school modifications and advocacy for CMT kids

[Guest guest]

Hi Sherry,

I am not sure what type of CMT at this point I just assume CMT 1A based on an

EMG that I had years ago.

The modifications can be adjusted every year at the annual meeting. CMT is under

the code OHI (Other health impaired). All the CMT modifications fell under the

504 plan, which basically means they are done in the classroom setting not in a

special education setting. Over the years I have added or dropped modifications

as they were needed.

In elementary school I made sure my CMT kids were not reprimanded for not being

able to keep up with the class line. (This modification changed in to a 5 min

tardy pass to and from class in high school.)

first grade teacher was very sweet and put the kids in line according to

their first name. Adam was first in line all year. She allowed him to set the

pace for the class line.

I also had a front of the line lunch pass so my CMT kids didn't have to stand in

line for lunch. (Now in high school my kids bring a lunch to avoid lunch crowds

and ridicule from other students.) In elementary school a few times this pass

was an issue, not with the school kids but with the lunch staff.

We always got the problems worked out after a few days of a new school year.

Another modification is the no hand writing penalty and limited busy work to

avoid hand fatigue. Some years the teacher would want the kids to write out 20

sentences just to add a punctuation at the end. If this was the case they were

allowed to just write the end punctuation and avoid hand fatigue. Later in

middle school I added that they were able to use a keyboard instead of writing.

The weather is an issue we have extreme cold and heat here where we live and

not much shelter. I have a modification that gives them access to the nurses

station or another classroom if they need to get out of the weather.

Kindergarten was fun and pretty CMT stress free. You will need a health care

plan. When you register for K ask the school nurse to do a health care plan

before school starts so the teachers have CMT information asap. You may want to

print out some information about CMt to give her. Next is ask her about getting

a 504 plan meeting together. Any school meeting it can get very emotional. After

all this is your child everyone is talking about.

When you need to pull it together emotionally or you think you will loose it the

most important thing I can tell you is to leave Mommy at the door step.

You have to become the advocate! As an advocate you have to listen, learn,

modify, help, teach, fix and face it all. Turning in to the advocate has helped

me for years. I separate my Mommy feelings very easily and become a very

knowledgeable advocate.

Adam (now 16) and I just had a big tri-annual IEP meeting (he also has dyslexia

so he has an IEP plan.) After the meeting he said

" Mom you are the only person that can get things done for me " . That was a reward

for the Mom and me and the advocate that I have become..

Ask me anything, I hoped this helped.