Good morning,

My name is Maria Elizabeth Ramos, a single mother of 4 children with 3 of them at home, my
youngest is 9. I have a Masters Degree in Bilingual Education and Dual Language. I have worked for
Ysleta ISD and El Paso ISD for a total of 14 years. I teach students that are high risk, due to language
barriers, social economic and learning disabilities, which have included foreign students (Chinese,
Korean, Mexican and German) with real results of success for my students. The teaching of such high
risk students is unique and much desired in my specialty the media reports lawsuits in Texas against
school districts for the lack of such programs teaching bilingual and having success with those high risk
students. My record speaks for itself which is very important to mention at this point.
The school districts will not allow teachers to have low performance in any class room, high risk
or main stream, that has resulted in deceptive practices, as you may also have heard from media
reports, such as the discrepancies on TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) testing that have
been found in most school districts. The teachers that have done things right and still have low score
results have been, transferred, classrooms or grade sections closed, reassigned to different grade levels,
and worst terminated. The reason I am asking for your help has nothing to do with those issues above
that do not apply to me, but I have endured the worst treatment from EPISD as if I did horrible things
while teaching or had poor results in my job. My advocacy, dedication, and concern towards high risk
students and in their success are the reasons I teach. I cannot believe what has happened to me this
past year as you will read please continue
EPISD has spent in the area of 3,000,000 educational dollars on legal fees ($3,000,000), by
protecting themselves from justice I would say, that is more than any other school district in the area. I
only read the headlines to know that corruption and poor judgmental decisions are the main causes. I
recall a recent media (2014) case with Mr. Tanner a principle from Austin High School received an
undisclosed amount to settle his dispute. This letter will hopefully help you understand and conclude
the same type of injustice has been done to me. These foolish decisions made by the central
administration have cost millions.
The Disability Act is for all Americans that have needed help, and protection from discrimination
of uncaring or ill advised individuals having placed harm on the disabled or accommodating reasonable
request. It is a federal, state, and local law with great consequences to those that violate the rights of
the disabled. I will start with the disability act, and the reason is that most people that I have talked to at
EPISD about my situation say it is not a disability or discrimination issue. To them there is no issue at all,
but you may think otherwise hearing my side in this letter. This is referenced from www.disabled-
world.com/disability/ada and www.ada.gov/pub/ada.htm.
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)
The Americans with Disabilities Act gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to
those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. It
guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment,
transportation, State and local government services, telecommunications, and it also applies to the United
States Congress.
To be protected by the ADA, one must have a disability or have a relationship or association with an
individual with a disability. An individual with a disability is defined by the ADA as a person who has a
physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has
a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an
impairment. The ADA does not specifically name all of the impairments that are covered.
If you have a disability and are qualified to do a job, the ADA protects you from job discrimination on the
basis of your disability. Under the ADA, you have a disability if you have a physical or mental impairment
that substantially limits a major life activity. The ADA also protects you if you have a history of such a
disability, or if an employer believes that you have such a disability, even if you don't.
ADA Title I - Employment - The ADA states that a covered entity shall not discriminate against a
qualified individual with a disability. This applies to job application procedures, hiring, advancement and
discharge of employees, worker's compensation, job training, and other terms, conditions, and privileges
of employment - Americans with Disabilities Act - ADA Employment Information
ADA Title II - Public Services including public transportation - Title II has two sections. One covers public
agencies (local, county, state, etc., government and their units). That section generally requires the
agencies to comply with regulations similar to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. These rules cover
access to all programs offered by the entity. Access includes physical access described in the Uniform
Federal Accessibility Standards or the ADA Standards for Accessible Design and access that might be
obstructed by discriminatory policies or procedures of the entity. The other section of Title II is specific to
public transportation provided by public entities. It includes the National Railroad Passenger Corporation,
along with all other commuter authorities. This section requires the provision of para-transit services by
public entities.
ADA Title III - Public Accommodations (and Commercial Facilities) - No individual may be discriminated
against on the basis of disability with regards to the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services,
facilities, or accommodations of any place of public accommodation by any person who owns, leases (or
leases to), or operates a place of public accommodation. "Public accommodations" include most places of
lodging (such as inns and hotels), recreation, transportation, education, and dining, along with stores,
care providers, and places of public displays, among other things. Americans with Disabilities Act -
Building and Stores ADA Information
I added these segments that at anytime you can refer to it when a question arises as to my
situation. I have endured tremendous hardship and pain on top of the horrifying visual problems this
whole school year 2013-2014. I would greatly appreciate an inquiry on my iisue and your help to answer
my unanswered question; How and why, Maria Elizabeth Ramos became a disposable item thrown out
like a piece of garbage from EPISD after she became visually disabled. I was not given a chance to prove
my worth as you will read the events. Yes, I was literally not allowed to return to my job, my students,
my classroom, and all without pay. Im losing my home and continue to get worse financially. I have not
received a red cent, my medical insurance was cancelled and all benefits as well. Ive had a visual
impairment for most of my life to include the 14 years Ive been teaching. My disability had not been an
issue ever when performing my job. All correspondences and emails are in my possession if need I can
copy you with copies. Here is my statement of events.
My vision turned for the worse during the spring of 2013, but I knew I could cope with the help I
was already receiving by DARS. I emailed Belinda of EPISDs Employee Relations Department in June of
2013 that I may be needing help for the coming 2013 2014 school year. I never received a response
from her or anyone in the department. During the summer of 2013, I had a retinal detachment, due to
glaucoma and macular degeneration of both eyes. I was Blind in both eyes., without vision is
unbelievably traumatic to experience, worst of all, horrifying to realize. I knew I had to call my school
(Hughey Elementary) or the district just someone, urgently about my surgery and the brutal outcome. I
did not know what to think or do. I was in a deep depression and felt so helpless. I was able to get in
contact with Belinda of Employee Relations, in August 2013, about the 12
th
. I let her know I had eye
surgery and would not be able to go in August, 19
th
(that was when school starts for teachers at EPISD).
The reason was to recover from surgery which at the moment left me where I am blind and my doctors
appointment was scheduled for September 3rd. Belinda advised to call my school immediately and for
me to start thinking of Ideas about what I needed and would be able to do when I returned. Belinda
also told me to cash in my sick leave (5 sick days) and state days (6 State days) that we receive at the
start of every year. I told her that the doctor would release me for work by then and the use of those
days would allow me to start getting paid in the new school. Belinda said she would let the Director of
Employee Relations (Patricia) and Mr. Bailey (Intervention Director), know about my situation.
I called my school, Rosa, the principles executive secretary, was in her office. I spoke with her on
the phone to reiterate my conversation with Belinda. I told Rosa to call in my sick days that Belinda
advised. She said that Mr. Lopez (Hughey Elementary Schools Principle) would like me to come back to
the classroom and would get an aid for me so she would not need to call a substitute. Rosa would
explain my situation with Mr. Lopez. The doctor released me September 4
th
. I called Belindas office
immediately to get back to work. My son drove me to drop off the release, she handed my son a privacy
form to contact the doctor which I signed and gave back. Belinda said she would let me know right
away, she would call me that after noon, she did not. I called the 6
th
to check my status, and also to get
information about my request, again I did not get a response or a call back. I proceeded forward and
called Hughey Elementary and spoke with Rosa about any information from the school district. She said
that they had not heard of anything from them but Mr. Lopez requested an aid (Ms. Tarango) and was
with the substitute.
I wanted to hear from Belinda to get answers. On the 9
th
of September is when I finally was able
to speak with Belinda. I called EPISD that morning and got Belinda on the phone. I had mentioned the
doctors release, and if my requests for an aid was in place as to inform DARS to start my mobility
training. Belinda was aware of my vision problems for years and had worked with my counselor at DARS,
a state program, (DARS -Department of Assistive Rehabilitation Services for the blind) they would
provide the mobility training at the school. DARS had helped me with my impaired vision for a couple of
years prior to the 2013 school year. DARS would provide mobility training at the school once school
started and all the equipment necessary for me to do my job. I requested intervention with small groups
as an idea during the time I would be training and the set up of my classroom technology. I advised her
that the aid was to help with security and for safety reasons in the classroom during my training.
Belindas response was very negative and devastating to hear, Belinda acted if this was all new
information to here. She said an aid was not going to happen it would be an economic burden on the
district and the doctors release was vague and did not mention anything about accommodations. I
responded saying the accommodations is what I know and need not the doctor. The doctor said I am
ready to return to work and my vision is what it is, also the aid is to help with the students safety.
Belinda said she had spoken with Patricia her director about my idea of working with kids in
groups and Patricias response was that the intervention promotional job was available, however I
needed to go online at EPISD website and apply for it online, interview, and I may have to test for the
position. Belinda told me without stopping to listen about other ideas and told me if that is what I
wanted to let her know. I said excuse me, but that is not what we had been talking about and I did not
want another job or what is this about? It is not a permanent situation, what I am requesting is just
temporary, some time to finish mobility training and be able to best move around the school, I want my
job and what she was saying was not acceptable. She said think about it and for me to let her know my
decision soon, good bye The pay for a paraprofessional is $10.40 hour.
I was in a shock, disbelief, and felt as when I found my vision was gone. I wanted to suggest that
I could work with new teachers and help them with strategies and techniques teaching high risk
students. I needed answers to many questions. I have a teaching contract with the district that was
flushed down the commode. I have kids to support, a mortgage, insurances, automobile payments,
bills on a teachers salary I managed, yet everything was destroyed. I just could not figure out why she
initially worked with me and offered reassurance. What went wrong? All I could do was to keep calling,
ask for answers and clarity about our conversation and how it ended. I wanted to speak with Patricia
and ask her what I needed to do to begin my school year. I started receiving certified correspondence
instead of call backs, why did things turn ugly once Patricia found out about my request and situation?
Patricia sent me a letter that they would not help me and said the request was an unreasonable
accommodation, though the principle had an aid already. Patricia put me on medical leave of absence
instead. How? I was released by the doctor. I was devastated and helpless of becoming disabled and
suffering through all that comes with it and then suffering and dealing with what the district started
doing to me the horror and trauma. I was denied sick days, paid leave, and benefits .
At this point some may say what about disability insurance. During open enrollment I applied to
benefits and enroll for catastrophe insurance and because of my pre existing condition I would be
denied. This was verified by a co-worker Jackie just to make sure what I was told is correct that disability
insurance coverage would be denied.
I would appreciate a revisit of the Disability Act and agree that so far this is an infringement of
the act is a Disability ACT issue. This could have been avoided as other issues and the more I wait the
costlier it becomes for many, there is not a reason for me to have endured this treatment. I can only
hope that if so far reading this you could inquire with the El Paso Independent School District about my
uncertain, unclear, stagnant situation that has devastated me. Keeping me in this limbo status is not
costing the school district anything, but my students have suffered, my family has suffered, I am
suffering...The next chapters explain more of the same run around, but includes the teachers union and
the help or the lack of help, denial of unemployment benefits, social services and that status, EEOC
arbitration, legal advice. On the home front my family life is in chaos to includes behind on my
mortgage, bills, struggling to get food on the table, one of my sons was in ROTC and college AP and now
in alternative school struggling, my daughter transferred to YISD and struggled with depression and
grades., my nightmare continues.