Re: IEP ??'S FOR TIM/CASEY/ETC.

[Guest guest]

charge iep.....its normal for you to be emotional and good for you to show

YOU ARE HUMAN.........Every iep is different and as we are in ozzie land we

have diferent ways of dealing with the so called experts.But you do learn to

stand up to them and insist as we did to look at the childs ABILITIES and

NOT their disabilities.

Marie mom to 16yrs.....

>From: JClif222@...

>Reply-To: CHARGEonelist

>To: CHARGEonelist

>Subject: Re: IEP ??'S FOR TIM/CASEY/ETC.

>Date: Mon, 25 Oct 1999 17:41:32 EDT

>

>Hi, this is for Tim or anyone else who wants to answer:

>

>I have a couple of quick questions regarding Austin's IEP. I have been

>wondering about the " Circle of Friends " idea. Could I get an explaination

>of

>how this works, who does what, and what the goal/objectives would look like

>for this. Right now we have " Peer Buddies " in place to let some one-on-one

>work occur but I wonder if I should take this further.

>

>Also, could anyone please give me some proper phrases for answering

>questions

>about regular ed. placement for Austin. What I mean is, we are going to

>start looking at Kindergarten placement and I would like for him to be our

>neighborhood school in regular class with the proper supports. But, what

>if

>they say he can't do anything the other kids his age do? He has limited

>formal communication and needs one-on-one intervention. How do I address

>this without looking like an idiot???

>

>Also, I always get highly emotional and upset during these proceedings.

>Any

>advice on how to keep my cool and not cry?? I just hate knowing that all

>the

>nit-picking and talk is about my BABY!!!! This time of year is really

>stressful.

>

>Thanks in advance for your advice. If you think of any other topics,

>please

>throw them out - I am open to any and all advice!!!!

>

>Jacque

>Austin's mom

>

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

>For information about the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation or to become a member

>please contact marion@....

><< text3.html >>

[Guest guest]

Tim, Ann, and others,

Thank you for your responses regarding the IEP. I will let everyone know how

it works out. I would like to find those books, Tim, that address inclusion.

I think we have MAPS here but it is not widely used. Has anyone used the

information from the conference about the Functional-Contextual Assessments -

Fitzgerald was the presenter? This is the beginning of the process to

look for Kindergarten placement. Two other quick questions regarding

acronyms: In a report from the 307.11, she recommends using the services of

a FBC to help with placement options. Is this a 'Field Based Consultant'? I

could not come up with any other names. She also recommends continuing to

collect data for the 'TH'. I don't know what this means? Transition

Hearing? That has me concerned.

Thanks again,

Jacque

Austin's mom

[Guest guest]

Jacque,

Circle of Friends developed out of a project at McGill University (I

believe). There is training available in many places. It developed as

a support for adults, but has moved its way down the age range. 's

circle started in Kindergarten, and as far as we know, was the first to

be attempted at that age. There is a whole procedure called MAPS which

you go through. Basically, you look at the people who are involved in

the child's life, and what their dreams and nightmares are for the

child. For most of our children, the initial circle is full of service

providers and family. The goals is to change that so that the friendship

circle is full. We began with a circle made up mostly of adults. But

during the kindergarten year, we had his aide and teacher identify

classmates who were attached to him. The next summer we had a party in

a park and invited these kids and their parents. We started first grade

with a circle of classmates, and some kids from church and children of

friends. Each year we lose a few kids and gain a few more. There are

about 15 kids I think in it, although probably 10 who are active. When

they meet they talk about how things are going for , and what they

can do to help. For example they once decided to take turns sitting

with him a lunch. They also plan get togethers, like the Holloween

party coming up. If possible, it is helpful to have a trained

facilitator. However, these people can be hard to come by. is

trained enough that she now trains special education students at the

university to lead the group. That has been working well the past two

years. I'll forward your message to , and perhaps she can send you

reference material.

Regarding the IEP, do not worry about becoming emotional. You are

entitled. If the staff can't deal with it, that's their problem. Don't

make it yours. You are asking for a full inclusion program in his

neighborhood school. You want a one-on-one aide to facilitate his

inclusion. I'm blocking on the word, but what you want is a matching

curriculum for him at his level. If they are working on letters, then

you want Austin doing something with letters as well - maybe tracing

them, or sorting them, or just playing with plastic letters.

could not handle something like that for more than a few minutes, and so

that was all he was asked to do, and then he got some down time. You

want a team to plan this out pretty carefully. The way we did 's

inclusion is now a chapter in a book edited by Zionts, called

" Inclusion strategies for students with learning and behavior problems " ,

published by Pro-Ed.

I hope this helps. Let me know if you need some Kansas big guns. I can

probably still call on them.

Say hi to your mom (my former student)

Tim Hartshorne, father of

JClif222@... wrote:

>

> From: JClif222@...

>

> Hi, this is for Tim or anyone else who wants to answer:

>

> I have a couple of quick questions regarding Austin's IEP. I have been

> wondering about the " Circle of Friends " idea. Could I get an explaination of

> how this works, who does what, and what the goal/objectives would look like

> for this. Right now we have " Peer Buddies " in place to let some one-on-one

> work occur but I wonder if I should take this further.

>

> Also, could anyone please give me some proper phrases for answering questions

> about regular ed. placement for Austin. What I mean is, we are going to

> start looking at Kindergarten placement and I would like for him to be our

> neighborhood school in regular class with the proper supports. But, what if

> they say he can't do anything the other kids his age do? He has limited

> formal communication and needs one-on-one intervention. How do I address

> this without looking like an idiot???

>

> Also, I always get highly emotional and upset during these proceedings. Any

> advice on how to keep my cool and not cry?? I just hate knowing that all the

> nit-picking and talk is about my BABY!!!! This time of year is really

> stressful.

>

> Thanks in advance for your advice. If you think of any other topics, please

> throw them out - I am open to any and all advice!!!!

>

> Jacque

> Austin's mom

>

> > For information about the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation or to become a member

please contact marion@....