My hand was forced..

We will be seeking legal representation for Carly's rights.

I'm so very sad that my hand was forced. It shouldn't have to be this way. Hard. Complicated. A mess. It breaks my heart into a million little pieces to have to go this route. But, my heart breaks each time I think that Carly is not being treated fairly. Not being educated to a level that is appropriate for her. My poor little girl. She is so very bright. So very able. So very eager. So full of potential. Learning is what she loves to do. Every day. All day. She works so hard at every task she takes on. She does her very best at all she does.

Today's decision comes from another observation done by my mom. Mom and I are taking turns each day for the next couple of weeks...or how ever long need be, observing Carly at her school. Today, mom observed Carly during speech. Mom reports that it went quite well. Carly did a good job. Said words that she was suppose to say. Did all of her sounds. But, was stumped by some flash cards. These flash cards were action type. Such as throwing a ball, running, walking..and so on. Carly did several correctly and suddenly hesitated. The card that threw her was "walking". So, the speech teacher took both of Carly's hands and had her tap her fingers along the table, in a back and forth pattern. While doing so, she told Carly, "walk, Carly walk".

After the session, the speech teacher asked my mom how she thought things went. Mom told her good. But, she also told her that if she would have used the sign for walk, a light bulb would have gone off in Carly's head. Carly would have made that connection. The speech teacher said, "I will not use signs with Carly" and "I'm here to get words out of her mouth and that's it". I was floored and so was my mom.

After the speech session Carly was returned to class. Mom walked down to the classroom and watched from the door window. Neither the teacher or the aide new mom was watching. Carly was suppose to be working on some sort of activity. Well, likely she didn't understand it. I don't doubt that. However, if someone would take the time to walk her through it...she would get it. I have no doubt about that. The solution; give her a 'time out'. The aide said, (mom could hear this as the door was partially open) "well Carly, we're going to the bench". So yes, they put my little girl in time out simply because she didn't understand what she was suppose to be doing. Carly was not acting out. She was not disruptive to others. So, why on earth put her in time out?

Paul just called me from work. We talked quite a while about this. He's very upset too. Ashleigh called soon after. She is FUMING MAD. Ashleigh is working at a center for disabled adults. She is floored by the way the school is treating Carly. She is just as pissed and heart broken as I'm. Her words were, "mom, get a lawyer". So, that's exactly what we are going to do.

I told Paul earlier, I'm the one who has always saved Carly. I've walked side by side with her through each of her battles to live. I watcher her die three different times. Yes. 3 times I watched my daughter die. Flat line. Die. I've always been there to comfort her. Always. I'm the one who would save her. Me. Mom. It kills me to know that Carly must feel like I've abandoned her. Sending her to school where they are not doing right by her.

So, the school has forced my hand. No more will they mistreat my daughter. Punish her for doing NOTHING wrong. No more, will they fail to provide an appropriate education. Deny her first language..signing. I will not allow them to ruin my daughters self esteem. I will not allow them to cause my very mild mannered daughter to develop behavioral issues. This is going to stop. They will do this no more. NO MORE!

Sorry for the ranting. One day soon I hope to have pictures and happiness to share with you all. But for now, I'm pissed. I'm sad. I'm ANGRY!