Well, that's better.....

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Well, that's better.....
4
Tue, 12-19-2006 - 12:29am

A sigh of relief.

I gotta tell ya, I was having a really rough week. I thought it was christmas stress but when I really thought about it, it was the after effect of the diagnostic center stuff and Cait's eval. It really hit hard that they didn't have any helpful recomendations for Mike in middle school.

Add on top of that struggles in basketball, struggles at family gatherings and the less than helpful IEP for Cait and I was really in deep. I finally recognized it for what it was and talked to a friend and that helped a little.

Then this afternoon I talked to the program specialist. We have a date for the first week back at school to go visit the 3 possible placements for Mike for next year with Mike. I talked to his aide and she is agreeing to stay on as his aide for next year. (WHEW). And I talked to the teacher and she is on the same page plus we got a great new book with some ideas for Mike that we are going to try.

AND the program specialist talked to the director of elementary special ed AND she is very interested in me doing an internship next school year. I have a call into her as well.

Still not feeling great. Still anxious as all get out, BUT it is better at least some.

Renee

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Registered: 10-03-2004
Tue, 12-19-2006 - 9:37am

Well, sweetie, I can relate. ((((HUGS)))) to you. I suspect you may really end up have to create a program for Mike, unless you are willing to work within a program you can find. We are in the same boat here. But at least you are really considering your options early in school year, so you can get to it!!! Exhausting, isn't it all?

Over 3 months we have been at this home school/therapy/looking-at-schools/fighting DOE sloggin' mess and it is just taking all the stuffing out of me and dh!!! Last week, we saw a GREAT school that is even funded, college-prep, but too demanding emotionally for where he is right now and they said so. They are VERY interested in him for middle and high school, however, so they want us to come back in a few years. Sigh. That doesn't help right now. but it does open up our options in thinking of now as an interim...

We could take him back to ASD school, if and when they get an opening, and he'd be happy and well. We could place him in NEW ASD school which HAS immediate opening in another borough, but unfunded and expensive, so that's the whole sue-the-DOE route, which we have never had to go but would very likely win... There are a few other unfunded schools closer by, not perfect but workable and those would be for the Fall.

What's hard is how exhausted Cliff and I are, and every bump in the road just sends us into tailspins, we have NO reserves. At least we get the next 2 weeks off visiting family, staying in hotels with pools, we badly, badly need the break.

Anyways, thinking of ya. How's Cait's school going, any better after all that? I haven;t noticed any movement/thoughts towards changing her school, so are they a bit more on board?

more ((((HUGS))))

Sara

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Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 12-19-2006 - 9:53am

Thanks for asking about Cait. THis is really really pathetic but I feel like I have my quitting shoes. She volunteers at the theraputic horsemanship program and to see her is incredible. She is in her element and I see her future and it doesn't all revolve around school. We will get through school but my focus is more on independent living and skills that will help her get and keep a job.

The school has implemented a couple new things. Maybe they are finally getting it. Cait seems happy so that is that.

Here is the really REALLY scary thing. That program may be where we have to place Mike. HOWEVER, his aide has agreed to follow him which will make a huge difference in his success. Plus I will get on them and they will do things right from the beginning. Starting with me going to the board of Ed about where that room is placed (between the gym and band room). This was tough for Cait but she was able to work around it and cope pretty well plus she is only in there 1 period now when there is no band. But it will be the death of Mike and he will likely need to spend alot more time in there.

And this time they will tailor thier program to meet Mike's needs, not the other way around like they tried to get away with with Cait. I have finally gotten them to start meeting her needs, they will do his from the start.

The nice thing about a kid with significant behavior issues is that it gets people to notice. There is no pretending the issue isn't there and they are forced to work with it. Therefore I know getting thier attention and getting them to be more flexible will be easier with him.

Renee

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Registered: 09-09-2005
Tue, 12-19-2006 - 11:23am

I hear you on the behavior issue.

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Registered: 04-11-2003
Tue, 12-19-2006 - 11:32am

Congrats on the internship.

That's great news on the aide. I so wish Kyle's aide from last yr would have stayed with him. I hope one of the placements you look at is good.

Samantha

Samantha