school aide in first vs no aide and repeat Kindergarten

May 1, 2000

Hi everyone,

Yes, it is IEP season, and mine is this week. I need some good rationale, come

backs, and facts to support the reason why I want my son to keep his 1:1 aide

for next school year, even if we repeat Kindergarten.

Here are the facts. He is 6, and went to Kindergarten this year half days with

a full time ABA trained aide. While he did well with the K level academics,

thanks to all of the home ABA, he did not make much progress socially, working

on independent work, following large group instructions, etc. Although the aide

faded as much as possible, she was still needed heavily for these type

situations. Therefore, my consultant and I feel he should repeat K and focus on

these weak areas without the stress of new academic challenges. He is small for

his age and will not look funny next year in K.

I have already been told that the teacher, and the rest of the school district,

are going to suggest he go on to first grade because " he will be bored in K

again with the academics " . They are willing to say he should have the 1:1 aide

if he goes on to first. BUT, if we insist he stay in K, they are going to say

he SHOULD NOT HAVE THE AIDE. Of course, this is totally insane in our opinion.

By saying that, they are implying that the mere presence of the aide IS the

reason he is not independent, and we all know that is not the case.

So, it is looking like the choices, as far as they are concerned, are 1).

first grade with aide, OR 2). Kindergarten without the aide. I want to

repeat K, full day, with the aide. He has never gone full day, either.

I know why he should keep the aide, but would like some sound wording and

rationale to come back with at the IEP meeting. My consultant, of course, will

be there. I am relying on him to provide these type things, but would like to

hear what other parents have said in their experience.

Thanks in advance, and feel free to email me personally at mont@... ,

because I get the digest mode and may miss a response.

Trina

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