Re: All this IEP talk(ADVOCATE)...

[Guest guest]

Moira,

This ADVOCATE sounds like just what WE are looking for. How did you

find one? Our son is turning 3 soon and all we keep hearing about

from our district is their wonderful preschool handicapped program.

It doesn't seem like the right approach to us, but we don't really

know how to determine what is right and how to get it from the

district.

Thanks,

Sue in NJ

> 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]

How we found our Advocate -

We were in what was basically group therapy/parent support group

sponsored by the Regional Center - this is a California thing, that I

know other states don't have - but, it was by talking to these other

parents in our support group that we found our advocate.

So... join any type of support group for autism that you can find in

your area and pump all the parents for info on good advocates, what

they got from the school district and how they got it.

There was also a support group at a college near by us and right

after we hired our advocate she was the guest speaker to this support

group - so it was cool to see her in action and get confirmation that

she was good and knew her stuff.

SO.... network with other families in your area - that is the best

possible resource for this type of info.

Moira