preschool IEP

[Guest guest]

Here we go again....

 

A few weeks ago, I requested an IEP meeting to request more speech services for

my son, , during his week at preschool. 

 

Right now, according to his IEP wording - he gets " 30 minutes of group therapy

per month " (which equals less than 10 minutes per week).  When I approached his

teacher about that - she told me that 30 minutes per month is the minimum help

he gets.  She says he is actually getting 30 minutes per week, but that the

wording in the IEP states 30 per month for legal reasons.  OK, does that sound

shady to anyone else?  I think it's borderline fraudulent.  Do any other parents

have IEP's that have wording like that?  I am confused about the whole " minimum "

thing but if that's standard for IEP's then I am willing to accept it, I just

don't want to get hosed.

 

Here is my other question - after calling an IEP meeting (which is scheduled for

next week) - 's SLP asked me to list some goals for him.  I sent her a few

things like working on yes/no answers, eliminating his echoing habit, working on

C's and P's so he can learn to say his name correctly.  I also mentioned that I

would like him to have a 1:1 session with her once a week - in addition to his

group work.  And I passed along the recommendations of his Developmental

Pediatrician - who says needs 1:1 therapy several times a week.

 

Then today - the preschool director dropped a huge bomb on me.  She sent me an

email saying that if I wanted to have 1:1 therapy then I would have to

take him out of the preschool altogether and begin itinerant services! 

Seriously - change his entire routine over one half hour of speech a week?!?!? 

 

Again, has anyone else had this happen?  I thought kids could get 1:1 therapy

while attending public preschool?  I hate to remove from this school that

he has grown to love.  Should I just back off or call this woman's bluff? 

 

Most of the time I think she is just bullying the crap out of a mom who is just

trying to do right by her child.   This is the same woman who called my home a

few weeks ago (when I first told her about the Developmental Pediatrician's

recommendations) and said " I don't tell the doctor how to treat patients, so I

don't expect her to tell me how to run my school and treat students. "   YIKES. 

She is one scary lady.  I am dreading our next confrontation.

 

Here is the Preschool Director's email from today....

 

 

Hi Gretchen,

Thanks for your response. It looks like you feel that may benefit more

from Itinerant services verses Center-based services from your last e-mail.

...

Itinerant services would be once a week for 30 minutes one on one with a speech

pathologist in his home elementary building. (which is Ridgewood Elem)

Unfortunately, he would no longer be in our classroom based setting, but this

sounds like this may better meet his needs according to you and your doctors

request .

Most of our students with speech only needs(as does) do follow the

itinerant model, but the team here felt that he might benefit more from our

on-going language rich environment in the classroom. Sounds like your experts

may feel differently.

Many of our parents with children in itinerant speech only services have their

children attend a private preschool so they can have all typical preschoolers

with good communication/language skills to model during their instruction. This

of course is parental choice and is not provided by the district.

We can certainly talk about which environment(LRE) is most appropriate for

at the IEP meeting on the 9th. I will also have Deb Osbun attend the IEP

meeting (she is my itinerant teacher) so she can explain fully about Itinerant

services. We can also share our list of private preschools if you want to move

him to an Itinerant model.

See you on the 9th and have a great rest of your week.

Sharon