What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Texas
Hello all. My child will be 5 September 25th. She is started the PPCD (preschool program for children with disabilities) this fall. (Just for background information - in the state of Texas, I believe, children can enter the public school system at age three and she will continue to be in the care of their special needs program probably throughout her school experience.) The school day ends at 2:30. I work until 4:30 and drive time is usually about 30 to 45 minutes to my common destinations across the city. I'm in need of after-school care for about 2 1/2 hours.
The school does not offer after-school care to the children with special needs. (I assume high-functioning children with disabilities may apply for the after-school program that is held in the cafeteria.) My daughter is autistic with global developmental delay. She is still in diapers and has a vocabulary of only a few words. She can be what is known as a "runner" and will need to be under the oversight of an adult at all times. She does not have any other medical needs. They have not specifically told me 'no' to enrollment into the after-school care program that exists yet, just that the program that utilizes the cafeteria "has their own enrollment criteria." She will need a paraprofessional to change her diaper and an after-school program that is not specifically a licensed daycare would not (normally) already have someone on staff to provide for her needs as well as watch her to ensure she does not run and that she is protected as she is not able to verbally express herself.
The school district has expressed that they will not bus her to the special needs daycare downtown (anywhere outside of the district). That would only be a temporary solution however as they only accept children up to the age of six. I have called three other private daycares and they cannot accomodate as they do not have changing stations set up in the class for five-year-olds and they cannot watch her every second to prevent the running (and she will run into the street or continuously run away into other classrooms as she does not follow verbal commands very well.) I do not want to hire a babysitter as there is no supervisory oversight and if the babysitter quits, I'm still in the same situation without a SOLID continued plan for after-school care.
I just wanted to give the background before I present my final and general question. I am under the impression that the law is that the school must offer the same programs to disabled children that they would offer to the other students with reasonable accomodations. The school already has paraprofessionals (similar to nursing aids that change diapers, help feed, etc for those who are unfamiliar with the term) on staff during the day for the CCPD and special needs program. I'm willing to pay for the after-school care just like any other parent. But the school has officially told me in email that they "do not have after-school care for the special needs children at this time."
My only other choice is to quit my job. But then of course I can't continue to pay bills. I have no family near me but I feel this is beside the point as I think the school should be providing reasonable accomodations for her (one paraprofessional for 2 1/2 hours and I'm willing to pay extra) as they are offering after-school care to the other children.
Does the law protect her in this situation and would the public school have to accomodate? Or am I just out of luck?
Thank you for any information you provide.
Hello all. My child will be 5 September 25th. She is started the PPCD (preschool program for children with disabilities) this fall. (Just for background information - in the state of Texas, I believe, children can enter the public school system at age three and she will continue to be in the care of their special needs program probably throughout her school experience.) The school day ends at 2:30. I work until 4:30 and drive time is usually about 30 to 45 minutes to my common destinations across the city. I'm in need of after-school care for about 2 1/2 hours.
The school does not offer after-school care to the children with special needs. (I assume high-functioning children with disabilities may apply for the after-school program that is held in the cafeteria.) My daughter is autistic with global developmental delay. She is still in diapers and has a vocabulary of only a few words. She can be what is known as a "runner" and will need to be under the oversight of an adult at all times. She does not have any other medical needs. They have not specifically told me 'no' to enrollment into the after-school care program that exists yet, just that the program that utilizes the cafeteria "has their own enrollment criteria." She will need a paraprofessional to change her diaper and an after-school program that is not specifically a licensed daycare would not (normally) already have someone on staff to provide for her needs as well as watch her to ensure she does not run and that she is protected as she is not able to verbally express herself.
The school district has expressed that they will not bus her to the special needs daycare downtown (anywhere outside of the district). That would only be a temporary solution however as they only accept children up to the age of six. I have called three other private daycares and they cannot accomodate as they do not have changing stations set up in the class for five-year-olds and they cannot watch her every second to prevent the running (and she will run into the street or continuously run away into other classrooms as she does not follow verbal commands very well.) I do not want to hire a babysitter as there is no supervisory oversight and if the babysitter quits, I'm still in the same situation without a SOLID continued plan for after-school care.
I just wanted to give the background before I present my final and general question. I am under the impression that the law is that the school must offer the same programs to disabled children that they would offer to the other students with reasonable accomodations. The school already has paraprofessionals (similar to nursing aids that change diapers, help feed, etc for those who are unfamiliar with the term) on staff during the day for the CCPD and special needs program. I'm willing to pay for the after-school care just like any other parent. But the school has officially told me in email that they "do not have after-school care for the special needs children at this time."
My only other choice is to quit my job. But then of course I can't continue to pay bills. I have no family near me but I feel this is beside the point as I think the school should be providing reasonable accomodations for her (one paraprofessional for 2 1/2 hours and I'm willing to pay extra) as they are offering after-school care to the other children.
Does the law protect her in this situation and would the public school have to accomodate? Or am I just out of luck?
Thank you for any information you provide.
