PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Tovah Lichtenstein on behalf of Avital Shapira regarding special education services
5:06:46
ยท
3 min
Tovah Lichtenstein presented testimony on behalf of Avital Shapira, detailing the struggles faced in securing a mandated paraprofessional for Shapira's 6-year-old son with a rare seizure disorder. The testimony highlights the bureaucratic challenges and systemic failures in providing essential special education services.
- The child, Eitan, attends the Sam School and requires a full-time health paraprofessional as per his individualized education services plan.
- Despite multiple attempts through various DOE channels (CSC, ERES, staffing agencies), the family has been unable to secure DOE-funded paraprofessional services.
- The process has been time-consuming, emotionally draining, and financially burdensome for the family, who are currently paying out-of-pocket for the required support.
Tovah Lichtenstein, Representing Avital Shapira
5:06:46
leave to care for her children.
5:06:48
If I may, I would like to read her statement in her voice.
5:06:51
K.
5:06:52
My 6 year old
Sara Fredman Aeder
5:06:53
son just need
Nadia Jean-Francois
5:06:53
your name for the record, please?
Tovah Lichtenstein, Representing Avital Shapira
5:06:55
My name, Tobi Lichtenstein.
Nadia Jean-Francois
5:06:56
Thank you.
Tovah Lichtenstein, Representing Avital Shapira
5:06:58
My 6 year old son, Eitan, is a bright, curious child diagnosed with a rare and severe seizure disorder.
5:07:07
He attends the Sam School, where his individualized education services plan mandates a full time one to one health paraprofessional to ensure his safety and access to learning.
5:07:22
This support isn't a luxury.
5:07:24
It's essential for his health and development.
5:07:27
At the start of the school year, I contacted the CSC to secure paraprofessional services for my son.
5:07:30
After multiple emails and paraprofessional services for my son.
5:07:34
After multiple emails and 2 weeks of waiting, they responded that they had contracted the para services through a staffing agency.
5:07:43
After much back and forth, the contract agency informed me they couldn't find a para professional for my son.
5:07:50
I then requested an RSA from the CSC to hire an independent para who had already been approved through the DOE's internal pets system.
5:08:01
But the request was denied, and I was instead directed to submit an application through the ERES, which Liz Vladeck spoke about, to submit an application through ERES.
5:08:15
To my astonishment, ERES denied my application claiming I hadn't submitted the required June 1st letter.
5:08:23
I provided proof of the letter submission and even shared an email from the CSC confirming its receipt.
5:08:32
Despite this, ERES denied my request again and sent me back to the unresponsive CSC.
5:08:39
And one more thing here, this is my own.
5:08:43
Liz Vladeck said kept using the word expedited for ERES, but ERES allows themselves 60 days.
5:08:50
I don't call 60 days expedited when a child's waiting for services.
5:08:55
How's a child supposed to wait for a para for 60 60 days?
5:08:58
In any case, navigating this dysfunctional process has consumed a considerable amount of my time and energy.
5:09:05
I've spent countless hours emailing, making phone calls, and following up with the DOE even during my son's hospitalizations where my focus should have been being present and caring for him.
5:09:16
This ordeal has taken a profound toll on our lives, leaving me emotionally exhausted and deeply frustrated.
5:09:23
As of today, my son still does not have a DOE funded paraprofessional that he desperately needs and is legally entitled to.
5:09:31
My family has been left to bear the financial burden of hiring a paraprofessional out of pocket while the system that is supposed to serve us has utterly failed.
5:09:41
This is not just a bureaucratic oversight.
5:09:44
It's a failure to uphold the rights of children like Eitan.
5:09:47
To conclude, I implore you to fix this broken system.
5:09:51
Our children deserve better.
5:09:53
They deserve a system that fulfills its promises and ensures every child has access to the support they need to thrive regardless of where they attend school.
5:10:01
Thank you very much, chairman Joseph.