I believe in the truth. I will admit that over my years of life (40 and counting) I have not been the most honest man. Integrity used to be a phobia of mine. I was scared to tell the truth because of who it might hurt. Me, maybe someone else. But as our parents have told us, the older you get the wiser you get. I am no mastermind genius, but I know the difference between right and wrong.
The case that I bring up is when I see people telling other "I will be praying for you" or "sending prayers your way". These are sweet and almost comforting phrases that tend to get used a lot. But who are we praying to? I am having trouble knowing that I am a sinner and I pray to God who will not look upon sin. When I sin, He is not looking at me. He cant! How can He still love me?
I have been hearing lately about "phobia". People think that if someone does not accept someone else because of a different lifestyle, then they are suffering from a phobia. Again, if a lifestyle that is chosen that has been deemed a sin by God, how can we accept it and still expect God to listen to our prayers? Look at this in human standards. If you have bad credit, a bank will not look at you. You will get NO help from a bank. Why? Because bad credit is BAD. However, you can possibly go to a sub-prime lender and get a loan for an terrible interest rate. Is that acceptance? It is putting you further into debt and you are paying a higher price. However, you got what you wanted...acceptance. Is the price of acceptance worth it?
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Educating the School
We had our meeting for our daughter's 504 plan at school. For those that may not know, a 504 plan is a recognition of a dissability that allows the student equal access to an education. If a child has a dissability, thier dissability cannot hinder them from an equal education. It basically puts all students on an equal playing field regardless of thier dissability.
The meeting did not go as planned. We met with Dr. Jerban of Marietta Dermatology and got the official diagnosis of our daughters EBS. He even prescribed some creams and bandages that would increase and promote healing. This is what the school wanted us to get before we could move forward. My wife and I met with the principal, the school nurse over the district, the PE coach, the counselor and the teacher. We were outnumbered and put on the defensive as soon as the conversation started. They kept saying "we are a team", however when that term came up, they looked at one another, not us. We were not a part of thier team. It was almost like they were ready to turn us down the moment we walked in. We explained to them that EBS is skin condition that is hereditary and mainly affects the hands and feet. There is a carotine in skin that helps protect the skin from trauma (walking, running, holding things that are heavy). Me and three of my five children are missing this carotine. In a nutshell, we get blisters very easy.
Our daughter has been having a rather difficult time this year than usual. Our oldest son has this and I am only used to seeing it in boys so I had no idea how it would affect my daughter. Needless to say this year has been bad. Our daughter comes home about every other day limping because her feet hurt. She mentioned this to her Physical Education teachers and was told to bring a note from home or a doctors note. So we have been providing those.
I digress...we explained to the "team" that our daughter does not ALWAYS get blisters (no need to lie about it) only does she get them when the weather is really hot and/or she is playing a lot. When the blisters form, they can be excrutiating (I have this, I know). I explained that our daughter would need to sit out of PE and/or remove her shoes to relieve the pain.
The nurse asked if the accomodations being made to our daughter would help. We said yes they will help. Really all the school needs to do is when she says she is hurting, dont force her to participate and dont let her grade be affected. The "team" agreed that because the accomodations were not significant enough and that even though this dissability was life-long, it was "mild". With this being said, the "team" agreed that the 504 plan was to be denied however a medical plan for this year would be provided. Are you KIDDING ME?? MILD?? Have you ever walked on your feet with them oozing blood from open wounds? This is MILD? We have always taught our child to not let the dissability weaken her. We tell that to all of our kids no matter the situation. Now, since we teach our kids to be strong, the school thinks that a "mild" dissability (in thier eyes) needs no protection. Excuse me, but didnt you ask me to provide documentation from a specialist? Did the specialist not tell you that she would have this all of her life and that she will never be cured? Does the documentation not say "accomodations must be made"?
Here is the outcome. We have no 504 plan but the school "recognizes" her dissability. Therefore they will make accomodations for this year. This in no way binds the teachers next year to do the same. So this means that at some point we will all have to meet at the table again (taking time out of work and pay) to discuss our daughters dissability again. Not only that, we have another daughter that in 4 years will be subject to the same. However, the 504 plan would follow our daughter all through her years at school and we would not have to keep explaining to every teacher what is happening.
Did I mention that "this ain't over"?! Like I said, my wonderful wife and I are not a couple of uneducated people that can be pushed around by a polyester business suit wearing counselor who looks like she just got out of high school. By the way lady, how do you breathe through those Voldermoort slits in your nose??? (now I am just being mean). Like I said, this is not over and we are about to have what my grandaddy would call "a good old fashioned prayer meeting". Please, if you know of someone who might do some pro-bono advocacy work in the Cobb area, please let me know.
The meeting did not go as planned. We met with Dr. Jerban of Marietta Dermatology and got the official diagnosis of our daughters EBS. He even prescribed some creams and bandages that would increase and promote healing. This is what the school wanted us to get before we could move forward. My wife and I met with the principal, the school nurse over the district, the PE coach, the counselor and the teacher. We were outnumbered and put on the defensive as soon as the conversation started. They kept saying "we are a team", however when that term came up, they looked at one another, not us. We were not a part of thier team. It was almost like they were ready to turn us down the moment we walked in. We explained to them that EBS is skin condition that is hereditary and mainly affects the hands and feet. There is a carotine in skin that helps protect the skin from trauma (walking, running, holding things that are heavy). Me and three of my five children are missing this carotine. In a nutshell, we get blisters very easy.
Our daughter has been having a rather difficult time this year than usual. Our oldest son has this and I am only used to seeing it in boys so I had no idea how it would affect my daughter. Needless to say this year has been bad. Our daughter comes home about every other day limping because her feet hurt. She mentioned this to her Physical Education teachers and was told to bring a note from home or a doctors note. So we have been providing those.
I digress...we explained to the "team" that our daughter does not ALWAYS get blisters (no need to lie about it) only does she get them when the weather is really hot and/or she is playing a lot. When the blisters form, they can be excrutiating (I have this, I know). I explained that our daughter would need to sit out of PE and/or remove her shoes to relieve the pain.
The nurse asked if the accomodations being made to our daughter would help. We said yes they will help. Really all the school needs to do is when she says she is hurting, dont force her to participate and dont let her grade be affected. The "team" agreed that because the accomodations were not significant enough and that even though this dissability was life-long, it was "mild". With this being said, the "team" agreed that the 504 plan was to be denied however a medical plan for this year would be provided. Are you KIDDING ME?? MILD?? Have you ever walked on your feet with them oozing blood from open wounds? This is MILD? We have always taught our child to not let the dissability weaken her. We tell that to all of our kids no matter the situation. Now, since we teach our kids to be strong, the school thinks that a "mild" dissability (in thier eyes) needs no protection. Excuse me, but didnt you ask me to provide documentation from a specialist? Did the specialist not tell you that she would have this all of her life and that she will never be cured? Does the documentation not say "accomodations must be made"?
Here is the outcome. We have no 504 plan but the school "recognizes" her dissability. Therefore they will make accomodations for this year. This in no way binds the teachers next year to do the same. So this means that at some point we will all have to meet at the table again (taking time out of work and pay) to discuss our daughters dissability again. Not only that, we have another daughter that in 4 years will be subject to the same. However, the 504 plan would follow our daughter all through her years at school and we would not have to keep explaining to every teacher what is happening.
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