Upcoming IEP meeting
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| Fri, 08-19-2005 - 3:36pm |
I got a phone call this morning from the "program director" for our school district, about David's placement for the second grade. At the end of last year we had an IEP meeting in which we all agreed that David needs something different than what he's getting. No one seemed to have an answer. He's above grade-level academically; he was pretty much born reading, and even his comprehension is good. So a regular special ed class is out of the question. The general ed class seems to be not quite right for him either, though. I'm glad to know that the school officials are on the case, but I have my worries. He's trying to get an IEP meeting scheduled with the necessary people, but I don't know how this meeting will be any different than last time's. Last time we all sat around going, "Wow, this is a difficult case. His needs are so unique, where can we put him?"
The program director, who has never met David, seemed to think that David's problem was "behavioral". Well...yes, and no. Nobody knows David like I do, and trying to explain his needs over the phone to a stranger is so hard. I think I made a big mistake by trying to explain. He responded with something like, "So, he's making a choice to misbehave?" AAAAHHHHGGGG!!! I tried to dig myself out of that hole as gracefully as I could, mentioning the Asperger's dx. To a casual observer, it could sometimes look like David makes a choice to be disruptive or disobedient, and there is no question that he needs some work in that area. But, I know now that it is so much more complicated than that. David is such a good boy, a shining jewel, but when he gets stressed out (like when he has to sit down and do subtraction problems when he's got an imaginary scenario playing out in his mind), he tends to act "inappropriately." He means no harm, and isn't trying to be naughty...except if someone pushes him over the edge by treating him as a "bad kid". Luckily, they don't do that much.
I take comfort in the fact that nothing can happen, IEP wise, without my consent. And I also take comfort in the fact that the educators who have worked with David, seem to really care for him and enjoy him. They have a lot of praise for him. But then there is the fact that every day after lunch, when the kids are supposed to be working, he gets up and starts singing silly songs or acting out scenes from his imagination. If his medication isn't quite right, he climbs bookshelves. He needs a quiet, uncrowded place to do his work. He gets to go to the Resource room when it's available, but it often is in use when he needs it. All too often, he got sent to the office, not as a punishment, but because it was the best place for him to be. Everyone agrees that just isn't the answer, but no one can come up with a better place.
I hope this IEP meeting is productive. Heck, I just hope it includes the 2nd grade teacher, although I wouldn't be surprised if she's kept in the dark until school starts, like what happened last year.
Ay carumba! Oh, and JCPenney just delivered the *wrong* sofa for the second time, to replace one that arrived with a broken frame. Geez! Too much stuff to deal with! LOL!
Evelyn (school starts AUG 29th)

Evelyn,
Sending along a bottle of wine and a cabana boy for massage therapy. It is stressful. hope you make it through the next few weeks unscathed.
KWYM about this. Some day the schools are going to have to figure out that the need to figure out how to address kids with special needs who are not behind academically. All to often our kids are at or above grade level academically but can't handle a regular classroom and there are limited options for what to do. And it is so hard to know what to do, keep them included or move them to a more low key less stressful environment.
We're going through this decision making again with Mike's teacher. Just talked to her today. His SDC is way below him academically and she has been modifying up for him but what she can do as he gets older is limited. We have to get him back to mainstreaming for at least some academics or he will either run the high risk of falling way behind academically, being bored and acting out or going to a private special ed school.
I find this part hard and wonder if anyone else would. I love his teacher. I love him being included in our neighborhood school and with his siblings. I love the prospect that he can go on to regular middle and high school and have some of the typical experiences like dances, routing for a sports team, etc. But the special school really would provide for his needs well. Is it better to go to the neighborhood school and have as normal childhood as possible or be segregated off to the specialized school where there are less opportunities because there are less kids. Of course I am thinking like an NT again.
Decisions, decisions.
Ay Carumba indeed.
This is a heavy subject. I am not there yet, but may be in a few years if Peter continues to make the stides he has made last year. -Now that language is much less of an issue, he is "getting" so much more, and is one smart cookie. Hard to imagine they tried to tell me he was borderline MR...
Anyhoo. I wanted to put down my current two cents ont he subject (may change if I am actually faced with the decision, because one never truly knows how one will react to a situation unless one is in it)
I kind of sway to the special ed side of things. If a program can meet his needs and help him to learn and function, he can miss out of the local team and dances thing (can't imagine Peter in the bleechers anyways. Sensory he11!)
Evelyn,
I wanted to point out that the SD cannot just throw up their hands and say "we don't know what to do with him". They are required by law to *figure it out*. If they don't have a program which suits him, they have to find or make one. By "finding" I mean go outside of the school or even the disrict if necessary to find an HF/gifted ASD class somewhere. Or else create such an animal if they can't find one and that is what is required.
It sounds like they may have a behavioural or ED program and are trying to shoehorn David into it. Come armed to the teeth with medical records and documentation to prove your case to the conrary. Also, if you can reserch your local area and surrounding districts, you may find a program in an ajoining district which suits David. Build a case to request placement there, if you think it will suit. BTW, it is VERY VERY late for them to be trying to address this now... What if you find a program and it is full? (Hello negligence...)
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
-Paula
visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
Evelyn,
Sounds like you have some valid concerns, that perhaps aren't being fully respected, at least not to the point that someone can help you figure this out. Have you gone to the IEP Message board here at Ivillage and asked the moderator there? I think her name is Susan...and I have to say that the lady knows her stuff when it comes to special education law and she may have some suggestions to help point the way, especially if you are considering going the road less traveled of alternative educational options that the school district may balk at paying for....
Good Luck!
Gemma