Re: All this IEP talk...

[Guest guest]

> Do you sometimes feel as if you are cramming so much information in such

> a short time that your head is in danger of exploding? ;0)

YES!!! :-) I just had to respond to this one because that is exactly how I

feel at the moment.

in Houston

[Guest guest]

Okay, I'll buzz FEAT this morning and see what they have to say. I'm

sure they will have some good leads for me.

Laurie, I don't remember ever hearing the speech therapist ever actually

SAYING that has DIS issues. But she certainly has implied in such

as manner that left it hard not come to that conclusion. She's the one

who gave me The Out of Sync Child to read. It's the first book I'd read

that actually 'fit'. She (therapist) did fight for him to be in APE.

The ape teacher didn't think qualified for it but our speech

therapist pretty much demanded it. She is a wonderful teacher who

believes in what she's doing and does it passionately. I get the

feeling that she runs the show down at the school, but I won't have a

problem going up against her if need be.

Ladies, thanks for all the info!

Have a fabulous morning,

Jeannie

[Guest guest]

Jeannie -

I know the " my head feels like it's going to explode feeling " very

well.

Just to let you know, the best thing we ever did was hire an

Advocate. She sat down with us for 4 hours and we talked all about

our son and what we thought were his strenghts and weaknesses and

what types of things he liked. She helped us figure out what he

needed and then helped us get it from the school district. This was

the best money we ever spent. The school district people, how ever

well meaning they may be, have their hands tied. They cannot suggest

anything that will cost the school district money. They can only

suggest programs and therapies that they offer. These programs may be

great, but they also may not be appropriate for your child. We

learned a valuable lesson. Figure out what was best for our son and

go and get it, don't try to make him fit into what they had to offer.

Unfortunately, we end up having to be the experts in our children and

their needs and there is not enough time for us to be well informed.

That's why hiring an advocate was sooooooo helpful.

Working with the school district we often heard this phrase " You

didn't hear this from me, but what you should do is.... " then we

would actually get some helpful information. They get in trouble for

suggesting " expensive " treatments to families. But it doesn't mean

you can't get them. An advocate will help you figure out the proper

way to ask for them.

Anyway - good luck. Keep fighting.

Moira

[Guest guest]

Jeannie, I have a friend in Illinois that successfully got the school to

provide 20 hours of ABA, per week. I don't know how, because I live in

Wisconsin and the state pays for it here, so I never had the need. However,

I e-mailed her for the specifics, and I would be happy to e-mail you and the

group on how she did.

Also, my son has been doing Greenspan's floortime for almost two years. It

has helped tremendously. He has always been high functioning, so Lovaas

type ABA was never something I truly considered. Although, we did use a

little of it, here and there.

a - Madison WI

[Guest guest]

I think he should have more services than what he's

> getting but the therapist says no to everything I suggest. For

> instance, ABA. I asked her about that (I don't even really know

what it

> is myself) and her reply was that it wouldn't fit with s

needs.

> She thinks he's too high functioning (she doesn't believe he is

> autistic, she thinks he has SID/DIS)to be in an ABA class, he would

be

> bored and wouldn't fit in.

>

> Where can I find info on how to get more services? I don't even

know

> what is available for my son> Do you sometimes feel as if you are

cramming so much information in such

> a short time that your head is in danger of exploding? ;0)

>

Jeannie,

I have been out of town for most of the week, so I'm just now getting

back online, but I couldn't pass up replying to your note about ABA.

My son Brett, who turned 3 in Feb, has been doing ABA since

September. We have a one-on-one home-based program. We found an

experienced coordinator and hired and trained our 5 tutors with her

help. We started with 18 hours a week, then 26, now we're at 38.

THIS HAS BEEN WITHOUT A DOUBT THE MOST EFFECTIVE THING WE HAVE DONE!!

The diet, supplements, etc. have made Brett more receptive to

learning, but he would not have accomplished nearly as much without

his ABA program. When we started, he didn't understand the

labels " Mommy " or " Daddy " - now he says the words unprompted. He

didn't know the difference between a " book " and a " car " - now he has

a receptive vocabulary that is nearly age appropriate. He didn't

recognize his siblings - now he not only identifies them by name, but

seeks them out to play.

ABA is simply intensive, one-on-one learning, with extensive record

keeping on what works, what doesn't, and what the current " target "

is. We work with Brett on everything from language skills, to play

skills, to dressing himself, to fine & gross motor skills. He has

learned to count to 10, identify the alphabet (capital & small

letters), and hundreds of other small skills that make him

more " normal " . I firmly believe that by the time he reaches

kindergarten, he will be caught up academically and verbally (and

with any luck, socially, too!) Please get the book " Let Me Hear Your

Voice " by Maurice. She explains from a mom's viewpoint how

she educated her TWO autistic kids using ABA, and they are both

normally functioning now.

ABA will work with any areas where your son is having delays. We're

putting goals into our IEP that the school system will not be able to

meet, such as potty training and using eating utensils properly, so

that some ABA will have to be written into his program (or so we

hope, anyway).

Good luck!

Sue

[Guest guest]

Sue,

I'm glad you took the time to reply, you've given me some things to

concider. Like, what needs that his SLP isn't supplying. I think

she's doing a good job, but is just not getting the hours he

needs.

I spoke with a Dr. at a local ABA school and have an appointment to

visit the school after spring break is over. She (the Dr.) informed me

that they will evaluate and then sit in on the IEP! WWHOOO HOOO!

She also has a list of Advocates should I decide we need one. I am

very encouraged.

Jeannie

[Guest guest]

>

> I spoke with a Dr. at a local ABA school and have an appointment to

> visit the school after spring break is over

Wow! Where do you live that there are ABA schools?!? Here in

Georgia, everyone (as far as I know) has to " roll their own " . It's

not that hard if you have a good coordinator, but it sure isn't as

easy as dropping your kid off at school!

Sue

[Guest guest]

Where in Georgia? I'm in Savannah and trying to find anyone in the

area who does ABA. Heck, even someone local who's trying the diet

would be cool to talk to.

--Sharlene

> Wow! Where do you live that there are ABA schools?!? Here in

> Georgia, everyone (as far as I know) has to " roll their own " . It's

> not that hard if you have a good coordinator, but it sure isn't as

> easy as dropping your kid off at school!

> Sue

[Guest guest]

> > I think he should have more services than what he's

> > > getting but the therapist says no to everything I suggest. For

> > > instance, ABA. I asked her about that (I don't even really know

> > what it

> > > is myself) and her reply was that it wouldn't fit with s

> > needs.

> > > She thinks he's too high functioning (she doesn't believe he is

> > > autistic, she thinks he has SID/DIS)to be in an ABA class, he would

> > be

> > > bored and wouldn't fit in.

In our district only the high functioning kids get the IBI training which is

similar to ABA.

That is so they can give them IBI for a year and mainstream them.

Then tell everyone what a good program that they have. Evan gets some ABA

but not nearly what he needs.\

Betty

[Guest guest]

> Where in Georgia? I'm in Savannah and trying to find anyone in the

> area who does ABA. Heck, even someone local who's trying the diet

> would be cool to talk to.

--Sharlene,

I live outside of Atlanta. Our ABA coordinator, who is FANTASTIC, is

named Winkles. Send her an email at:

michellewinkles@... . She may have some contacts for you in

the Savannah area. Even if not, she may be willing to travel enough

to get you set up. She met with us and Brett once, helped us write a

newspaper ad, and then let us hire who we liked (based on parameters

that she gave us). Then she held a weekend-long workshop to train

our therapists and get us started with the right programs. She is

always available for consultation via phone or email, and she meets

with our " team " about every 8-10 weeks to tweak our programs.

Send her a note- I know she'd be happy to do whatever she can!

Sue

[Guest guest]

Betty,

Are you saying that your district pays more attention to the higher

functioning children, giving them intensive IBI in order to mainstream

them and get a big pat on the back (and probably more money for their

success), while the children who qualify for ABA are getting put in a

corner because the district doesn't believe that the recovery of these

children won't be as dramatic??

Afer what I've learned in the past week this sort of thing wouldn't

surprise me. It infuriates me, but I'm feeling no surprise.

This ABC school that I've been in contact with seems to be separate from

the school districts. So far I'm under the impression that they will be

of great help.

My school district is up in arms now. Threatening me with a 'formal'

IEP. A week ago that would have scared the crud out of me, but now I'm

just angry enough to rip a big gaping hole in anyone who tells me that

isn't 'Autisic enough' to get more hours. Rediculous.

Jeannie

[Guest guest]

>>>Its the opposite here. They reserve ABA for the really autistic kids and

the higher functioning are expected go into their pre-school program.

Weird, huh? H>>>>

,

That's what we are facing here. What state are you in? I wonder if it

varies from state to state or district to district.

Jeannie

[Guest guest]

Jeannie, when our district was trying to decide what they were going about

autism a few years ago, every thing pointed to behavior training, Lovass

type. I was one of two or three parents who attended some of the meetings.

All the district superintendents were amazed at how much it costs and said

that was their complete budget for education. It was decided that they

would try the special Intensive Behavior Intervention class for children

under 4 years old to get them ready to be mainstream. They were begging one

family to put their child in and two of us with LFA children were already

trying to get our children in the very small class. The other child was

allowed in for 2-3 hours daily and Evan got 1 hour in his own class with his

TEACCH teacher trying to do IBI with him without any training. The blind

leading the blind. Two years later Evan has a trained ABA aide who was

trained by ABC Consultants.

Soon it will be time for them to re-evaluate their autism program and I do

not know where they will be going from there. I have been trying to get

them to hire Evan's aide full time instead of part time since she wants a

full time job. I am afraid that we will lose her if they do not. And the

district will not. They save money by making all aides part time employees

no matter what their training.

I am not sure how big this class is now because I have went my own way with

our school and worry about what Evan is getting there and not what is

happening at the school he did not qualify for.

Betty

----- Original Message -----

....

>

>

> Betty,

> Are you saying that your district pays more attention to the higher

> functioning children, giving them intensive IBI in order to mainstream

> them and get a big pat on the back (and probably more money for their

> success), while the children who qualify for ABA are getting put in a

> corner because the district doesn't believe that the recovery of these

> children won't be as dramatic??

> Afer what I've learned in the past week this sort of thing wouldn't

> surprise me. It infuriates me, but I'm feeling no surprise.

> This ABC school that I've been in contact with seems to be separate from

> the school districts. So far I'm under the impression that they will be

> of great help.

> My school district is up in arms now. Threatening me with a 'formal'

> IEP. A week ago that would have scared the crud out of me, but now I'm

> just angry enough to rip a big gaping hole in anyone who tells me that

> isn't 'Autisic enough' to get more hours. Rediculous.

>

> Jeannie