IEP's

[Guest guest]

Just wanted to respond to those preparing for their IEP issues. The one thing

I've learned is to be sure to identify a " need " first in order to get what you

want for your child. For JOYA111, it sounds like your twins " need " to be in

general ed together since the teacher is saying that they are progressing well.

Do you feel that the general education classroom is necessary for their

education as well as their socialization? If they are doing well in a general

education classroom and you have proof of that, then it would probably take more

than just the excuse of not having enough special ed teachers to not put them in

general ed.

For , I'm assuming when you say one on one that you're talking about an

aide for your child. Identify your concern at the IEP that your child has

certain needs. For my daughter we identified that she needs help with walking

100% of the time, she needs help with toileting, eating, etc. The most

important need is in case of an emergency, how is she supposed to handle an

emergency? Even if they only offer a part-time aide - how will the school

identify when an emergency is to occur? (Obviously, they can't - so they need to

have that full-time aide there at all times.) If there is an aide for the

classroom with the teacher, during an emergency, will that aide or teacher then

be only responsible for your child during the emergency? (Again, obviously that

won't be possible since the teacher and the aide need to be there for the whole

classroom.)

Jeannette - in your child's case, I would identify the need for a

distraction-free environment. Let them know that your child works better in a

quiet environment. Based on that, the team should offer the solution that

speech should be in a separate room.

One more piece of advice, my husband and I have made it a point to never sign

the IEP at the meeting. We ask for a copy to take home so that we can look it

over. It is so much easier to concentrate on reading the IEP at home and

discussing how you really feel about it. That way, if there was something you

missed, then you can ask for it before you sign. We've also taped our IEP

meetings and that has helped tremendously. We never asked for permission, we

just brought it and set it out on the table before the meeting started. The

school ended up taking theirs out too to tape which is fine with us. If they

would have questioned us with " Why " we were taping, we were prepared to say to

say " Why not? "

If they would have told us we couldn't, we would have asked them to put that in

writing right then and there with an explanation of the reason and had them sign

it.

It is so intimidating having to face school " officials " at IEP's, but if they

are professional, it would be a very productive meeting for your child. If,

however, they resort to intimidating you, try to question everything they tell

you. If you feel they're using too many terms that you don't understand, ask

them to explain it to you. If they say " we can't do this " or your child " can't

have that " , ask them to explain why not over and over until you are sure that it

makes sense. If they can't explain it and you are not taping, write down

exactly what they said, who said it , and read it back to the person who said it

to you: " Let me make sure I heard you corrrectly - you said my child can't have

this because...is that correct? " That way, you have a room full of witnesses

hearing the whole thing. One good advice I've received is to have an advocate

there with you, or even just a friend for support. You need to feel that there

is somebody in that room who is 100% on your side. Remember, the " I " in IEP is

" individualized " so the focus needs to be on your child. When you start to feel

really intimidated at the meeting, just think about your child and how if you do

not speak up - it would only hurt your child - who cannot defend him/herself

against them.

Good luck to all,

Vicky

[Guest guest]

the IEP_guide group can help with this answer.

IEP_guide/?yguid=61196202

> Does anyone know what the legal turnaround time is for the

DISTRICT to

> complete the final IEP? We had our meeting on APRIL 23RD and

still have not

> received our FINAL IEP. I find this unacceptable. There are

really no major

> changes, but we always have difficulty finding an 'APPROPRIATE "

summer class

> for my apraxic/hearing impaired child. So once again this year he

will be in

> the district's multi disabled program(after I view it several

times) and see

> if this placement will benefit him.

>

> Funny how we as parents have 15 days, not business day either to

review and

> sign the IEP. But the school can take over 2months to complete

one!!

>

> Thanks

> Lori D.

[Guest guest]

i believe but am unsure exactly---my mind fails me---but i think that the school

system has 45 days from the day you sign permission form to reassess. then ifsp

is 30 days. you have the right to that information. it may be that tiny tiny

tiny print paper they send home to you labeled Parent's Right or legal rights.

if you don't want your child in the multidisabled program then request what you

want, find it privatley and have the school system pay for it. if they don;t

have the service, they have to pay for it. once again, look at your rights.

(it's called a free and appropriate education for all students!!!!!!!)

[ ] IEP's

Does anyone know what the legal turnaround time is for the DISTRICT to

complete the final IEP? We had our meeting on APRIL 23RD and still have not

received our FINAL IEP. I find this unacceptable. There are really no major

changes, but we always have difficulty finding an 'APPROPRIATE " summer class

for my apraxic/hearing impaired child. So once again this year he will be in

the district's multi disabled program(after I view it several times) and see

if this placement will benefit him.

Funny how we as parents have 15 days, not business day either to review and

sign the IEP. But the school can take over 2months to complete one!!

Thanks

Lori D.

[Guest guest]

I believe it's 30 days...but you're right. That's unexceptable! I'd get your

squeaky wheel out and start squeaking.

Tammy

[ ] IEP's

Does anyone know what the legal turnaround time is for the DISTRICT to

complete the final IEP? We had our meeting on APRIL 23RD and still have not

received our FINAL IEP. I find this unacceptable. There are really no major

changes, but we always have difficulty finding an 'APPROPRIATE " summer class

for my apraxic/hearing impaired child. So once again this year he will be in

the district's multi disabled program(after I view it several times) and see

if this placement will benefit him.

Funny how we as parents have 15 days, not business day either to review and

sign the IEP. But the school can take over 2months to complete one!!

Thanks

Lori D.

[Guest guest]

Hey Lori!

I just left you a message today! Anyway -I was talking to Cheryl

tonight -I hadn't seen your post so I didn't ask, but

it came up for some other aspect of the IEP and I believe she said

that they need to provide you with a written IEP within 10 days of

the completion of the evaluations/testing -even if they just provide

you with a draft -so ask for that. They need to put it in writing if

they say they can't, and you would need to agree with that and sign

it for them not to provide it by then -I believe it's one of the

laws. If I'm messing this up she'll correct me. I'm sure she'll let

you (and us) know!

=====

[Guest guest]

I realize that there are many cases in which it is appropriate to be excused

from gym class. However, perhaps if the kid loves being active and playing

sports, they could still participate? I have had CMT since I was five, and

excluding the time period after my operations in which I had casts on, I always

participated in gym. Not because I had too, but because I wanted too. Granted, I

was always lucky to have gym teachers who understood that I had limitations, and

if I'd been having a tough week, I was always allowed to excuse myself. I played

basketball, did the ropes course, walked, biked, etc, etc, etc. I realize that

not every CMT kid can or wants to do gym, but shouldn't the option be open? I

can remember one time, having been exhausted for horse show preparations, I just

asked my Mom to call and ask if I could be excused from gym. My gym teacher took

me aside and said " anytime I wanted to sit out, I was more than welcome. After

all, they always allowed people who didn't feel " on " to sit out, and I had more

excuse than most. " I dunno, just my two cents. I know that I loved being able to

participate.

Liz