re IEP's

[Guest guest]

,

I'm glad your meeting went well. I personally have never had anyone be

anything but polite in my meetings either. I think one important thing

is not to be afraid to speak up when disagree. However, in fairness I

have never really demanded services they were unwilling to give. ie last

summer I really thought ds needed summer services-he was doing so well I

didn't want him to go 3 months with no ST. I decided it was a battle I

wouldn't win so instead pushed getting a summer package so I could work

with him. Maybe the tone would have changed if I had argued but in truth

the package was well explained and I enjoyed working with him myself.

The most fun was taking him back to school in fall and showing off his

talking in full sentences to teachers and ST. One thing I was noticing

though. I had been real hesitant about starting ds in preschool last

year. Older ds has begun school at K and I had never even considered ds

going to pre except as possibly one year before K least of all at age

2.10. I agreed to try it with stipulation I could remove him if I felt

it was not working and bring him in for ST alone. They were great with

him and spent so much 1 on 1 time with him I felt guilty thinking of

other children (it is a regular pre-school not special ed) sharing

remaining teacher. This year ds doesn't need that sort of attention but

a just 3 apraxic boy started last month and I can't help but notice that

child does not get the attention my ds got. It may be coincidence

because the teacher in charge of preschool that spent so much time with

my ds went on maternity leave 2 weeks after this child started. But I

can't help but feel my doubts motivated school to really work hard with

my ds.

As far as signing papers about schools evaluation that sounds fine as

long as they include your private evaluation as well. In fairness I

would worry more if they started scribbling out stuff to match your

other evaluation. Both were done individually and should go into record

as such. The only part that matters is your child getting services you

think (based on private evaluation) he needs.

The only problem I have had in IEP's is school loosing information that

does not support their agenda. ie older ds was evaluated in 3rd and

found to have gross motor skill and tracking problems. He was behind in

PE but grade level and above in academics(because I taught him to read

and tutor him at home) He was given adaptive PE. The next IEP meeting

they forgot all about tracking issues(obviously because that is a

learning disability and they do not offer any special ed to kids unless

they are at least one grade behind in academics.) They insisted he was

getting adaptivie PE for gross motor skill deficits alone). It was my

fault for not making sure everything they told me verbally year before

was in writing. Luckily I had taken him to independent eye doctor summer

before and had a written report diagnosing his tracking and other NVLD

problems. I made sure that was put in his IEP records even though I am

not asking for special education or any special accommodations (except

adaptive PE) at this time. Anyway the good thing is an IEP is not

written in stone. If their treatment isn't working out you can always

demand a new meeting. Dawn

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