Met with Josh's teachers today
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| Mon, 12-11-2006 - 8:48pm |
For anyone that wasn't in chat Thursday, I got a rather rude message from Josh's teacher last Wednesday about how he wasn't doing his work, staring off into space, etc. Wanted to know what she should do about it...Set up a meeting for today that was supposed to be with his 3 core teachers as well as the school counselor.
Started off with just me and his homeroom teacher while the students are leaving the classroom, Josh is getting his things together, etc. I heard her tell him "I need to sign your notebook". Made sure he had his notebook, made sure he had several homework assignments (we're playing bigtime catchup - as in failing at least 3 classes due to missing work), and sent him out the door to daycare.
Start talking to her, and she was telling me about how he froze on the MEAP (Michigan Educational Assesment something test) - they had to write about "Heroes" - and that was the ONLY instruction she could give them - "Write for 15 minutes about Heroes". She let him go a bit longer than the rest, and at the end of 25 minutes he still had absolutely nothing on his paper. I told her "you have to be specific with him - I know you couldn't on the MEAP, but other times - don't just ask him to write about Heroes - break it out for him - Who is your favorite hero? What does he do? etc"
Now - let me say that of his 3 teachers, Ms. S is the one I like the least. Very good for NT kids. A little old-fashioned, a bit set in her ways. He has her for spelling and language arts in addition to homeroom. He has Mrs. S for Social Studies, Reading and Math, and Mr D for Science. Plus specials (art, choir, PE, computers).
Enter Mrs S and Mr D - we keep talking a bit. Went over his history a little with them and said "When he was in 2nd grade, his teacher suggested having him evaluated for Asperger Syndrome." Mr D looks at Mrs S and at the same time both of them said "Autism" (and you could see the light come on in their eyes). I said "Ms K was supposed to be working with him this year and evaluating him and so far I haven't heard anything." They promised that they would follow up with Ms K tomorrow morning. Then we spent the next 5-10 minutes explaining Asperger's/HFA to Ms S (homeroom). She'd worked with "classic" auties - but never a HFA or Aspie.
End result - Science teacher has agreed to let Josh do some of his work orally. Math teacher was already cutting back his assignments (for instance, if the same problem appeared more than once on a multiplication ditto she'd hash the duplicates out and just grade him based on the ones left), Social Studies she's trying to work with him. Homeroom/Lang Arts agreed to let him try using the computer for creative writing. So they're being more flexible than I believed.
Today anyway...We shall see what tomorrow brings.
I also learned that he was NEVER receiving OT from an OT for his handwriting - she met with his teachers early in the school year and told them that WHEN she had a small group, she would let them know. Apparently since there aren't any other kids requiring it, Josh is getting shafted - which is another point they were going to address with Ms K for me.
I ended the meeting by saying simply "I had the CHOICE to leave him at Nottawa - it was working for him. But Centreville has more resources that he SHOULD be able to use, and that is why I transferred him in. Instead I feel like he's gotten lost in the shuffle - and I will not let my little boy be lost."
So - tomorrow my letter is going in the mail for IEP. I've verbally requested that he be tested - now I'm going to hold them to it darn it. NO child deserves to be lost in the system just because he's different.
Teri
Mommy to Josh (10-probable AS), William (7-NT), Ryan (4 - somewhere on the spectrum and awaiting HIS eval)

Sounds like it worked out pretty well in the meeting at any rate.
The problem with bigger districts is they are just that, bigger. So there are more resources but you and your child become more of a number if you don't get your face and name known. It is that way in our district. The old squeaky wheel philosophy. I have a great relationship with MOST of the district (there is this one guy.....shudder). But there are some that know my number by heart. In fact toward the end of last year one of the district program specialists I adore called me and said "Miss Renee. I was getting worried. I hadn't had my weekly phone call in weeks!". I love that lady! (Reminds me that I am due a phone call to her about audiology stuff- thanks)
I also work OT with some bigger districts. My boss is a very busy OT and let me tell you the parents that are assertive and let their names known, she never forgets to service those kids. However, the ones who don't squeak and keep on top of things, well if there are evals and IEPS those are the first kids to get skipped. It is horrible I know. But there are so many evals and so many IEPs at this time of year that it is physically impossible to see everyone so some are going to get missed but if you are high profile then it is likely you won't.
Renee
The wierd thing though re: OT. The OT he was working with at Nottawa is the same one he SHOULD be working with at CV. Nottawa is too small a district for it's own special ed department, so their elementary is serviced by CV. Any really severe students go to a countywide center.
So - the OT knows Josh and KNOWS he needs her help - his first grade brother writes neater than he does! The glitch is that CV is playing by the book, and not allowing him to have his OT because he does not "qualify" for 1 on 1 therapies because he is not considered special needs. And since there are no other kids to MAKE a group for group therapy he's not recieving it.
Oh - he's also lost his "aide" (the HS girl that was attempting to help him). According to his teachers, she was just helping with organizational skills and making sure he had his assignments - but he overwhelmed her. Geeee - ya think?
I asked if he had any friends, they said "No - and he makes no effort to MAKE friends." "Even when in a group working on a project, he does his own thing." etc. Is this "ok"? Or should they be encouraging interactions?
Meant to ask in my original post - is there a good basic info site aside from OASIS that I could send to Josh's primary teacher?