you should also look up a local chapter  of TASH,  center for independent
living, and there is a program  through legal aid but i foreget the name.

Anthony Arnold wrote:

> To add to what Beth said (and Beth or somebody correct me if I'm wrong
> here), there's some place also called "Protection and Advocacy" which offers
> free conciliations to anyone with a disability and/or their family members
> to learn about rights and basically to friendly look out for them.  I have
> worked with mine here before with different issues, and I'm sure if they
> were asked to, they would go accompany a parent to their child's IEP.
> Speaking of IEP's, that's also one of your parental rights, you can invite
> somebody to accompany you to the meeting.  But however I would suggest
> taking somebody respectable and not a lawyer.
>
> Thanks,
> Anthony
>
> Visit me at http://www.ara1.net
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: Elizabeth H. Thiers
>   To: [log in to unmask]
>   Sent: Saturday, April 06, 2002 2:58 PM
>   Subject: Re: Living On Own
>
>   Kimberly, Pardon me for butting in.  Do you live in America?  There is
> this
>   thing called the IDEA and it's not if the therapist's are interested in
>   self-help skills.  Your child needs them to access his school environment
>   (lunch room, rest room, etc)  you bet ya you can get this as an IEP goal.
>   The goals can be small but, they can be part of the IEP, don't let them
> talk
>   you out of it.
>
>   beth t the OT
>
>   -----Original Message-----
>   From: St. John's University Cerebral Palsy List
>   [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Kimberlee Ames
>   Sent: Saturday, April 06, 2002 1:05 PM
>   To: [log in to unmask]
>   Subject: Re: Living On Own
>
>   Dear Pam,
>
>   I was very interested in your response to Kathy Jo's request, and I hope
> you
>   don't mind me asking, but I would really like to know who helped you with
>   learning how to do the things that you are able to do.  Did a therapist
>   teach
>   you, or your parents?  I know this sounds like an odd question, but I have
> a
>   4 year old, and he has severe spastic quad CP/dystonia, and I would like
> to
>   help him be as functional as possible.  He cannot currently feed himself,
>   transfer himself, etc.  The school therapists don't seem that interested
> in
>   teaching him self-help skills, and I was wondering if I should try and
>   locate
>   an outside therapist who can start working with him on that.  He is very
>   motivated, just limited physically.  We are currently working on finding
>   ways
>   for him to communicate with assistive technology also.  Thanks for your
>   help.
>
>   Kimberlee, mom to Stefan (4) and Alex (9)