Guest guest Posted May 8, 2012 Report Share Posted May 8, 2012 I believe that you have done a thorough job of weighing your options.  I'll bet she will be delighted with her experience AND her cert. of completion!  Please rest assured in your decision process and don't second guess or worry anymore!  I am sure that you made the right decision as you explained it beautifully!  Being capable of getting a diploma with long hours, much homework, etc that would keep her from enjoying other learning experiences, perhaps stress her to the point of not enjoying learning, etc. would not be a big enough pay off for me either.  We are not there yet and I hope that I can keep " me " out of our own decisions and think things through as well as you have!  Bravo!  Kiersten  " ...affliction is a treasure, and scarce any man hath enough of it. No man hath affliction enough that is not matured, and ripened by it, and made fit for God by that affliction. " Donne, Meditation XVII >________________________________ > From: Kerrigan <leslie-kerrigan@...> > < > >Sent: Tuesday, May 8, 2012 1:37 PM >Subject: we made a decision! > > > >After a long haul and a lot of soul-searching, we finally finished >'s IEP yesterday. Although we do believe would be >capable of earning a regular high school diploma, we have decided she >would be happier and learn more overall if she continued to be included >in regular ed much of the time. It's a bummer that our school cannot >figure out how to modify regular ed classwork and still meet the state >standards (and hence make a class " count " towards graduation >requirements) but the reality is, our teachers have 45+ students per >class, 5 classes per day and law or not, trying to get them to modify >work for that works for her and yet still meets the standards >isn't going to happen. We have seen 3 years of poor modifications in >middle school, and think the stress that it has put on her was >significant. We also weighed the necessity of a regular diploma in her >post-high-school life, and besides bragging rights for us, we couldn't >come up with a good reason that her life would be better/different if >she had that piece of paper; her long term employment prospects are not >likely to depend on a diploma, but rather appropriate job skills and >training. > >So, she will be taking Resource Intro to High School Algebra, Resource >English, Biology, PE, choir and a study hall-type elective. Because the >team was so relieved that we were not pushing for the diploma track, I >was able to say a lot about the importance of good, dynamic, exciting >general ed teachers who were organized and would give her the concrete >facts she likes to spew out at the dinner table :-) Having an older >child at the school, I was able to get them to agree (not in the IEP, >can't write in staffing of course) to put her in the most coveted Bio >teacher's class, which will be a wonderful experience for her, and she >will be there with typical peers she's been with since kinder. She is >currently is Resource Math and English, and works very independently and >successfully here, so we are not changing that, and she has friends in >this group as well. Plus, she's one of the top Resource students, so we >felt it was good to be " top dog " once in awhile too. She will still >participate in graduation and other related activities, so the > " certificate of completion " students see no differences there. > >I will always question this decision, I hope we haven't gypped >out of something she should have received.... maybe in a different >school district, different state, she'd have received a diploma, but it >would be a long, hours and hours of HW/day, stressful 4 years if we >choose diploma, and that seemed wrong to do to her. Hope we're right. > >, mom to (16) (14 DS) and Sammy (12) > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2012 Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 , You made a decision, the best decision for ELizabeth at the time wiht all of the info you have. I had to do the same thing with and look at what I thoguht her future would hold I, too kept her included and she is successfully working part-time in a competitive job. She has worked there almost 3 years now and has received 4 pay raises. She has a busy and full life and is very happy - without a general ed diploma. I am a big-time inclusion advocate - I am almost finished with my Doctorate in Education (in Inclusive Education) yet I think sometimes we put too much emphasis on the type of diploma. For me it was the road traveled and traveling that was important The end results can be great whether our chidlren are in self-cotnaiend, resource or inclusive settings. You should be proud of doing what is best for . Kathy Everett 678 230-6985 Kathy Everett Consulting www.KathyEverett.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2012 Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 , I know I responded once already, but I wanted you to know I understand how difficult this decision was. Seems like we are always having to make these hard ones where our kiddos are concerned, never gets easier. I was at her school the other day talking to someone about graduation and mentioned picking up diplomas after the ceremony. She became very serious, laid her hand on my arm and said in that tone I hate " she doesn't get a diploma, it will be a certificate " . I burst out laughing, which really bothered her, and said to it is a diploma. She has completed, with flying colors, the work assigned and has accomplished all of her IEP goals. The name of the piece of paper is irrelevant. ( I addedsomething else in my mind;) ) will have a wonderful time in high school, while learning and preparing for her future. Isn't that what matters!! Congratulations Mom!! Sharon Mom to , 20 (DS) and (16) South Carolina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2012 Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 LOL, I can totally hear the school person's voice, as she laid her hand on your arm to remind you wasn't getting a diploma.... like you somehow forgot that little detail of how many IEP meetings? It will be fine with as long as they don't feel like they have to tell HER it's not the same diploma as the other kids are getting, which is probably what a well intentioned aide would do here... sometimes I think " seriously, you had to tell that? Why? " when I hear some of the things that are said. Graduation is about being a senior, having bragging rights, extra fun events, prom, and walking in the graduation ceremony... and I'm guessing enjoyed or will be soon enjoying all that! Thanks so much, I know there will be times I second guess myself, but I'm trying to look at all the wonderful opportunities will have with her typical peers, who have always been amazing to her, and she to them. And I know that the next 4 years will fly by in a blink of an eye because my oldest is almost out the door and I don't know how that happened either! , mom to (16), (14 DS) and Sammy (12) On 5/9/2012 3:26 PM, Sharon wrote: > > , I know I responded once already, but I wanted you to know I > understand how difficult this decision was. Seems like we are always > having to make these hard ones where our kiddos are concerned, never gets > easier. > > I was at her school the other day talking to someone about graduation and > mentioned picking up diplomas after the ceremony. She became very serious, > laid her hand on my arm and said in that tone I hate " she doesn't get a > diploma, it will be a certificate " . I burst out laughing, which really > bothered her, and said to it is a diploma. She has completed, with > flying colors, the work assigned and has accomplished all of her IEP > goals. The name of the piece of paper is irrelevant. ( I addedsomething > else in my mind;) ) > > will have a wonderful time in high school, while learning and > preparing for her future. Isn't that what matters!! > > Congratulations Mom!! > > Sharon > Mom to , 20 (DS) and (16) > South Carolina > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2012 Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 Hi Congrats on your decision. I understand how difficult it was for you. When I had to make the same decision for , I literally put myself in her place and had to ask myself, can she really do the work without struggling and feeling unsuccessful or is it what I want. Our decision was to keep her in 'inclusion' and she went to regular classes and was very much a part of high school. She felt successful and included and it was one of my proudest moments as a parent to see walk across the stage at Lincoln Center yes Lincoln Center in NYC was where her graduation was to receive her 'diploma' (an iep) diploma but she didn't know or care. Another super cool moment was when she ran into some of her 'typical' friends that she knew since elementary school and they were all taking pics together. I am still helping her make decisions about job training and getting work. And we will soon be looking at possible housing. Our job trully never ends. Good decision mom, she will make you proud and she will fell successful and be happy. Mom to 21 Kerrigan <leslie-kerrigan@...> wrote: >After a long haul and a lot of soul-searching, we finally finished >'s IEP yesterday. Although we do believe would be >capable of earning a regular high school diploma, we have decided she >would be happier and learn more overall if she continued to be included >in regular ed much of the time. It's a bummer that our school cannot >figure out how to modify regular ed classwork and still meet the state >standards (and hence make a class " count " towards graduation >requirements) but the reality is, our teachers have 45+ students per >class, 5 classes per day and law or not, trying to get them to modify >work for that works for her and yet still meets the standards >isn't going to happen. We have seen 3 years of poor modifications in >middle school, and think the stress that it has put on her was >significant. We also weighed the necessity of a regular diploma in her >post-high-school life, and besides bragging rights for us, we couldn't >come up with a good reason that her life would be better/different if >she had that piece of paper; her long term employment prospects are not >likely to depend on a diploma, but rather appropriate job skills and >training. > >So, she will be taking Resource Intro to High School Algebra, Resource >English, Biology, PE, choir and a study hall-type elective. Because the >team was so relieved that we were not pushing for the diploma track, I >was able to say a lot about the importance of good, dynamic, exciting >general ed teachers who were organized and would give her the concrete >facts she likes to spew out at the dinner table :-) Having an older >child at the school, I was able to get them to agree (not in the IEP, >can't write in staffing of course) to put her in the most coveted Bio >teacher's class, which will be a wonderful experience for her, and she >will be there with typical peers she's been with since kinder. She is >currently is Resource Math and English, and works very independently and >successfully here, so we are not changing that, and she has friends in >this group as well. Plus, she's one of the top Resource students, so we >felt it was good to be " top dog " once in awhile too. She will still >participate in graduation and other related activities, so the > " certificate of completion " students see no differences there. > >I will always question this decision, I hope we haven't gypped >out of something she should have received.... maybe in a different >school district, different state, she'd have received a diploma, but it >would be a long, hours and hours of HW/day, stressful 4 years if we >choose diploma, and that seemed wrong to do to her. Hope we're right. > >, mom to (16) (14 DS) and Sammy (12) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 11, 2012 Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 , Good for you! The beauty of this all is that WE as parents are able to advocate what is best for our children. We are able to take the Educational System and make it work for our children who learn differently. As we have always stated in the past, it's not about all children having full inclusion in every way, it's about all children having their needs met in the way that best suits THEM! We as parents SHOULD be able to make that decision since we know our children better than any others. Maverick also did not graduate with a diploma, but he graduated. He was in fully integrated classes all through school and he walked with his friends. It really isn't about the diploma, it's about your child getting what they need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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