report was issued, and was cordial to them at best. Rome was not built in a day, and the ‘fixes’ needed by both general and special education may never be fixed to the satisfaction of anyone.
Comment by Anonymous — May 13, 2009 @ 7:11 am
I agree with Anonymous @6:58 am that it may have been successful schools invited — at least, mine is — but certainly some of the parents there had terrible stories to share! As for Anonymous @7:11 am, yes, there were 3 people there with him, one each for Bronx, Queens, Manhattan. Plus another woman who handled the introductions for the meeting.
Comment by janny226 — May 13, 2009 @ 9:00 am
I didn’t even KNOW about this event - and my child has an IEP and is currently in the ASD NEST program…enough said…
Comment by Tania — May 13, 2009 @ 1:48 pm
Marni,
Your gut about this man is correct. He is status quo for B.O.E. The Nest is an anomaly and even it is problematic because of the B.O.E.’s rigidity. Expect nothing good from him and always watch your back.
Comment by Susan — May 13, 2009 @ 7:38 pm
And now it has finally been announced that Linda Wernikoff, the executive director for special education initiatives is retiring. Now there will be a huge lack of “institutional memory” for special education at Tweed. I guess I should start saving some extra $$$ for those impartial hearings (that I will win!) in my future.
Comment by Anonymous — May 17, 2009 @ 9:42 am
“…he also talked about the potential for good inclusion programs to help the general-ed population as much as the special-needs population.”
I am interested in this particular aspect of the blog. Any details on how he saw inclusion programs benefiting the general-ed children?
Comment by lindyroi — May 28, 2009 @ 8:55 pm