Linda J. Silver, M.S., Ed.S. discusses Part 504 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and her profession guaranteeing applicable lodging for college kids.
Linda J. Silver, M.S., Ed.S. is the Govt Director and Founding father of Silver & Associates Academic Consulting Options. She is an knowledgeable within the subject of Part 504, an award profitable licensed college counselor, a nationally acknowledged speaker and revealed writer advocating for college kids with disabilities. Linda’s coaching and work experiences have given her a singular perspective on kids, colleges and college district dynamics. Linda has been a Trainer, Steering Director, Academic Chief, District Steering Coordinator. She was chosen to work on the college district degree in administrative positions serving grades Pre-Okay to 12 for Broward County Colleges, Ft. Lauderdale, FL the sixth largest college district in america. In her roles because the College District Part 504/ADA Specialist and because the College District Steering Coordinator for the College Board of Broward County, Florida she oversaw over 340 colleges with over 265,000 college students.
Silver & Associates Academic Consulting Options gives knowledgeable instructional session companies to folks and colleges districts; guaranteeing equal entry to schooling for all college students and serving to rework college students’ lives.
For extra details about Linda’s work: www.504advocacy.com
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DR HAROLD REITMAN (HR):
Hello, I’m Dr Hackie Reitman. Welcome to a different episode of Exploring Completely different Brains, and as we speak, we’ve got with us Linda Silver, who does all that tough work for these of us whose brains are a little bit bit totally different, getting us the lodging we’d like after we’re in class to verify all the pieces’s being adopted because it ought to, to maximise all people’s potential. Linda, welcome.
LINDA SILVER (LS):
Thanks a lot. Thanks a lot for having me as we speak. I actually respect it.
HR:
Now, why don’t you introduce your self correctly, not the way in which I did?
LS:
Okay, I might like to. So I really feel very lucky as a result of I’ve had a really in depth profession. At present, I’m the manager director and founding father of silver and Associates instructional consulting options, and as you talked about, we do work with college students in order that they’ve the 504 eligibility and lodging additionally IEPs additionally lodging, after they’re taking the SAT, ACT, LSAT, you identify it, which is actually thrilling. And previous to that, all proper, I began out as a Spanish instructor and went again to highschool a number of occasions to get put up grad work, instructional management. So I did have a job as a principal in a small particular wants college throughout covid, which was a really totally different position for me, nevertheless it was, it was thrilling, and likewise as a faculty counselor, steering director, and on the district degree, in command of 504 and in command of college counseling. And my time on the district degree in 504 I’m very pleased with the work that we did, as a result of at the moment, all the pieces was paper, pencil, nothing was digital, nothing was standardized. Individuals have been simply invent, actually inventing lodging. Oh yeah, perhaps that sounds okay. Properly, what would you like? Okay, oh, positive, we’ll write that down for you. Not an issue. There was no oversight, or not plenty of oversight, I ought to say. So I’m pleased with the work. So relying what district you’re in, while you pull up these lodging, these are lodging that we wrote to make it in order that it was extra equitable for college kids, which is thrilling. And I had two wonderful position fashions in my life. My mother, who labored until she was 92 in her personal enterprise. My grandmother, until she was 90 in her personal enterprise, not saying to work until I’m 90. Okay, however the pleasure, the fervour, it’s there, and if it when it’s not there, then somebody shouldn’t be doing their job anymore. Okay, so wasn’t able to retire, and anytime I really feel which you can work with college students and households and you may assist them, is an effective not solely is it a very good day, nevertheless it provides your life a lot extra that means. It’s lovely. The
HR:
very first thing that struck me making ready for this was the significance of the regulation that was handed known as part 504 which inform our viewers what it’s.
LS:
Okay, I’d like to, as a result of I actually really feel that there’s plenty of misconceptions about what it’s and what it isn’t. So first off, what folks don’t understand it was handed as civil rights laws, and the explanation it was handed is as a result of college students that had disabilities have been being discriminated in opposition to, and so after they handed the regulation, they felt that these college students wanted to have the identical sort of alternatives as non disabled college students. So they are saying of this regulation that it ranges the taking part in subject for these college students now, so as to qualify, you’ll want to have a bodily and psychological impairment that considerably limits a number of main life actions. However again in 2008 they revised the regulation, and truly they’re ready now for one more revision. However going again to 2008 it was solely the most important life exercise of studying that allowed you to be certified. And as you understand, that’s a really small side, okay for a pupil. So after they expanded the regulation, it was meant to include a lot extra. So, for instance, not solely is it studying, nevertheless it’s speaking, it’s listening to, it’s seeing, listening, writing, you understand, with the ability to costume your self, with the ability to carry, to bend, I imply, you identify it, it, there’s a complete gamut. So it’s rather more inclusive in that sense. However I additionally really feel what dad and mom don’t understand is, not solely is that this an vital regulation, okay, as a result of it professional. Prohibit colleges from discriminating in opposition to you. However it’s a lot extra than simply lodging within the classroom. So it transcends Okay to 12, as a result of it additionally goes into school. It goes into postgraduate so we’re speaking regulation college, med college, you understand, every kind of postgraduate applications, additionally earlier than kindergarten. Okay, you’re entitled to companies. And okay, consider it or not, sports activities, all proper, so when you’ve got athletic means and you may be on the staff, and one of many causes is that you just want lodging. They’ll’t preclude you from taking part in on that staff and being in that sport. Superior Placement lessons, you haven’t any thought, okay, what number of college students who’ve the flexibility to be in a sophisticated placement class they usually weren’t allowed to be in that class as a result of the varsity didn’t need to present the lodging. That’s in opposition to the regulation, all proper? And they’d inform dad and mom, oh, no, you understand, it’s going to be an excessive amount of for them. You recognize, put them in a decrease degree class, however that they had the flexibility the varsity simply didn’t need to present. Additionally, earlier than care, after care subject journeys. That’s one other biggie, okay? So when you’ve got a pupil that has medical wants, and that pupil wants, for instance, on a subject journey, to have, you understand, some sort of personnel to observe. So for instance, if a pupil has diabetes, if the scholar has you understand, seizures, they’ll’t pressure a dad or mum to be the chaperone, and you haven’t any thought what number of occasions dad and mom have been instructed, in the event you don’t chaperone your little one, your little one can’t go, okay, that’s in opposition to the regulation. That’s discriminatory. So you understand it impacts in so many different methods. And so you understand dad and mom simply must be conscious, okay, what’s on the market and the way it may also help their little one.
HR:
And never simply dad and mom. I feel plenty of the effectively intentioned not for income, similar to I’m on the board of the Boys and Ladies Golf equipment of Broward County.
LS:
Sure, after college applications as effectively. Sure, sure.
HR:
And so lots of our youngsters have totally different points, sure, sure. And lots of of them don’t even have dad and mom. So it’s powerful.
LS:
You’re completely 100% appropriate. It’s dad and mom, it’s guardians, caretakers, nevertheless it’s additionally college personnel. You’d be amazed, okay, on the college degree, how not knowledgeable they is likely to be. And so I really feel it’s my job to assist inform them, you understand, by way of, you understand what it what it seems to be like, and the way it must be for that specific pupil.
HR:
And lots of occasions, primarily based on my restricted data, it’s not the instructor’s fault they haven’t obtained the coaching Right. Similar to in drugs, I gave the primary ever lectures at Boston College are neurodiversity. We don’t get that medical college.
LS:
Right, however what occurs is, you understand, once I was in command of part 504, for the varsity district and that, and I really feel very lucky as a result of I had such I’ve had such a assorted profession, however that was the factor they’d get one coaching annually. Okay, so how is that useful? It’s not, you understand. So you understand, made positive we did ongoing, okay, ongoing trainings and and likewise making it consumer pleasant, you understand what I’m saying, so that you just come out with data that you could possibly take again to your college and you should utilize. It’s not simply somebody lecturing at you, you understand, and telling you all these items that you just submitted. You stroll out the door. Initially, you’re not even paying consideration. Okay while you’re there, however strolling out the door, you don’t keep in mind what’s being stated. However moderately, you understand, I noticed that as crucial piece ensuring that it was understood on the college degree.
HR:
Say I’m a dad or mum and my little one is being denied cheap lodging. What do I do?
LS:
Okay, so I’ve a few questions for you all proper, by way of, why are they being denied? In different phrases, do they at the moment have a plan and the plan will not be being carried out the way in which it was developed. All proper, in order that’s a method that you could possibly be denied having an lodging. Is it that the dad or mum got here into the varsity requesting lodging they usually’re instructed, No, we are able to’t, or we gained’t, or we don’t, all proper, or is it that the plan must be revised, and the dad or mum could or could not, you understand, need that revision, as a result of typically there’s lodging on there that the dad and mom need to carry on there, they usually don’t need to let go. They don’t need to take it off, as a result of they. Simply in case. However this isn’t meant to be a simply in case scenario, so, however once more, if a dad or mum’s coming in, colleges are required to judge college students which can be suspected of a incapacity, to allow them to’t deny a dad or mum to say we’re not going to undergo the analysis course of. The third potential state of affairs is you’ve the assembly, and on the assembly, the scholar is denied eligibility. So if that have been to occur, the dad or mum has rights. They’ll now undergo a due course of scenario with the varsity district, a mediation scenario to allow them to, they’ll pursue it additional previous that assembly. Okay, so I assume you understand, eager to know, is it, if it’s not a case the place it’s it’s not being carried out, and I all the time inform dad and mom, make it possible for piece of paper is barely nearly as good okay, as what’s being supplied to your little one. So if what’s on there’s not being supplied, you understand. So that you sort of want to observe and ensure you need to return to the varsity and simply say, you understand this, this lodging particularly isn’t being supplied. Now, is it an elementary, a center excessive. So if it’s Elementary, it’s one instructor, if it’s Center Excessive…
HR:
After which what’s the distinction if I’m a dad or mum and my little one is in public college versus non-public college?
LS:
Okay, good query. So it’s public regulation, that means that colleges have to offer one thing known as FAPE, which is free, applicable public schooling. Nevertheless, a non-public college, if they’re receiving any sort of federal funding, they’re additionally beholding to upholding the regulation and never discriminate in opposition to college students with disabilities. I’ve labored with each private and non-private college students, and one of many huge variations is that within the non-public college sector, it’s the governing physique of the varsity that determines, you understand what they’re going to do or not do, and so many of the privates, they do have some type of lodging plan that they make the most of. They’re not going to name it essentially the identical factor because the PRI as the general public colleges do, however they do supply it. However the query is how a lot they’re keen to supply, as a result of it’s non-public, so that they relying on the varsity, they might supply so much, or they might say, You recognize what, we are able to’t and we don’t have the personnel. Or on the again finish of it, they don’t settle for these college students to start with.
HR:
And in the event that they do give lodging, they don’t need the identify of it to replicate badly on the varsity for status and so forth.
LS:
Right. And a few of the very well-known non-public colleges, they’ve a separate entity inside that bigger college meant for these college students, they usually do cost extra okay for that little one to be in that program. Usually, there’s much less college students than in a daily class, you understand. So there’s there’s different issues. Mother and father, you understand, they should do their homework earlier than they determine to go a non-public college state of affairs to verify it’s going to satisfy your little one’s wants. As a result of typically, although it’s a terrific college, and it’s received the identify, it will not be the very best placement for his or her little one.
HR:
What kind of documentation ought to dad and mom have useful earlier than they attempt to get lodging for his or her youngsters?
LS:
Okay. So, as a result of it’s so distinctive for every little one, and there’s so many various disabilities, it actually relies on what it’s they’re making an attempt to do. So for instance, if it’s a medical incapacity, so if it’s diabetes, seizures, for instance, you’re going to have medical data out of your physician. And what I wish to all the time inform dad and mom and guardians and caregivers is that that medical documentation, while you present it to the varsity, the varsity has to jot down up a well being care plan. However a well being care plan will not be the identical as a 504 lodging plan. It’s two various things, and once I was within the college district, it was the nurse knew concerning the well being care plan, the lecturers knew concerning the lodging plan, however no one knew about one another. So I used to joke, and I’d say, Okay, we’re going to marry them collectively. Okay? And in order that’s after we began having trainings, you understand, with the varsity personnel, the well being personnel, so that everyone understood what the wants have been for that specific little one. So. I used to be providing you with some medical examples, however I’d like to offer you additionally one other sort of instance. All proper, the scholar who has ADHD, for instance. In order that little one is the dad or mum’s going to herald a medical analysis and say, okay, my little one has consideration deficit dysfunction, and I would like lodging. And they also give the physician’s notice, pondering, typically, okay, it’s a given, as a result of I introduced one thing from a physician. The physician says he wants it, the physician says he wants further time. And so they go, that’s very good, however that medical analysis, in and of itself, will not be sufficient. So the dad and mom sort of stunned, as a result of they really feel that regardless of the physician says ought to overrule what all people else is doing. And within the 504, world, instructional world, all proper, that physician’s notice doesn’t have extra validity than anyone else’s data. It’s a part of the method. So which folks are all the time very stunned with that, as a result of they don’t anticipate that. So going by way of the method, the varsity goes to offer the dad or mum consent. Mum or dad has to signal it. The dad or mum all the time has the suitable to revoke consent. College can’t do something with out the dad or mum understanding about it and the dad or mum giving permission. Then what the varsity goes to do on their finish is that they’re now going to assemble data, and what does that data seem like? It’s going to be particular to that little one. So two kids might have the identical analysis, however their wants may very well be fully totally different, positive. All proper, in order that pupil who has the ADHD, he could also be having some behavioral points. He could also be having some nervousness points. I simply had a pupil now that was the case, perhaps having some studying points. So now the documentation that they’re going to assemble goes to be related to that. So do they should do an remark within the classroom? Do they should do interventions to see, let’s attempt some issues for six weeks. See, does this work? It doesn’t work. Let’s get collect up the info. The dad or mum performs such an vital Guardian performs such an vital half on this course of, as a result of they want to herald earlier data, you understand? So this has been an extended standing drawback, you understand? We have to realize it’s not one thing perhaps it simply occurred. For instance, I all the time attempt to empower the households that I work with in that they’re their greatest advocate. And if the kid is older, like Center Excessive College, I all the time make it possible for I additionally work with that pupil, as a result of I must be their voice within the assembly. So while you undergo the method, it’s time consuming. It doesn’t occur immediately, sadly.
HR:
So give us an instance of this, one among your success tales.
LS:
Okay. I wish to suppose that the entire college students and households that I work with are success tales and never due to me within the sense of, it’s not about me, it’s concerning the pupil, it’s concerning the household, nevertheless it’s a hit story as a result of I don’t quit. So I don’t take no for a solution. I preserve going, I preserve pushing. I attempt totally different avenues. Okay? So if one thing doesn’t work, I attempt to provide you with one other resolution that’s actually vital to me, as a result of on the finish of the day, it’s going to influence that pupil, okay? It’s going to influence their life, not simply in class, however afterwards. However I’ll inform you a fast effectively, two fast eventualities. One was a principal that known as me, it was a buddy of their household, and the scholar was in medical college, and the scholar was in a Ivy medical college. Okay, the scholar needed to be a pediatrician, nevertheless, the scholar was within the ER rotation, and the scholar wasn’t in a position to sustain. He wasn’t in a position to do issues rapidly within the ER, they needed to kick him out, uh huh. And I’m like, Okay, I’m like, Okay, that is fascinating. I stated I haven’t labored with a med pupil earlier than, however I used to be as much as the problem, simply because I’m pondering, wow, this poor child, I imply, his entire life needs to be a physician, isn’t going to be an ER physician, and needs to be a pediatrician. And so we sort of work by way of plenty of issues, however and the lodging that he was entitled to, however the college didn’t need to present. And so it was an fascinating state of affairs, very fascinating, however I used to be so joyful that we have been in a position to work by way of all of this, and he was in a position to keep in med college. However one other one which was current was a excessive schooler non-public. And what I’m discovering plenty of occasions is you’ve youngsters who have been sensible, who are actually working with a tutor, ACT, SAT. These tutors are tremendous. Ending points that this little one, okay, has managed to principally, sort of block it out. They’re good college students, and they also provide you with methods, techniques, no matter. However they’ve main nervousness. They’ve a studying incapacity. They’ve every kind of issues. So on this specific non-public college, she did have some lodging, however she wanted extra. And so we went by way of the route with psycho instructional, up to date testing and all the pieces else, and the personnel college have been keen to do the additional issues that she wanted. And so I reached out to the principal, and the principal says, Nope, sorry, can’t meet with you. Now, thoughts you, that is they’re paying some huge cash. And you understand that to me, was not a passable reply. And so I wrote a really impassioned letter to the principal, and he modified his thoughts. He met with us, and never solely he was gracious sufficient not solely to satisfy with us, however give us an hour and a half of his time, so we have been in a position to obtain a few of the issues that we wanted, a few of the issues he wasn’t so keen to bend on, however I felt a minimum of we have been in a position to be heard.
HR:
You don’t quit.
LS:
No, I don’t.
HR:
Good for you. How can folks study extra about you and your work?
LS:
Okay, to allow them to e-mail me, Linda@504advocacy.com or they’ll try my web site, www.504advocacy.com I’m on LinkedIn. My telephone quantity for our enterprise is 1 844 504 INFO and simply to share with you, we do greater than once I began, and I do must replace my web site, we have been simply specializing in 504 Okay, that’s been a private love of mine, okay, however we’ve got branched out. We do IEPs. We do lodging for SAT and ACTs. We’re good at denials, as a result of I don’t take no for a solution. So don’t say, don’t say, no. You may’t give them the lodging, as a result of we’re going to return again and we’re going to do no matter it takes to get these lodging. But additionally Faculty, put up grad, and much more, you understand, I feel due to my counseling background, you understand, I’m ready, and I used to be very lucky to be each within the colleges and within the district and likewise on the nationwide degree, to do so much. So I’ve received plenty of expertise and and likewise I’m bilingual, in order that additionally helps. Now we have plenty of households coming in from Spain, central South America, they usually’re not educated about our faculty programs right here.
HR:
Should you might change one factor about how colleges help neurodivergent college students. What would that be?
LS:
Extra coaching that might be on the prime of my checklist, and if there isn’t any formalized coaching, I feel it’s crucial, all proper, when you’ve got college students in your class, okay, that you understand everybody learns otherwise, and in order for you that little one to study in your class and you’ll want to determine what’s one of the simplest ways to achieve them. So I really feel that it behooves that particular person to study for themselves, if that’s the case, if their college or their district will not be giving them specialised coaching, they should get that coaching for themselves. And there’s plenty of professionals that I do know do try this as a result of they need to make it possible for they’re doing their easiest for his or her college students. After which the second factor empathy, as a result of I really feel what occurs, particularly as college students progress into secondary. Sadly, I see some, not all, lecturers which can be instructing their graded material, however they’re not instructing youngsters, and so I really feel that they put your self in that little one’s footwear, okay, or that dad or mum’s that household’s footwear, and I feel that typically is lacking.
HR:
Linda Silver, it’s been an ideal, nice alternative for us to speak to you. I discovered so much, 504advocacy.com. Linda Silver, sustain the good work. Thanks. We hope you’ll be a visitor once more.
LS:
I might find it irresistible. I actually would thanks.
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