References

Our IEP had ended with no resolution. My husband and I were walking across the school parking lot afterward, I was screaming at him and he was yelling back at me. We were both so mad, hurt, frustrated and distraught that we were taking it out on each other. My husband got in his car and drove off, angrily. I got into my car drove off with tears welling in my eyes, I wasn't going to cry I kept willing myself, but as soon as I was off the school grounds, a flood of tears flowed out of me. Our 5 year old daughter Grace has down syndrome. We do not see this as a limitation, we see it as a challenge (just as all children have some sort of challenge). We wanted our daughter to be mainstreamed for the rest of her academic life. We have envisioned her going to high school and college. She is lively, eager to learn, social, independent and extremely charming. She had already endured three years of special needs classrooms: two years of preschool and 1 year of kindergarten (two productive, one very unproductive). We were of the mindset of "done that- seen that". She was ready to move on, to learn, to grow, to be included. We wanted her to go to our home school, 5 minutes from our house and where my son had attended elementary school. In anticipation of the meeting, we had written a letter to the team expressing our desire to have our daughter integrated in a typical kindergarten. Yes, perhaps she would need an aide, or need to go out for "resources" but we wanted her in a regular kindergarten class with typical peers (many of which were our neighbors) to model after and learn with. It seemed pretty straight forward.

We were shocked and dismayed when the "team" refused to hear us and instead set forth a seeming iron-clad case that presented our daughter Grace has been incapable of learning and better served in a self-contained special needs (multi-grade level) classroom off at a cluster school (not our home school). Yet, we kept saying, she can do all the things that you say she can't. She can dress herself, she can count to 10, she does go to the bathroom on her own, she is beginning to read, she knows more than you are giving her credit for. We pleaded with them to just allow us to have Grace "try" a typical kindergarten and if it didn't work out, we know that special education would always be available to her. They would not listen to reason. We left that IEP meeting with no hope. That is until Dr. Crum. A friend had strongly recommended her. Contacting Dr. Susan L. Crum has been the best thing we could ever have done for our daughter, and for us. After reviewing our material, she wrote a "Ojbections and Resolutions to the IEP" document that demonstrated that the school system needed to provide a series of tests and evaluations that would provide a more accurate analysis of our daughter's abilities and learning potential. Our next IEP meeting was a complete turn around, the school system, under the strong arm of Dr. Crum, was now cooperating. They were agreeing to all of our requests. Dr. Crum knows what the school systems are required to do, by law, for each and every child (special needs or not) so that EACH child can learn. "No child left behind" actually being put into action. We are now hopeful, happy and looking forward to a long and fruitful education for our daughter, thanks to Dr. Crum.

Valerie R. Carter

To Whom it may concern:

I would like to speak very highly regarding Dr. Susan Crum’s assistance as a special needs coach for our daughter. Dr Crum reviewed all of daughter’s records, including her psychological tests, her academic tests, and found areas that were not addressed. She then clarified and differentiated between a neuropsychological and a psychological and recommended measures for future testing.

Dr. Crum met with us over the internet in a live chat to explain her recommendations, typed up an agenda for the county and attended the IEP meetings via teleconference.

She was very well received by our school system. This was an awakening for us as we had spent 5 years fighting the county to get our daughter’s basic needs met -- being able to walk up the stairs, read, go to the restroom etc and none of our other professionals were ever as well received as Dr Crum.

We have a long history of unsuccessful strategies with this school system, including two mediations, three Department of Education complaints and a settlement agreement.

Dr. Crum expedited the process for us, cut out unnecessary red tape and stress, and is not only well-informed on testing and appropriate request for the school system based on her work in private practice and in the school system, but is well informed on IDEA and no child left behind. She helped us ask for many , many services that we were not aware we legally had rights to request in a school setting. For instance our child is now getting extended school year in the home environment. This was never, ever offered by the county before we contracted with Dr. Crum. The county only offered warehousing in a county school with all kids of different abilities, ages and disabilities, basically babysitting.

I recently told a friend , who was looking for an advocate, that if I had to do it over again, I would skip the advocate and hire a special needs coach. It streamlines the process, is much more cost effective (we spent almost $4000 in advocates and independent evaluations in 2007 and got absolutely nothing for our monies but stress and more bills). Dr. Crum has moved us along so much faster and a fraction of the cost of an advocate.

I could never , ever say thank you enough to her. I wish we had her services five years ago. She is a true blessing, not only for our daughter and her future success, but for our family and our marriage. The stress level our household has gone down many folds since we brought Dr. Crum onboard as the lead member of our daughter’s educational team.

We will never find enough words to show her how deeply she has impacted all our lives. I would recommend anyone who needs help, wants to avoid wasting their time fumbling around and not getting anywhere, call Dr. Crum and reserve her as a member of your child’s team.

I fully expect Dr. Crum will have more business than she can handle as soon as the word gets out that her services are available to parents of children with disabilities.

Sharon Lang
Alpharetta, GA
parent

Fellow Special Needs Parents:

We met Dr. Crum through an advocate that introduced us. This was during a very difficult time with our school district. Although she does not live close by, she was able to help me establish a calm relationship with our school district even though the school contacted the Human Resource Department. Writing this letter; we feel it is our obligation to let others know of her and how she is trustworthy and caring for these children. As parents of a NVLD/gifted child things can be very difficult. Dr. Crum has helped us in various ways and she truly is our families blessing.

Dr. Crum is well ad versed in several areas of expertise. The title “Special Needs Coach” says’s a lot in itself yet, let it be known she is working from personal experience and of professional levels. Dr. Crum, being a mother of special needs children herself.

If you are shopping for a special needs coach, keep in mind with Dr. Crum; She’s only a phone call away, she’s well qualified in various ways. Dr. Crum has a PhD in Cognition and had a private practice in neuropsychology until she retired a few years ago.   A mother of special needs children of her own, A school’s psychologist in former years, “A super Nanny” even when a child is disabled she gives parents the tools they need to see their child succeed regardless how hard it maybe. If I could give you one word of encouragement; never be afraid to ask her questions you maybe surprised in how she can help.

Sincerely,
Barry and Deborah Hitchcock