interesting comment....
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interesting comment....
| Wed, 05-17-2006 - 11:27pm |
I'm not sure what to do with this information.
Today I was visiting with Isaac's ECSE teacher, and she was talking to me about extended school year programs, ect.


hmmmmm, doesn't show any behaviors at school and yet he is ASD. Things that make you go hmmmmmmmmmmm.
Is it possible they are just not recognizing his behavioral symptoms? Behavioral challenges for kids with ASD can go WAYYYYY beyond just the usual acting out. Many hold it in quite well and will withdraw, stim or have a hard time focusing in school. Those quiet ones are tough because you don't realize when they are getting overwhelmed and they will wait until they get home and let it ALLLLL hang out then. But see, then it is the mom's problem because she is doing something wrong.
Well, I wouldn't know how to take that comment either. Hopefully it is just for summerschool she meant. ESY is a world different than regular school if it is early childhood. Most likely it is a special education class with lots of support people who are well trained so they have plenty of staff. That is way different than a general kindergarten class where there are more kids and quite possibly not enough trained support people.
Not all AS kids need an aide, however, a child coming from an early childhood program with an ASD diagnosis into K, it would be wise to at least start out with one and a support plan.
Make a list of what accomodations you think he will need to be successful in K and bring that with you to the meeting. I don't know him in particular but typically the types of services offered are OT, speech, if there is an autism specialist or behavior specialist they will consult with the classroom for any specific supports he may need like a visual schedule, if there isn't an autism person in district often the RSP will provide some of this as well, You may be able to get social skills training for him. And, if needed an aide in the classroom to implement his program or help him out when he gets stressed. Some kids can do ok with the regular class teacher and some of the extra supports.
I will say that even when Cait started in K, they gave her an aide with 2 other kids in a regular K class 1/2 the day. When she did well we faded out the aide until the end of 2nd grade when we decided we needed one again. In 3rd grade the aide was useless so we traded it for a clinical psych for social skills in 4th and she had a great year because of a great teacher and supports but no aide. In 5th things got tougher and she needed an aide again and still has one.
I guess my point being aides have not always been what the kids needed nor are all aides of high caliber. Often districts will try to say that the aide will make a child too dependent on them. While that can be a concern if a child needs an aide they need an aide and you fade it out after. Mike should have had an aide all along. He likely would have gained much better skills with an aide and a support plan from day one.
Renee
Dear Debbie,
Well, here you go, into grade school and IEPs etc. Remember, IEPs can be changed at any time. And a school IEP team, including you, designs an individual education plan for the needs of the student even as they change. They can't yet know whether he will have any behavior problems in the future, or might need a one-to-one. But that does not mean, if he DOES need them, he will not be able to get them.
What is your gut saying? Might he need more assistance than you sense they will offer? You know your son best. And, also remember that you don't sign until you are sure that the IEP is written the way you want, take it home, look it all over, get expert opinions. Then rewrite with the team if necessary. Sign when it's right.
And in the future, if the IEP needs to be changed, call another IEP meeting.
Good Luck,
Sara
ilovemalcolm
thanks Renee.
I realized today that I was a tad emotional when I posted this last night.
thanks Sara.
This is quite overwhelming.