IF a child has an IQ of 62 and is a 10th grader with down syndrome and he wants to be in the band; What can a band director do for him in regards to accomodations and modifications?
I can’t help with what modifications need to be done. But on a legal standpoint, please know that IF your child has 504 or IEP plan…
YOU have a right to request what accoms and mods YOU want your child to have. This is NOT to be left up for the school or band director to decide.
If you don’t know what accoms and mods your child needs, you can ask for suggestions from the school in an official IEP meeting. BUT remember that you do NOT have to agree to what they offer. And if you don’t agree, they CANT" do it.
If your child does not have IEP or 504 plan, the school is NOT legally required to provide ANY accoms or mods.
If your child DOES have IEP plan, the child’s IEP team is who decides what mods and accoms have to be used. The band director does NOT make this decision alone, even though he/she can be included in the decision making process (in an official IEP meeting).
The decision for what accoms and mods need to be done have to be discussed and agreed on in an official IEP meeting (If child is in special ed (IEP plan)
In writing, request an official IEP meeting to discuss and agree on mods and accoms YOU would like for your child to have. YOU are an equal and legal member of the IEP team and you make decisions just like the rest of them. And you can request an IEP meeting at ANY time.
In the meeting, If they refuse anything you ask, then write a letter requesting ‘prior written notice’ of their refusals. By federal sped law IDEA, they have to give this to you.
They have to have ‘legal’ reasons for thier refusals. And when you request this prior written notice, and they DON"T have legal reasons for refusing what you request, they will then agree to what you request and do it, because they will NOT put ‘illegal’ reasons on the ‘prior written notice’.
Please make sure that what ever accoms and mods you and the IEP team agree to, that these things are written down into the IEP plan. Schools are famous for getting parents all confused and making parents think they DID write things into the IEP plan but they really didn’t.
See, schools are only required to do what is written into IEP plan. And if it’s NOT written in, they don’t have to do any of it, even though they might say they will. They might say ‘oh we’ll do that, we don’t have to write it into IEP plan’. Yea, right.
If your child has 504 plan and NOT IEP (special ed) you can NOT request for ‘prior written notice’. So if 504 team refuses anything you request, please contact your state dept of education and ask what is the next step you should take.
September 23rd, 2009 at 3:11 am
This is difficult to answer without knowing more about the childs abilities. Can he read music, is he capable of playing any instrument. With out knowing these things I suggest some training in playing something in the percussion section.
References :
September 23rd, 2009 at 3:56 am
The IEP should address his accommodations. If it has not been addressed on the IEP, ask the IEP team to meet to decide what should be done. The IEP team needs to discuss why he was placed in band and what skills are to be enhanced by being a part of the class. If his IQ is 62, he is probably not able to learn to play an instrument. However, he can turn the pages on a music score. He may be able to handle being an assistant director or drum major. Perhaps he could handle the symbols at the end of a song. The main thing is that the students accept him and that he has some responsibility in the band. He can learn to march with the rest of the band, even if he does not keep time very well. Without knowing his PLOP and his goals, it is hard to know how to advise, but I hope this helps.
References :
September 23rd, 2009 at 4:15 am
We have two children in our high school band with down syndrome. They play percussion.
The key is patience. They are able to play simple rythms if a teacher spends a lot of time doing it and letting the student copy him. It takes time and patience.
References :
September 23rd, 2009 at 4:34 am
Well, it would be nice if he has some assistance in class, like a peer mentor to help him. He should be familiar with the instrument and be practicing at home already.
The teacher should not expect him to be able to read music, but rather, to learn the notes by ear and play them. If the teacher could put a tape together the student could practice with that would be great.
Music is wonderful therapy for all students including disabled students.
Call the parents once in a while to let them know their son is welcome in your class and ask if there is anything you can do in addition to help him succeed.
References :
September 23rd, 2009 at 4:58 am
I can’t help with what modifications need to be done. But on a legal standpoint, please know that IF your child has 504 or IEP plan…
YOU have a right to request what accoms and mods YOU want your child to have. This is NOT to be left up for the school or band director to decide.
If you don’t know what accoms and mods your child needs, you can ask for suggestions from the school in an official IEP meeting. BUT remember that you do NOT have to agree to what they offer. And if you don’t agree, they CANT" do it.
If your child does not have IEP or 504 plan, the school is NOT legally required to provide ANY accoms or mods.
If your child DOES have IEP plan, the child’s IEP team is who decides what mods and accoms have to be used. The band director does NOT make this decision alone, even though he/she can be included in the decision making process (in an official IEP meeting).
The decision for what accoms and mods need to be done have to be discussed and agreed on in an official IEP meeting (If child is in special ed (IEP plan)
In writing, request an official IEP meeting to discuss and agree on mods and accoms YOU would like for your child to have. YOU are an equal and legal member of the IEP team and you make decisions just like the rest of them. And you can request an IEP meeting at ANY time.
In the meeting, If they refuse anything you ask, then write a letter requesting ‘prior written notice’ of their refusals. By federal sped law IDEA, they have to give this to you.
They have to have ‘legal’ reasons for thier refusals. And when you request this prior written notice, and they DON"T have legal reasons for refusing what you request, they will then agree to what you request and do it, because they will NOT put ‘illegal’ reasons on the ‘prior written notice’.
Please make sure that what ever accoms and mods you and the IEP team agree to, that these things are written down into the IEP plan. Schools are famous for getting parents all confused and making parents think they DID write things into the IEP plan but they really didn’t.
See, schools are only required to do what is written into IEP plan. And if it’s NOT written in, they don’t have to do any of it, even though they might say they will. They might say ‘oh we’ll do that, we don’t have to write it into IEP plan’. Yea, right.
If your child has 504 plan and NOT IEP (special ed) you can NOT request for ‘prior written notice’. So if 504 team refuses anything you request, please contact your state dept of education and ask what is the next step you should take.
References :