The Whole Ugly Story

We've had complications with Sally and school lately. As many of you know, we asked for a laptop computer with certain software last school year. It all started when Sal joined Tech Club. She came home with the paperwork and wanted to join. I contacted the teacher - who is very patient and tolerant with Sally and asked if it would be ok for Sal to join. She said yes.

I figured this club for Sal would be more social - another chance to practice how to act in a group, walk by herself to school (at least part of the way), and eat breakfast at school on Thursdays (the club was from 7:30-8:30). So imagine our surprise when she came home with a power point presentation on cd that she had done by herself. At the monthly "team" meeting that month I told the team that it was time to get her a computer so she could keep up with her class more. She obviously understood what was going on a lot more than we thought.

So the team said they agreed and set to work to document the "need" for "assisted technology". This all has to be documented (like 12 times) and then presented to the administration who then either approves it or not and then on to the school board.

Well, it just so happened that in that week we also ran into our "favorite" board member and told him that there was a computer request going to hit his desk sometime and if he didn't approve it we would toilet paper his house - since we know where he lives. :-) He told us that he really didn't have anything to do with this process but that if we DIDN'T get it - he could HELP. Well, armed with that little knowledge in our pocket we felt assured.

As school ended we were under the impression that all paperwork necessary was to be completed and we would at least know an answer (if not HAVE the computer) at the beginning of school.

I have never been a pest to my teams over the years. In fact, I'm quite grateful and pleasantly surprised at the sheer energy and ideas these people have had over the years.

Imagine my surprise when I found out on curriculum night for Jack that the paperwork to even *start* everything wasn't filled out!!!!

That night I went home totally ticked. I sent emails to all of last year's team AND this year's team and the admin for the school.

At 9am my phone started ringing. :-) It turns out that the paperwork was done it was just wasn't really "filed". So this was all done on Friday morning and by Friday evening we had an approval . I was overjoyed - Bill was now ticked. His feeling was that if all of this could happen in one day - why wasn't it done???

Could of should of would of - it's over. We have a YES on the computer AND software!!! It may take a little while to actually get it and that's ok - we were prepared for a wait - we just weren't prepared for the process not to be started.

So, our team knows that we'll give them the space they need to accomplish the stuff they have to do and we will happily and eagerly help them help Sally - BUT we're not afraid to "raise the roof" a little too - if needed.

I truly believe that ALL the people I work with and have worked with are TRUE advocates for children - it's just that their jobs are probably some of the hardest in the world. They are over worked, under funded, and have to play by rules that are totally absurd - namely the State of IL.

Plus, it seems that the administration of the district penalizes teachers that really help parents know what's going on out there. It's all a crazy cat and mouse, poker game. And it shouldn't be.

I don't know what the answer is - but I hope I'll be able to see a day where this kind of crazy "dance" between parents and school - this weird "them against us" kind of attitude will be gone and we can ALL do what's the BEST for EVERY kid .