T

[Guest guest]

This might be helpful tomorrow? I haven't looked at it yet.

>A brochure on PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support )and the

> pdf file, Building Inclusive School Cultures Using School-wide PBS:

> Designing

> Effective Individual Support Systems for Students with Significant

> Disabilities can be downloaded at _http://www.pbis.org/main.htm_

> (http://www.pbis.org/main.htm) (http://www.pbis.org/)

> Also see:

> In rtf format: Hannah, a ten year old with Down syndrome

> _http://www.pbis.org/tertiaryPrevention.htm_

> (http://www.pbis.org/tertiaryPrevention.htm)

>

> wrote:

>

> Hello. I just joined this listserv. We live in Crestwood Kentucky and

> my

> son Benji, 5 has Down syndrome and just started Kindergarten.

>

> I just wanted to say if I didn't believe in inclusion before, I sure do

> now! Benji is doing AWESOME in kindergarten and has made huge leaps in

> just 2.5 weeks of school. He went from talking mostly in 3 word

> sentences to 5 word sentences and now initiates conversation. He has

> been listening better and acting more mature. I could go on and on. The

> reg. ed. teacher, special ed. teacher and aide have been wonderful.

> They have adapted his curriculum to meet his needs and have been very

> consistent with his behavior plan. We have been in constant

> communication with them these past 2 weeks.

>

> We had a meeting last week to discuss his progress and see if we needed

> to tweak anything in his IEP (since it was so rushed right before

> school started). Well, this informal get together turned into an ARC

> meeting with the district spec. ed. director and principal present.

> They turned it into a 2 hour meeting about how low his cognitive skills

> are and how one on one pull out 90 min. a day was what was best for

> him! We of course said no way. He has already proven to be successful

> in the reg. classroom and we weren't about to change that. The special

> ed. director went on to say that we weren't doing what was best for him

> and had the gall to say this placement decision was potentially harmful

> for Benji and put that in the conference notes. The principal is new

> this year and doesn't have a clue about inclusion. He actually asked

> us if other schools were doing this. What?!

>

> We agreed to meet again in November to once again review progress. We

> are happy with his progress, his teachers are happy, so why does the

> administration insist on getting involved? Anyway, next meeting we are

> planning to begin the meeting saying that we feel Benji is in the best

> placement, the least restrictive environment, we know the law, end of

> discussion. Is that fair? I feel we've wasted so much time arguing

> about placement that we haven't been able to talk about Benji's goals,

> what's working, what's not, etc. Wish us luck. We really don't want

> to have to go to due process but will do what's necessary.

>

>

> (in Kentucky)

> -----------------------------

> ...make sure you document in the minutes all of his accomplishments with

> data--ask the teacher to write a paragraph or video observing his behavior

> for

> 20 minutes at different times of the day--circle, recess, learning

> centers,

> table work etc..--have these observations done about every two to 6 weeks.

> All

> therapist that occurs in class may also write the observation to--they can

> rotate.

>

> Take articles on inclusion-empirical research from downs Ed website

> --www.downsed.org --search inclusion and have in minutes at the next

> meeting that the

> information was received by the district.

>

> there is some new info on the UDL Framework --the information is on the

> CAST

> website--NDSS provides info on a free toolkit to introduce schools to UDL

> --they may find it very helpful--the principal is the one to give it to

>

> If behavior is a concern at any time--write me and ask for the PBIS info

> on

> developing inclusive program with behavioral supports

>

> I can tell you how proud you must be--he deserves a big fat reward at the

> end of each week-the teacher deserves lots of rewards too--if he has a

> home

> journal this is good documentation too--keep all of the little notes.

>

> once you do it--the other parents-even those you don't know will be right

> behind you with their kids with special needs.

>

> Congratulations

>

> Robin

> ----------------------

>> Robin,

>> I would love to see the PBIS information on developing an inclusive

>> program with behavior supports. My son is in kindergarten in a secluded

>> special ed classroom. I totally disagree with the school. I want my

>> son

>> included in the regular classroom, but they are telling me he can't be

>> in

>> the regular class because of behavior issues. I need a lot of help!

>> Please email me with any information.

>> nicolefoss@...

>> Thanks,

>> (mom to Simon - 5)

> ---------------------

> I'd love to share with you all images and accounts of my daughters first

> day

> of school....while it is the First Grade, it is her first true, outside

> of

> the home, school experience......and the pictures and conversation of her

> day say it all!!!!

>

> _http://www.emmasage.blogspot.com_ (http://www.emmasage.blogspot.com/)

>

> On an interesting note, she has actually gone off to school without an

> IEP

> [not on purpose, just the events of the summer has pushed back the

> process]

> and she is doing wonderfully. She is in a co-teaching classroom, one

> para-professional and 18 students, and a school that was eager and ready

> to

> welcome her with open arms [that I believe is the biggest key]

>

> I hope you enjoy looking at our 'Day of Firsts'

>

> Peace, Tara Marie & Emma Sage - 7 Ds and her siblings

>

> I should note, that this is a school district that has made dramatic

> changes

> in a short period of time....

>

> There were major struggles by a few parents ahead of us [one child is the

> beautiful girl you see in my photographs] and had to sue our school

> district, which also placed the district on probation with the State of

> New

> Jersey.

>

> One mother [who is amazing and a huge reason that my daughter is all

> smiles]

> is an attorney with a daughter with T21 who is now in the 6th grade...and

> the reason our school has figured out inclusion....she also has been on

> our

> Board of Education for the last 4 years and President for a term.

>

> The reason I homeschool'd my daughter up until this point, was because

> the

> kinks were still in place when she was ready to enter into

> kindergarten......thankfully, they have been removed [if I had started

> Emma

> Sage at the traditional age, she should be in 2nd grade right now] but we

> opted to start her in First grade, as she is tiny and this gave her a

> full

> year of First grade curriculum at home and since the whole routine and

> long

> day will be new, I figured that this would be a good year for her to

> repeat.

>

> My heart has been breaking for and Brady, because what they are

> facing should not be happening in this day and age [but I know it was not

> too long before this point that our school district was at the same place

> her school currently is]....but I do believe change can happen [and it is

> can be a difficult struggle] and I'm so thankful to those parents that

> came

> before us.

> Peace, Tara Marie & Emma Sage - 7 Ds and her siblings

>

>

> ------------------------

> Hello

> Our first week went amazingly well. Our elementary school has

> seemingly embraced my Evan.

> I had done his IEP in June for kindergarten and informed them that we

> would just plan to have another meeting two weeks into the school

> year to reevaluate how it is going. They usually have 2 LEA members

> at all of our meetings and his revision is involving the gym teacher,

> the music teacher and the nurse as well as all the key players...and

> I didn't have to ask. He has a 1:1 aide and had a behavior

> specialist to do a plan to better implement class routines for Evan.

>

> His kinderkamp (a kindergarten readiness program for anyone needing a

> little help) was moved to the classroom Evan was going to be in to

> better assist him in the transition. They have done so well in

> making Evan welcome in the general education curriculum.

> I have read so many wonderful postings over the years and followed

> the examples of the processes that would best work for us.

>

> The communication chart was a blessing. I described what Evan was

> doing/saying/signing and then matched in up with what he wanted or

> was trying to communicate and put it in chart form. I developed a

> word inventory, a sign inventory, and object identification inventory

> and a positive reinforcer inventory. I kept it in a binder as an

> Evan resource book. I worked on it a little bit here and there all

> summer and then just printed it out before school.

>

> I had a snack session with his teachers and aide so they could see

> the safest way to feed/offer Evan food because that is an issue for

> us. Even the principal came and ate fig newtons.

>

> They have added sign language into the curriculum on my request to

> make Evan signing seem less foreign and since these kids will be his

> classmates until graduation, facilitate better communication with

> Evan until he articulates. All the kids seem to love the part where

> they are " learning another language " .

>

> Where as my heart and prayers go out to those of you struggling...I

> am acknowledging my blessing.

> R

> Bloomsburg PA

>

> -----------------

>

> If anyone would be willing to share their successful school districts or

> know of one, please post. My heart hurts when i think of how our schools

> don't do anything like what i've read in postings here..for what our

> kindergarteners can do!

>

> My child has never been allowed (by schools) anything that was listed in

> 's post, including our child's need for sign language and

> swallowing problems; a music teacher and gym teacher and nurse are no

> where

> to be found, much less a 1:1 aide for a child with Down syndrome so that

> the

> child can be successful in a typical kindergarten class.

>

> If you can offer any other thoughts or clout, please post! I'm providing

> info. to the Superintendent of Education. (Hawaii)

>

> ------------------------

>

>

>

>

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>