Making Special Education Actually Work

Update: Cash & Check Donations Received

Folks,

Thank you for the response we’ve received so far. Not only have we received $195 through ChipIn!, we’ve also gotten in $200 in donations via cash and checks. Our target donation amount is $1000 total. Because ChipIn! doesn’t account for cash or check contributions, they’re not included in the bottom line calculations of how much we’ve received. Therefore, when cash and check donations come in, we’re reducing the amount of the ChipIn! target accordingly. So, instead of our ChipIn! widget reflecting that we need $1000, now that we’ve received in $200 in cash/checks, we’ve adjusted the ChipIn! widget to reflect that we’re seeking $800 in online donations for this cause.

Please continue to give and share the links to our fundraiser info. We’re starting to get there, but we’re not there, yet!

Once in a while a situation arises that requires us to turn to our social media followers for support. This is one of those situations.

We have been working remotely with a family in a relatively rural area far north of us off and on for several years now, but even though we are billing at below-cost rates on a negligible minimum monthly payment plan to keep things as affordable for the family as possible and still keep our doors open, because of the family’s limited resources, we’ve not been able to really put forth as much effort as we would have liked, not the least of which is attending their son’s IEP meetings in person. Unfortunately, this boy’s isolated school district has grown to believe it is untouchable and has exploited the family’s financial situation for years to avoid accountability.

We recently filed a compliance complaint against the District and it was cited by the state education agency for unlawfully terminating services called for by the student’s IEP. In its written response to the state education agency, in an effort to invalidate and minimize the parents’ concerns, the school district’s director of special education disparaged the parents and attempted to characterize them as ignorant and annoying. While we agree that the district probably finds it annoying that these parents are actually exercising their rights instead of being the passive doormats the district wishes they were, its response to the situation has been wholly inappropriate.

At this point, we do not believe that participating in this student’s triennial IEP meeting, which will be coming up towards the end of October, by phone is appropriate. The district intends to have its lawyer there if an advocate is participating. Funds permitting, I will be traveling up to represent this student in person so I can look these people in the eye and protect this student and his parents from being railroaded. The family simply cannot afford the costs of my travel and we do not have any funds set aside for this purpose.

Therefore, we are asking our followers to chip in and help us cover our travel expenses for this IEP meeting. All donations to KPS4Parents are tax-deductible. Anything we receive above and beyond the actual costs of our travel will be applied first to the fees for representing this same student; after that, if there’s anything left over, we’ll apply it to the costs of representing other students from low-income families whom we serve. Travel expenses include the costs of airfare, lodging, car rental, gas, and meals for a 2-day trip.

Your help is appreciated! You can donate via PayPal by using the ChipIn widget below and in our sidebar to the right. You can also simply use our PayPal donation button in our sidebar, though doing so will result in an unrestricted donation rather than a donation earmarked specifically for this child’s IEP meeting.

If you want to mail a donation, click here for our mailing address and be sure to mark your check or money order with “D.J. Travel Expenses” so we know what your donation is for. ?For those of you who donate, thanks in advance!

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