Help available for those afflicted by apraxia
Editor’s note: This is the final installment of a two-day, three-story series on a recently held apraxia conference hosted in Pittsburgh by the Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America. As mothers of children with disabilities, Diane Hartman and Mitzi Miller have found that communication with educational professionals in their local school district has played a key role in helping to get their sons’ special needs met.
Like most parents, Hartman and Miller didn’t know where to start nor did they know that resources were available such as task force agencies and parent groups.
For Miller of Bentleyville, who serves as co-chair woman of the Southwestern Local Task Force (SLTF) operated through Intermediate Unit (IU) 1, it all started with a flyer she received about the agency three years ago.
The LTF is comprised of a committee of concerned people, parents, educators and agencies that serve and support students with disabilities and which monitor the special education program of school districts in the Fayette, Greene and Washington counties.
The goal of LTF is to propose recommendations that will improve, strengthen and when necessary, expand services for special needs students.
One of those goals includes assisting parents in understanding the laws and regulations that affect their child’s rights and to help them develop an appropriate education program tailored to fit their unique needs outlined in an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
Miller, whose 13 year-old son Kacey has multiple disabilities, said while parents need to become familiar with special education laws, the first step is to have their child evaluated by the school district psychologist and review data from test assessments.
“Once (the task force) educates a parent and the school district is aware everything tends to get resolved,” said Miller.
Both women stressed the importance of how supporting their children was not just about learning the special education laws, but how they went about getting school officials to implement what was required.
“If you don’t communicate, your child loses,” said Hartman of Franklin Park, who now serves as Director of Student Services and Outreach at Total Learning Centers in Pittsburgh.
Hartman’s journey started 30 years ago when her son Justin who was born with Down syndrome and later diagnosed with a bipolar disorder.
At the time, Hartman said the Allegheny County Association of Retarded Citizens (ARC) was the only agency that offered support services with two full-time volunteers that offered trainings and information to parents.
While Hartman took advantage of the trainings, she also participated in parent support groups that led to her teaching others what she has learned.
Hartman later became a parent consultant for the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Allegheny Intermediate Unit.
At the time, Hartman also took part in a project that connected her with experts on the placement of and special needs children in the regular school setting.
She later expanded her career when she became supervisor of the children’s program for the Mental Health Association.
“I not only learned the special education laws protecting children with disabilities, but I also learned the education strategies necessary to implement inclusive practices,” said Hartman.
Hartman said when Justin entered preschool in the 1980s special needs children were segregated from regular education students.
At first, Hartman used her knowledge of the law to try and get her son the proper services he was required to receive from the school district, but she said it turned into a long struggle and repeated meetings with school officials.
It wasn’t until both sides were able to establish a working relationship through communication that Hartman said Justin’s needs were met.
It also led to the adoption of inclusion practices in the North Allegheny School District where Justin was included with his peers in the regular education classroom.
Through it all, Hartman said she only did what comes natural as a parent by wanting to do everything possible for Justin just as she did for her other son and daughter.
As a result of her endeavor, Hartman founded the Justin Hartman Education Advocacy Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing advocacy services and other supports for people with mental health, psychological, psychiatric or cognitive challenges, in addition to their families and significant others.
Hartman said in the thousands of children she has supported she has never found any student that doesn’t want to learn, have a sense of belonging and self worth and doesn’t want to contribute to the best of their ability.
“If a child has experienced learning challenges, social isolation, anger+ and the parents are not feeling they are being supported by the school team then it is worth an initial call to an education expert or advocate,” said Hartman.
Miller said she was lucky to have two mentors that guided her through the special education system and its laws and is using that experience to help others.
“Once (the task force) educates a parent and the school district is aware everything tends to get resolved,” said Miller.
As Miller continues her efforts to make sure Kacey receives the necessary services outlined in his IEP she is also striving for the LTF to come into the school districts in Fayette, Greene and Washington counties during open houses in an attempt to reach more parents.
Although Miller sent invitations to school officials she said only several districts from Washington County responded.
According to Miller, the LTF has also conducted monthly parent trainings on various topics held at the IU location in Coal Center both in the morning and at night, but few people attended.
“Through the task force I want to get a hold of people so they know they can speak up for their child,” said Miller. “The school district is required to give parents access to the LTF,” she added.
No matter what type of disability a child has, Hartman and Miller said each one has a dream the same as other children their age do, however it may need to be scaled down at times so they can lead productive lives.
“It’s all about strategy,” said Hartman.
Whether a child has a disability or is just struggling with learning Hartman said it is important for parents to develop a strategy so they are functioning at their expected grade level.
Miller said while a problem may not be solved in one day, the LTF can educate parents with the necessary information to begin the process.
Unfortunately, Hartman said in some school districts children are still asked to fit the program instead of the services being developed and delivered to the student.
Through the services provided by the LTF and JHA, parents can learn how to educate themselves, speak effectively and clearly about their child’s needs to create a mutual relationship with the school district.
For more information, contact LTF at 1-800-328-6481 or under the IU one website at www.iu1.k12.pa.us or JHA at 724-779-1701, www.jheap.com.