XPOST: Need help preparing for 1st meeting with school district

[Guest guest]

Now that my child is 3 years old, I am nervously entering the world of

school-district-provided services. My first meeting is next week, it is the

" pre-evaluation " meeting at which we are to agree on the testing needed to

properly assess my daughter. What tests should I request and which should I

insist upon?

She has been informally diagnosed with verbal dyspraxia by the speech therapist

that she saw for 6 months at a children's hospital. (that service is no longer

available to her.) She has some recognizable words but does not close the words

or do many 2-syllable words.

She does not have a state IEP because she was already 2 when we adopted her and

we did not understand the system or recognize the need for a state evaluation

until it was too late.

Although I have no reason to expect acrimonious relations with the school

district, and in fact our school district is very good, I also know that I am my

daughter's only voice, and it is up to me to insist that she get the support she

needs, beginning with this testing.

Obviously she needs speech and hearing evaluations done, what about

neurological? (Since dyspraxia is considered to be neurologically-based). And

what even IS a neurological assessment/test? Or would it be better to not go

down the " neurological " path in order to avoid giving her a label which might

cause her difficulty (social, educational) in future years?

What, if any, other type of evaluations should she be getting?

Thanks for any advice. I just want to make sure that I am at least starting out

right by asking for everything that will help her.

F.

[Guest guest]

I'm interested in learning about this as well. My EI people keep reminding me

about it

coming up and it immediately induces anxiety!

I still have qualms about putting into a " special needs preschool " ,

particularly since I

have the option of keeping him at home with me for now. But if it really is

better for him...

[Guest guest]

I had a hearing test and a neurological test done privately that my

insurance covered. My son just turned 3, and the school did a test

called the Brigance, to help determine if he has an educational

disability. Adam did well on the receptive language piece, but

struggled with the expressive language piece since he also has verbal

apraxia. I also went to a local Children's Hospital where they did

others speech/language tests. The school has their own standardized

tests, I think if you want more or some outside evaluations, then you

should look into that yourself.

The school offered us 4 days in the special needs preschool and

speedch therapy. We do not think the school is an appropriate

setting for Adam, as he currently attends a private preschool, where

we are making sure they implement his speech therapy goals. They

have been great at doing this, but it requires that I keep them

informed of exactly what sounds/phrases etc. Adam is working on in ST

so they can implement it in the classroom. So, now we are in dispute

with the district about appropriate placement...we have another

meeting to discuss this, since I would not sign the IEP with the

placement they were offering, and I am hoping to have them pay for

the private preschool, since this is a more appropriate placement for

Adam.

So, at this point, the school will offer you their standard tests,

and if you want others, I would schedule them privately. Then you

will meet to develop the IEP, and then discuss where that IEP should

be implemented. Adam only goes to private preschool 2 days a week,

because I also feel that he is learning alot being home with me,

where he can practice his speech all day long. I do think having

your child involved in some type of group setting is helpful, because

it gives them a chance to practice their speech and interact with

peers..socially it has been great for Adam. He has learned social

skills, as well as become more confident with his speech around his

peers.

Hope this helps!

Holly

>

> Now that my child is 3 years old, I am nervously entering the world

of school-district-provided services. My first meeting is next week,

it is the " pre-evaluation " meeting at which we are to agree on the

testing needed to properly assess my daughter. What tests should I

request and which should I insist upon?

>

> She has been informally diagnosed with verbal dyspraxia by the

speech therapist that she saw for 6 months at a children's hospital.

(that service is no longer available to her.) She has some

recognizable words but does not close the words or do many 2-syllable

words.

>

> She does not have a state IEP because she was already 2 when we

adopted her and we did not understand the system or recognize the

need for a state evaluation until it was too late.

>

> Although I have no reason to expect acrimonious relations with the

school district, and in fact our school district is very good, I also

know that I am my daughter's only voice, and it is up to me to insist

that she get the support she needs, beginning with this testing.

>

> Obviously she needs speech and hearing evaluations done, what about

neurological? (Since dyspraxia is considered to be neurologically-

based). And what even IS a neurological assessment/test? Or would

it be better to not go down the " neurological " path in order to avoid

giving her a label which might cause her difficulty (social,

educational) in future years?

> What, if any, other type of evaluations should she be getting?

>

> Thanks for any advice. I just want to make sure that I am at least

starting out right by asking for everything that will help her.

>

> F.

>

>

[Guest guest]

, good luck to you. take someone with you (a friend, parent,

advocate, etc - even if your spouse goes with you take a nuetral

party!) If you have speech concerns (which you obviously do), a

communication test (both receptive and expressive language should be

tested) should be done, the PLS is a common one, but there are many

out there. If apraxia concerns are present then insist on a

phonology test too. They should also do a complete evaluation on

your child (at prek age a play based assessment is best). If you

have any fine or gross motor concerns bring them up as well at this

meeting so they can be properly assessed. This assessment will give

them a decent idea about your child, but remember it's only one day

in your child's life, it could be a bad day or a great day (hope for

a bad day for speech concerns!) It's not perfect, but rather just

gives them a pretty good idea of where your chid is functioning at

and/or around (does that make sense?) Listen to what they have to

offer. Ask at your pre-eval mtg what service options would be. you

don't have to go with them, but it's good to know your options before

hand so you can do your research. Also, if/when it comes to attend

their prek, visit it first, meet the staff before making any

decisons. Be firm, be clear on what therapy you want, but also

prepare yourself for the minimum required service. You said your

district is pretty good, so that may make a difference, but you never

know...If you've had neurological testing done or any other outside

testing done bring it with you to share. Oh, and document

everything!

Bonnie (mom to Garret, 3 (apraxic), andra, 5, Sydney,7 and a prek

special ed teacher)