New IEP Worries

[Guest guest]

Hi guys-

I have not been myself these past 2 weeks..... I am so darned worried

about my little guy starting school next week after he turns 3....it is hard to

focus on anything.

What do you all think of this?

We had our first IEP Meeting last month for our almost 3 year old little

guy who has a Dx of Moderate to Severe Apraxia. ....I was so excited, and

wrote to you all that I did manage to get them to agree to 1:1 pullout ST even

though I had been previously told that this would not happen in my State-

PA. They said that they would consider starting him off with 2 thirty

minute pull out sessions per week..... for 8 weeks..... and then we would

have to meet again to discuss progress, and possibly reduce the amt. of 1:1.

Our IEP meeting lasted 4 hours..... but nothing was signed..... because

they had to " think about " the proposed amt. of ST and how they were going

to write it up. They said that they would get back to me. THEN the snow

hit..... their Offices were closed for a few days.

I received a call to tell me that they had decided to start him off with 15

minutes less per week of 1:1 than they had initially said that they would

consider. I KNOW- it is only 15 minutes less..... but this 15 minutes, to

me, is a big deal..... because he should be having much more! (Why does

common sense have to be such a battle)? I was told that they decided to write

it this way because of the fact that they accepted an outside Speech

Report on my Son, and did not conduct their own evaluations in regard to

Speech.

I told them to go ahead and evaluate him then..... but was told that " they

do not like to subject kids to too many evals because they will learn the

test procedure " . In essence- this reply made no sense to me. How can they

use the fact that they never evaluated him as an excuse when they REFUSE to

evaluate him?

The second thing that bothered me is that the IEP clearly stated that

another Meeting will be held 8 weeks after my Son starts PK to discuss

progress..... but the NOREP stated that the amount of ST will drop further in 8

weeks..... to two 15 minute pullout sessions per week, as described above.

My point was this...... " Why are we having a meeting to discuss progress,

when the decision to reduce the amt. of 1:1 ST has already been made?

I was assured that they will increase the amt. of 1:1 in 8 weeks if they

feel that it is necessary. I also would be able to go to Mediation or Due

Process in 8 weeks if I do not agree. SO- I signed the IEP.

I DID tell them that I feel very strongly that they should TEST HIM.....

and that I feel that they can't use the fact that they have not tested him as

a reason for not providing more 1:1..... especially since I countered this

comment by stating " well test him then " . I plan on sending them a letter

to address this after he starts... Can you all think of anything else that

I should do? ( I DO have another OUTSIDE " Progress Re-Evaluation "

scheduled prior to when this Meeting will occur)- this will help!

My Second worry is related to the fact that my Son's " pullout 1:1 " will in

essence, be in a hallway...... there is a small recessed area in this

hallway.... and that is where it will be done. There are not any classrooms

near this area..... BUT- it still is a hallway. My Son has a very short

attention span..... He has always sat in a " High chair type seat " during his

private and EI ST..... (to keep him from wandering). They can't do this at

the School...... So most likely, he will wander away, and not focus. I am

worried that they will tell me that " the pull out is not working " due to

this reason. Any suggestions on how to prepare for this? Also- as described

above, there will be another meeting 8 weeks after my Son starts PK....

any suggestions about this would be appreciated as well.

Thanks so much