'width' is a duplicate attribute name. Line 1, position 36.I am a parent, like you. My son, Max is 13 years, 10 months and is in the photo below (from 2008).
Max has been a home schooled student since March 2007, when he enrolled in CAVA. See http://www.caliva.org/ for more info. CAVA is fully accredited by WASC and the California Dept. of Education Charter School Division. It is tuition-free, all educational materials are provided by the State, including a credentialed teacher to supervise you! There are similar programs in at least 37 other US States.
Max's test scores on the 2008 STAR exam were in the top 1% for literature, the top 2% for written language and the top 6% for math. Max just completed the 2009 STAR exam and I'll post his achievements with his permission in August 2009.
Max did it without meds or therapists, in fact, without an IEP. Max has not had any active diagnosis (other than dysgraphia) for at least 3 years. His only accommodation for the past three years has been a 504 Plan that allows him to type his written work on proctored exams (State provides a laptop at proctored exam). About a year ago, Max also passed two proctored entrance exams at Santa Monica College, in English and Math.
Despite difficulties in other schools and labels like "ADHD" "SED" and even "Bipolar," Max completed 6th and 7th grade curricula with CAVA in about 15 months, working at a comfortable pace. No doctor has diagnosed Max with any disorder in the past 3 years. He attended an LAUSD gifted public magnet school for 8th functioning well academically and socially for 3 months, when he chose to return to CAVA.
In 2005, the State of California said Max was not able to learn in any public school and authorized spending over $100,000 on residential care for him in Marin County, plus taxicabs to/from the non public school (as schools for SED youth are categorized) when the residential component failed. I've supported and educated him for less than $25,000 per year for three years now with no special ed. support/expenditures.
As of this writing, still with no IEP or meds, he has been re-enrolled in CAVA as of December 10, 2008, has to date completed 76% of the 8th grade curricula, in 6 months, as of this writing working at a comfortable pace, with no pressure, while moving house three times and with no missing attendance.
We now are enrolled in San Diego CAVA, we have seven courses. This year they include: Algebra 1 (high school math course, completed), Literary Analysis & Composition, American History from 1865, Art (history and drawing), Music Appreciation (completed), Physical Science (93% completed) and a course called "Strategies for Success," completed. He will have to wait for college (maybe next year) to do the chem labs, but he gets a great overview and understanding that has motivated him to search out You Tube videos about chemical processes, he can watch those for free at home and will have good questions for when he gets to try the experiments next year. His performance on recent exams was in the high normal range for language and math. His most recent 8th grade English essay is posted on my blog.
Adolescence is challenging, academic and social interests change every few weeks, the parent/educator's job often becomes one of observer/coach/setter-of-flexible boundaries.
My son can choose gifted magnet for high school or concurrent enrollment in online school and college for next year.
He can choose between the Peabody or the SAT for the next and last entrance exam if he wants to attend a junior college concurrently. He can also continue with CAVA and just focus on that, if he wishes. Junior colleges will accept any capable student, regardless of age or ability to pay, as long as they meet local residency requirements, often providing financial aid for successful students.
It does take parent participation and a time commitment of about five hours per day, but that can be any five hours you and your child schedule together. Virtual Academies do have special education services available if you want those, including all sorts of local therapists for kids with physical disabilities, like cerebral palsy, autism, and learning disabilities, like CAPD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, and handicaps like deaf/blind, etc.
It does take parent initiative, in conjunction with local community to create a social milieu for our kids. CAVA does not provide that, they do have scheduled social events and a large database of parent families. This can be as simple as going to your church, synagogue, mosque, ashram, agnostics society, Boy Scouts, local Boys & Girls Club, YMCA, JCC and letting them know you are there, for volunteer work, classes, etc. and that your child has a flexible schedule.
Those of you who are eligible for County Services (Regional Center, for example, that serves the autistic population) can coordinate those services with online education, to provide alternatives to a traditional special ed. classroom, that is your free choice and that choice is the right of each parent/child. Some really want to get on the school bus every morning, to be in class with the other kids, that's fine. Some hate recess and will do more academic work to avoid it, that's us. My son is willing to do more academics than regular public school and I'm willing to drive. Not everybody can do that, that's fine.
When my child socializes now, it's in the community, it's easy, it's not pressured and there is no bell ringing at the end, no bullies to hide from, no reason to bully anyone else and he can call for a ride home whenever he's ready to leave. It does take up more of my time, but it forces me to socialize as well, for the sake of my child.
I have met many more interesting people since I started homeschooling than I had met before when I was limited to parents-at-school who showed up to PTA or whom I met in the parking lot.
Max was labeled SED for over a year. Now he's a "regular kid." LA County described him as a "delightful young man." Our current therapist says he's a "normal teenager." We are now following up with Kaiser for family therapy (see blog) and Kaiser is working with me to meet my AT needs and my son's need to talk while I have written communication available during the therapy sessions if I need it.
The Social Security Administration recently granted my appeal for SSDI. I am now officially a disabled American on social security. I believe my own struggle for recognition of my own disability has given me insight that can help others.
I use a variety of creative assessment techniques, and unique approaches to educate Max. I can meet with you or your group and identify the methods that will inspire, stimulate, and connect with your child. I will help your child achieve success. I believe in empowering parents and children, and I believe that if knowledge is power, education is the means for us as parents to empower our children to build a better future for us all.
If you are struggling with a special needs child, a custody battle concerning education, a dependency matter, or if you are a disabled tenant experiencing housing discrimination, please contact me, I might be able to help. I might be able to help with benefits in some cases, if you've been denied assistance with food, housing or work and you truly believe you were treated unfairly. I work for donations, my goal/mission is to help others, not to aggrandize or unjustly enrich myself in any way. The purpose of the blog is to share true life personal experiences that may prove to be helpful to others similarly situated.
The Parent Advocate, a non-profit organization
P.O. Box 48871
Los Angeles, CA 90048
live operator-assisted relay: 951.324.5159
Email: abby@parentadvocate.org
EIN: 26-4008798
