Autism Mom Stands Up to School District and Wins!

Today, victory is mine. To some people, it may seem like a small victory, when in fact, it was a big victory for my family and a larger victory for special-needs parents and children everywhere.

I have been fighting my local school district for over 2 months for my son's rights. My son's right as a student with a disability to an appropriate education. School officials believed that continuing preschool was the most appropriate setting for my almost 6-year old son. It was not that I was against the placement they were suggesting, it was the 4-hour bus ride that this would entail. I refused to give in, refused to believe that this was the only option for my autistic son.

The school underestimated this mom. Maybe it is because I am a single mother, maybe it's because I live in a small town, maybe it's because they didn't think I had the fight in me. They were wrong.

I am a resourceful woman, and when it comes to my children, this is no exception. I made numerous phone calls, spent hours searching the Internet, and then a prayer was answered, I found help. I found a listing for parent mentors in Ohio. Upon further reading I found out that these mentors got their support from The Ohio Department of Education, The Office for Exceptional Children, and The Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities.

I took matters into my own hands and emailed the parent mentor for my local area. She suggested that I set up another meeting with the school, a meeting that she would be attending. I sent an official letter to the school stating that I would have assistance at the next meeting. I had found the "big gun" and they knew I had my ammunition.

The meeting today lasted 2 hours. I felt like I was negotiating a court case instead of the education of a small child. My mentor was an amazingly knowledgeable woman. She made repeated points on why it is unacceptable to have a virtually non-verbal child on a bus for that long. She reminded the principle that their transportation policies, contracts, funding and hiring of divers was not my problem.

I pointed out to my group of adversaries, many who had never even met my child, that they were only concerned about what was the easiest and cheapest for the school and not what was in the best interest of my child. I was amazed at my own voice, my courage of conviction, and my love for my child.

Many times during those two hours, people became upset with me and my mentor. Faces became flushed, words became flustered, and then they gave in.

My son will now be riding a special transportation van for 45 minutes in the morning, but he will still be riding an hour to an hour and a half in the afternoon. My mentor pointed out that if this doesn't work out, or it is too much for him, call her back and we will have a meeting again. If the afternoon setup doesn't work, the school will have to hire a driver to pick my son up from school in the afternoon.

I had mentioned this van to the school numerous times and it still angers me that they would not even consider it until I obtained help from a parent mentor supported by the state. Why did they discredit the ideas and opinions of a mother who knows the needs of her child best? I suppose it all boils down to money and school funding.

I am happy to report that my son will be starting school on Monday. He will be riding in a van with 4 other children and a service dog. I am so excited for him as he is eager to learn and he deserves this. Every child deserves this. Children with autism or other disabilities can learn, it may not be the way you or I do, but they still can, given the help and the opportunity.

Many people have told me "If you don't stand up for your child who will?" I have kept this quote in my heart throughout the last two months, and probably will for the rest of his life. I am glad I persevered, as victory today was mine.