Schools & Your kids Medical Records..Advice Please

[Monique]

Hi All, I was just sitting here wondering who to call about this and thought "hey, why dont i post here first".

How much medical history do you divulge to the schools your differently abled kids go to.

This is why.. Jameson's school sent home a note that they tried to give him an eye evaluation "screening" by the School Nurse (not an optomotrist) and that he failed, couldnt follow directions, couldnt get results. And would I have his eye doctor fax them his findings.

First of all, I was upset because no one informed me that he was having an exam at all, it was not by an eye professional but a "screening" by the school nurse (and when they told me how they screen him it was a joke, they try to have him point at pictures too much to get into but jameson cant do that anyways), He wears glasses so obviously he is under the care of our eye dr.

When I called the school nurse to find out about it she was snippy and said it was "state Mandated" blah blah.. so i talked to the principal , who is decent at least, and we agreed that if i write a note to either be notified ahead of time of any future screenings or medical evaluations I need to be informed or excuse him from those tests he would be fine with that.

My feeling is that jameson has been poked and prodded enough in his life (and will continue to be) and if I can minimize where I can, especially when he already has acting SPECIALISTS working with him, why subject him to nonsense screenings in school that wont work anyways.

MY QUESTION IS.... DO I HAVE TO GIVE THEM THE RESULTS OF ANY EXAMS HE HAS (I.E. HEARING TEST OR EYE EXAM ETC)? Can I just have the doctor's say he is currently under their care and Jameson's hearing is fine and eyesite has been corrected through glasses?

I ask because I got burned once by a school psychologist trying to relable Jameson from MR(mentall retarded) to MD (multiply disabled) due to the knowledge that he had heart surgery and tubes in his ears (I KNOW.. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT) but if I didnt argue they would have labeled him multiply disabled which he is not!!!!

Who would know what the law requires as far as divulging medical history to public schools?

Thanks for all your help!!

Monique

[cindylou]

Gosh M-
I don't think you're required to inform them of any medical conditions- I know that Kaylee has worn glasses since she was 5 and they have never asked for her vision information--in fact I think they just excuse her from the state mandated screening because OBVIOUSLY she already wears glasses--which is your point also!

I do provide hearing test from our ENT because she has a hearing loss and required amplification or a bone conduction hearing aide---so these discussions come up at our IEP meetings..

I'm not sure the law--but I would think in regards to the vision you don't need to provide anything. However, if they are attempting to use his vision as an excuse for him not making academic progress--then I would feel inclined to include that on his IEP, so that they make modification and provide support for him visually (moving his desk to the front--not requiring him to use an overhead but to have materials at his desk, etc..)

not sure if that helped-
cindy

[laurasnowbird]

Sheesh, Monique, sounds like they are just being a pain in the behind! Hmmm, in Michigan, they have to get releases to get information from me, and I can revoke them whenever I want!

[momofrussell]

Well, I don't know that it is manditory, but I do know it depends on the district you are in. Some districts haven't asked much on Russell's eye medical stuff and our new district has. And, well, I personally want all of Russell's medical DX's on his IEP. But, that's just me. For me it's because Medical DX's and School DX's are different and I want both listed and they all agree.

As for the eye exam stuff... all schools do the screenings on all kids.. and some do it to Russell and some don't. BUT... if they've done one I don't even think they've gotten far with him nor have they used it. BUT.. again, Russell's vision issues are totally different and we need the medical stuff listed.

And yes, I have to sign for them to request medical stuff. One school each time I went to the doctor for anything they sent me a form for the doc to fill out and give back which I actually thought was cool.

I guess use your judgement... I have never been burnt like you have nor has anyone used any medical info against Russell. I see what you are saying... but I would think you'd want medical info in his file... not just general care doctor's notes. But, that's just me. I guess if I had happened to me what has happened to you, I might think differently.

HUGS!

A.

[trishasmom]

I can only speak from our experience but I always give copies of evaluations, audiology, vision reports etc. to be placed in her IEP records. For us it has come in handy many times when they say they don't think this or that and I refer them back to the medical documents and they have to admit they "forgot". As for the vision screening all kids in our area get that usually at the beginning of each year (usually in the packet they send home they inform that a vision and here a hearing screening will be done, they exempt Trisha because she is already under a doctor's care for both hearing and vision and they have the reports to go by.

[Pat]

Monique, I'm like you. It's none of their business unless I want them to have it. I remember when they sent an information sheet about BMI(body mass index) that they were going to do. I called the school nurse & said my child is under a drs. care & I did not want it done. They had already done it GRRRRR They said state stuff, just like you were told.
I do agree if it helps your child, like when I was a child it was in my records that I had a hearing loss. Of course during parent conferences the teacher told my mother "Pat does not listen in class." She said it's in her records..., next day I sat up front where I could hear. DUH
Did the school nurse from John-John's old school get sent to NY? She was snippy too. LOL Is it because we question their expert advise?? I question my drs. & I wouldn't question a nurse??
Pat

[CC]

Here both my kids, Kodi who attends the public high school and Chris who attends a private school,
BOTH schools send home papers to sign if you want your child to participate in any of the screenings or not. I always tell them my kids have private screenings so NO THANKS. Chris wears glasses, has since he was 4 years old and no one ever asked for info from the his Eye Doc, although if they did, I would just give it to them.

In our area unless the parent signs the form they cannot due the screenings.

Geez our area the nurse cannot even give out a throat lozenges unless we say its OK in the beginning of the year forms.

Monique I think you need to come back to Jersey girl

CC ~