Re: Successful IEP's?????

April 11, 2002

Hi,

You raise a valuable point. I did have a very successful IEP meeting. I was

extremely prepared for the tough road and had documented everything prior to

the meeting. After hearing all the horror stories I was certain that it

would be a horrible experience for my husband and I. Much to my surprise I

found the team very helpful. My son has verbal apraxia with SI issues but

his main area of concern has always been his speech. The school board was

very open in that my son was of gifted intelligence and they were unsure of

how to address his needs. I offered the out of district school I had

pre-selected for my son, and they readily agreed to it. They have been great

to work with and I am very pleased with how they handled my situation. So,

no, not all IEP's are bad. Just make sure you are prepared to handle

whatever they may send your way. Good luck.

Janet

April 11, 2002

Just a thought. In retrospect Early Intervention for us served its

purpose in that I started the process of getting help. What

makes me mad is that in 40 minutes they evaluated fine motor, gross

motor speech and social behaviours but never once did the word

apraxia come up. It wasn't until several months later after I fired

the first SLP that the word even came up. So as a Mom I didn't

explore other areas because my son seemed bright and social and the

pediatrician said not to worry, the first SLP said not to worry and

so why worry! I even saw our 1st neurolgist who diagnosed apraxia

against the advice of 2 pediatricians who were seeing him at the time.

I am getting off-topic here but I guess the fact that Early

Intervention records are sealed and once they enter the school

system, they are with them is where we as parents try to protect our

kids from inappropriate labels and lack of therapies.

i will say , that if they are willing to give him OT then take

advantage of it. OT is not just for fine motor skills. My son never

had OT until he was over 3 and it has helped with overall motor

planning, crossing the mid-line and building upper body strength

which somehow affects the volume of his voice. The other issue is if

he gets it now, it will be easier to get the school to do it based on

the precedence that EI is setting.

In terms of his IEP, they have been very courteous and they have been

accommodating BUT there are things that if I hadn't pushed for he would not have

gotten.

If I knew then what I know now.......

> I've been hearing so much about the antagonistic IEP meetings I

have

> to ask. Is that the norm????

>

> My son will be 2 years May 11. I had my first IFSP meeting where

we

> discussed transition when he is 3 (I'm a little nervous now hearing

> everyones horror stories). I won't say my meeting was all sun and

> roses but it went well. They seemed respectful of my differences

of

> opinion on a few matters regarding his current abilities as well as

> my refusal of certain services. My son has what they would

> term " feeding concerns " . I refused any therapy for it, allowed

them

> to notate their concerns for the SLP that will provide therapy and

to

> give me advice.

One of the people at the meeting wanted an OT to provide therapy to

> my son, even though his only real issue is speech. They tested him

> 25% behind in fine motor but both my 2nd opinion SLP, myself, and

my

> pediatrician disagreed. I eventually did tell them that this was

MY

> tax dollars they were spending and they should reserve them for

> someone who really needed it (in a respectful way). I again agreed

> that in 6 months they could retest his fine motor skills if they

> wanted. That ended that discussion.

>

> mom to 23 months (motor planning disorder??? -- still

working

> on diagnosis) and Kenny 12 years and the best big brother around

April 11, 2002

,

I am happy to say that I have not had a bad experience with IEP's. My son is 3

1/2, dianosed with apraxia at 19 months, went through EI, and started the

pre-school disabled program last July. I was petrified for the first IEP

meeting. I didn't sign anything, asked to bring it home to review with my

husband (and of course everyone else that knows my son and his stregnths and

weaknesses, including his dev. pediatrician). The IEP was sufficient and he has

shown a ton of improvement. We also do private speech twice a week for one

hour, horseback riding, and soccer. He has been taking Pro EFA for a year. So,

again to answer your question, my IEP was not a nightmarish experience!

Good luck,

Ilene, NJ

[ ] Successful IEP's?????

I've been hearing so much about the antagonistic IEP meetings I have

to ask. Is that the norm????

My son will be 2 years May 11. I had my first IFSP meeting where we

discussed transition when he is 3 (I'm a little nervous now hearing

everyones horror stories). I won't say my meeting was all sun and

roses but it went well. They seemed respectful of my differences of

opinion on a few matters regarding his current abilities as well as

my refusal of certain services. My son has what they would

term " feeding concerns " . I refused any therapy for it, allowed them

to notate their concerns for the SLP that will provide therapy and to

give me advice. I agreed to look at the situation again in 6

months. It really was a respectful meeting where I (who was alone --

next time I'll have support) didn't feel ganged up on.

One of the people at the meeting wanted an OT to provide therapy to

my son, even though his only real issue is speech. They tested him

25% behind in fine motor but both my 2nd opinion SLP, myself, and my

pediatrician disagreed. I eventually did tell them that this was MY

tax dollars they were spending and they should reserve them for

someone who really needed it (in a respectful way). I again agreed

that in 6 months they could retest his fine motor skills if they

wanted. That ended that discussion.

There were disagreements, but all in all it was fine. The SLP who

did his review was very vocal at the meeting and spent extra time

making sure I understood her evaluation and the things that she saw

differently than my pedo, myself, and my 2nd opinion SLP -- I have to

say though that her arguements seemed to come from the fact that she

really did feel that way, and she was very repectful and answered all

my questions. Please tell me that is more the norm. I hate to think

that on top of the stress of having a child with a special need

parents also have to endure antagonism from those that are supposed

to help.

One more little question --- in an IEP do you sign/initial every

page??? I discovered twice now in signing papers for EI that I was

handed a few pages to read, one to sign, then when they left there

were additional pages I never read before signing. It didn't seem

like a big deal -- however these were the pages where EI scored him

lower (not significantly except the 25% in fine motor) than I, my

pedo, and my 2nd opinion SLP believe he should be. Of course in the

future I will take everyone's advice and NEVER sign at the meeting,

wait and review later.

Anyway hope to hear that some people out there have successful,

respectful, and helpful IEP meetings.

mom to 23 months (motor planning disorder??? -- still working

on diagnosis) and Kenny 12 years and the best big brother around

April 11, 2002

Ilene

thanks --- reading all the horror stories I was ready to move to the mountains

and live like a hermit homeschooling him LOL. Not quite but certainly was

putting more concern on the " process " than on the fact that my beautiful boy

needs a little extra. That's where my thoughts need to be concentrated.

I haven't tried ProFa yet, but I am thinking about it. I've been doing a

little research and since it appears that it can't hurt I might as well try it.

NJ shore

>,

>I am happy to say that I have not had a bad experience with IEP's. My son is

3 1/2, dianosed with apraxia at 19 months, went through EI, and started the

pre-school disabled program last July. I was petrified for the first IEP

meeting. I didn't sign anything, asked to bring it home to review with my

husband (and of course everyone else that knows my son and his stregnths and

weaknesses, including his dev. pediatrician). The IEP was sufficient and he has

shown a ton of improvement. We also do private speech twice a week for one

hour, horseback riding, and soccer. He has been taking Pro EFA for a year. So,

again to answer your question, my IEP was not a nightmarish experience!

>Good luck,

>Ilene, NJ

April 11, 2002

,

Since all this is new to me I think I'm having a tough time dealing with the

fact that he needs help at all. We are reevaluating the need for OT in 6 months

and they were helpful to give me ideas on different things to do with him

(playdough is the new favorite in our house). I have a little of that MOMMY

syndrome --- I can fix this!!!!

I really don't think that he needs OT and since he is a bit stranger phobic I

figured 2 home sessions of ST (to start sometime soon I hope) plus we are paying

(with the help hopefully of our insurance company) for 1 session a week outside

the home would be more than enough to start with. I never even thought of

setting a precedence (I am learning so much)

You should have seen my face when they started talking about " special " preschool

or whatever term they used. I was like what are you crazy we are going to fix

this and he will go to a regular private preschool. In some ways things are

progressing so fast with EI that I haven't had time to really accept things and

in other ways it's too slow I want to start things NOW. I'm hoping to feel

better at understanding exactly what is wrong, what tx should be done, and what

prognosis to expect after we see his devel. neurologist May 1st and after a few

months of ST.

Isn't he going to wake up tomorrow speaking in full sentences???? I'm realistic

but I still hope.

, NJ

Mom to 23 months (M.P.D. and still diagnosing) and Kenny 12

>i will say , that if they are willing to give him OT then take

>advantage of it. OT is not just for fine motor skills. My son never

>had OT until he was over 3 and it has helped with overall motor

>planning, crossing the mid-line and building upper body strength

>which somehow affects the volume of his voice. The other issue is if

>he gets it now, it will be easier to get the school to do it based on

>the precedence that EI is setting.

>In terms of his IEP, they have been very courteous and they have been

accommodating BUT there are things that if I hadn't pushed for he would not have

gotten.

>If I knew then what I know now.......

>

April 11, 2002

Janet -

What state are you from???????

JOYA

April 12, 2002

Hi :

You pose a lot of questions in your email, and I only am paid for two

answers per email (LOL)...

As to declining feeding therapy - I respect your opinion from the

perspective that I think the EI provider is offering you a lot from

the start, and you don't want to overwhelm your son, and they have a

lot to accomplish in very little time with him. Nonetheless, I think

some time should be made periodically to address oral motor issues,

particularly if they interfere with his feeding and nutrition.

As to why IEP meetings are often nightmares, please understand what

CST's have to deal with - they are often the political puppets of the

special ed administration, and are under the gun to spend less and do

the most politically expedient thing for the interests of the

district, as opposed to the interests of the child. If they and you

both had the child's interest in mind, meetings would be a breeze.

The problem is that CST members often feel that they can baffle you

with their technical data, and play the superior act, acting as if

they " know what is right for him " , as a way of hiding the fact that

they are actually acting in the superintendant, board of education,

and state Department of Education's financial and political

interests. My experience is that the better-funded districts, where

the tax base is rich, and the special ed budget is not under the gun,

have less big issues in their IEP meetings - since they don't have to

worry about saving money or saving face. In my humble opinion, of

course...

Larry Laveman, MD

Consultant, CHERAB

http://www.apraxia.cc

> I've been hearing so much about the antagonistic IEP meetings I

have

> to ask. Is that the norm????

>

> My son will be 2 years May 11. I had my first IFSP meeting where

we

> discussed transition when he is 3 (I'm a little nervous now hearing

> everyones horror stories). I won't say my meeting was all sun and

> roses but it went well. They seemed respectful of my differences

of

> opinion on a few matters regarding his current abilities as well as

> my refusal of certain services. My son has what they would

> term " feeding concerns " . I refused any therapy for it, allowed

them

> to notate their concerns for the SLP that will provide therapy and

to

> give me advice. I agreed to look at the situation again in 6

> months. It really was a respectful meeting where I (who was alone -

-

> next time I'll have support) didn't feel ganged up on.

>

> One of the people at the meeting wanted an OT to provide therapy to

> my son, even though his only real issue is speech. They tested him

> 25% behind in fine motor but both my 2nd opinion SLP, myself, and

my

> pediatrician disagreed. I eventually did tell them that this was

MY

> tax dollars they were spending and they should reserve them for

> someone who really needed it (in a respectful way). I again agreed

> that in 6 months they could retest his fine motor skills if they

> wanted. That ended that discussion.

>

> There were disagreements, but all in all it was fine. The SLP who

> did his review was very vocal at the meeting and spent extra time

> making sure I understood her evaluation and the things that she saw

> differently than my pedo, myself, and my 2nd opinion SLP -- I have

to

> say though that her arguements seemed to come from the fact that

she

> really did feel that way, and she was very repectful and answered

all

> my questions. Please tell me that is more the norm. I hate to

think

> that on top of the stress of having a child with a special need

> parents also have to endure antagonism from those that are supposed

> to help.

>

> One more little question --- in an IEP do you sign/initial every

> page??? I discovered twice now in signing papers for EI that I was

> handed a few pages to read, one to sign, then when they left there

> were additional pages I never read before signing. It didn't seem

> like a big deal -- however these were the pages where EI scored him

> lower (not significantly except the 25% in fine motor) than I, my

> pedo, and my 2nd opinion SLP believe he should be. Of course in the

> future I will take everyone's advice and NEVER sign at the meeting,

> wait and review later.

>

> Anyway hope to hear that some people out there have successful,

> respectful, and helpful IEP meetings.

>

> mom to 23 months (motor planning disorder??? -- still

working

> on diagnosis) and Kenny 12 years and the best big brother around

April 12, 2002