Well, that was ugly...
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| Tue, 05-31-2005 - 10:32pm |
We survived Claire's IEP today, but it was far from pretty.
The OT didn't bother to show up, which was a major problem for me, since one of the things I was asking for was an increase in OT MPW. Mind you, this was a complete re-evaluation...so evidently she didn't bother to re-evaluate our child.
Then we found out that not only does she qualify for PT (she hasn't been getting PT services as of yet) she's functioning on the level of a child less than half her age. We knew she was low tone, but that one hit kind of hard...especially since DH is a PT. Granted, he doesn't work with peds, but it just goes to prove that you never want to admit it is happening to one of your family members.
Next comes the wonderful news that all of the individuals who took the CARS for this re-evaluation gave her the exact same score. Sounds great, except that number was 38.5 which puts her in the "severe" range. (I always considered her "moderate"- just wasn't prepared for yet another blow to the heart.)
But my FAVORITE part was when every member of the school district's team had to officially and formally announce that our decision to place her in a mainstream classroom (in a charter school) with a full-time aid went against "their" recommendation. Hmmmm...now perhaps if somebody had bothered to assist us in finding an appropriate placement, instead of us going out and doing it all on our own, maybe we would've been working together instead of against one another!
Why is it that severely handicapped children are willingly placed in a mainstream classroom, but gawd forbid an autistic child be given the same opportunity? If a child with CP and the assistance of a one-on-one, can function in a mainstream environment, why is not acceptable for my husband and I to want to try it for our daughter?
Sorry for the vent...I just feel like I've been tackled by a steamroller.
Amy W.


Amy,
I am so sorry about the horrible IEP. I hope you were able to find some way to relax tonight and take some of the stress off. That doesn't sound like a productive meeting at all. Those always take the wind out of me.
On the CARS, I wouldn't think on it too much. I don't think any of those are terribly accurate. It really depends on who is filling it out and what environment they see the child in. If they only see her at school and not how she functions at home it is possible they are missing an awful lot.
On recomendations. I went through that at the beginning of this year with Mike on the opposite way though. Mike could NOT handle a mainstream class but is high IQ and does well academically. I felt he needed a smaller more structured setting but I let them bully me into having him go back to the mainstream because that is what THEY assumed would be right. They were wrong. Within 3 days he was melting so bad and never even made it into the mainstream class that they switched him just to the class I wanted.
Like in your case, they had it stuck in thier head where THEY felt a child like this should go. You know her best.
My nephews school (moderately autistic I would put him too) decided in K he should go to a day class. My SIL faught it. It took a while and he struggled in the beginning of K due to less than supportive class but now in 1st grade he is doing great socially and fits pretty darn well. HE is going to repeat 1st because academically he is just about beginning first, but he will be mainstreamed again and is learning so much this way. He may need a day class some year down the line but so far so good.
When Cait was going into K we had to go to mediation to get her mainstreamed instead of special day. She did great and has been mainstreamed ever since. She will go to a day class next year but only because it is a specialized program and still will be mainstreamed most of the day. I really think that parents really know thier kids and what is right for them. If you think mainstream is what she needs and what she will do well with then I think you have to give it a try.
Good luck and HUGE hugs. And some wine and chocolate.
Renee
Thank you, Renee- your support always means a lot to me. (And to the rest of the board.)
I believe we made the right decision, but we're not naive. If mainstream doesn't work for Claire, we're more than willing to re-evaluate the situation.
On the CARS scoring, I found it interesting that when I filled it out, it was based on my impressions of her at home. The teacher that filled it out has been with Claire since Feb. of 2003, and the psychologist who worked with her had only dealt with her a handful of times. I think that was the hardest part of of the results. Different people, different situations, two who knew her very well, one who barely knew her at all and every single answer matched in all the various categories. As a parent, it's not often that you find yourself "wanting" to be wrong about something regarding your child(ren).
I did find a way to relax...I dipped into the anxiety medication my MD prescribed recently. I can only take it in extreme situations, as it puts me right to sleep- but once I get past the guilty of needing it, I can rest nightmare free.
Amy W.
I'm so sorry your school district is being such a pain!
On the cars, my sons ec teacher scored him at a 37. She was the only one to fill out the forms. She, the SLP, and both of us also filled at BASC forms which helped explain the CARS. Even the SLP and the ES teacher had significantly different scores on the BASC, with the SLP's being closer to his home scores. The way it was explaied is that the pressure of the classroom brings out things that aren't normally seen. Thus increased stress cuases my DS to be unable to self-regulate and he then seeks out familiar routines and stimulation in order to try to regulate. Its almost as stress and frustration causes him to shut down things one by one. (In comparison the last CARS we filled out for him at home was in the low 20's)
Sending you hugs and a glass of wine++++++++++++++++
Samantha
Amy,
I'm chiming in VERY late, but I just wanted to offer some ((((((hugs)))))).
Boy, those IEPs can really pack a punch, can't they? And you just can't prepare, beacuse you think you know where the 'surprises' are going to come from, but of course, then it wouldn't be a surprise...
boyoboyoboyoboy. I hope you are feeling a little better now. I know for me, these blows take a little recovery time.
As for the placement thing, I think you are on absolutely the right course: Do what you think is best for Claire, but be prepared to change the placement if there are any um.... surprises.
I am wishing a nasty, itchy rash on your IEP team (yourself and DH excepted, of course)-particularly that lax OT!
-Paula
visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
((hugs)))) IEPs are hard and when they are negative and combative they are even worse. I'm glad you were able to relax afterward! You know your child best and you know what your child can handle! Hope it goes well for Claire!
Betsy