AZ Parents of Special Needs kids...please help!?

Our first grade daughter goes to an out of district school which she's attended since kindergarten. We have since found out that she suffers from severe ADHD and anxiety.

She goes to therapy sessions during school hours. She has times when meds are changed or when she's just plain ornery (agressive), when we keep her home from school.

We've kept the teachers informed about this but have downplayed the need for any special services because we didn't want them telling us that we needed to go back to our in -district school for them. We've asked for no special help other than what to do if she is not able to work appropriately. (giving her some time to chill).

Her teacher talks about her meds/business in front of both my daughter and her class...and I went to the principal about it.

Suddenly, we've been told that she might be held back and we have to have letters from therapy to prove her absences are justified She's missed 14 full days + therapy sessions.

Can they do this?

Then tonight I get yet another letter from the District office that we may lose our open enrollment due to #4: " Excessive absences, tardiness or negligence by the parent/legal guardian in sending the child to school, may result in the loss of the student's open enrollment."

The teacher has spoken with her therapist (who is a well regarded child Psychologist) and they know she has a Psychiatrist as well....and her teacher even told me one day when I explained that my daughter was absent the previous day due to a bad therapy session...she had the audacity to say in FRONT of my daughter: "well, maybe she doesn't want to be in therapy."

We even took our daughter off all her meds to show the teacher how she is without them because she complained about the meds.

I have since been told by my Psychiatrist that she has several other families she sees who have had the same problems with this teacher and this school.

Please help me! I can't believe this harrassment!

Thank you!

I homeschool my second grade son who receives speech therapy and consultative occupational therapy via our neighborhood school. The one thing you need to understand is that once you initiate an IEP/504 for your child, you are bound to follow their recommendations/suggestions.

I do not believe it is neglect, but they view it as neglect when you keep your daughter home from school. Regarding your daughter's teacher talking about her meds in front of your daughter and the class, stating that your daughter does not want to be in therapy, etc., you need to address those issues directly to the teacher. If she does not stop making these inappropriate comments, you should address the issues to the principal.

More than likely, you will be directed back to your in-district school for special services if the current school deems that your daughter needs these services. They can, and they will do this.

I would suggest that you try homeschooling your daughter. She is obviously having a difficult time at school, and it's causing her anxiety. If you are concerned about social skills, she can learn positive social skills in so many other contexts than a public school setting.

Please feel free to e-mail me if you would like more information regarding the homeschooling option.