Guest guest Posted February 7, 2008 Report Share Posted February 7, 2008 WOW…Thanks Donna…It makes a lot more sense now and I can what needs to happen! Thanks! From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Donna Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2008 7:53 PM To: Subject: Re: [sPAM] ( ) Help...OT report , According to the most recent reauthorization of IDEA, IEPs no longer have to have objectives or benchmarks unless the student is to be evaluated by alternative assessment rather than the state's approved standardized testing. This usually only applies to those with severe/profound cognitive disabilities, multiple disabilities, and/or autism. As for the " Mastered " - that is possible since the goal states that she is to " increase " - that could mean that she does something one more time than she did when the IEP was written. One of the problems with the goal is that they are not measurable and there are no criteria. Another problem is that all of the things are lumped together. I am a special ed teacher and a parent. Here is my suggestion for how the goals should be written: 1. a will increase tolerance to tactile textures by 80% over baseline by the end of the IEP year. 2. a will increase hand strength/fine motor coordination by completing age-appropriate classroom activities with 80% accuracy by the end of the IEP year. 3. a will increase independence with self help skills by showing an 80% increase over baseline in dressing, toileting, and feeding skills by the end of the IEP year. The problem is that the OT has written goals in the way that a medical clinic would write them and not in an educational manner. Often OTs and PTs in the school system are contracted from clinics or hospitals and they receive little or no training in how to write educational goals. As the special education teacher I am considered the IEP manager and all of the support personnel, including OT, PT, Speech Therapist, and APE teachers are to give their goals and/or objectives to me or in our case input them into the computer IEP system. It is then my responsibility to make sure that all of the goals and/or objectives are measurable and have critieria. If you want to know how the OT can say that the goal has been mastered, then ask to see the baseline data and then the data at the time that the goal was considered mastered. If it is not there, then there is no proof. I hope that this helps. Donna [sPAM] ( ) Help...OT report Okay…we got my 4 yo a’s OT progress report from pre-school Monday…now I am writing a letter to ask the OT for a meeting. Her only goal that she is “grading” on is…. a will increase tolerance to tactile textures, increase hand strength/fine motor coordination, and increase independence with self help skills. Just a bit vague….Anyway…no bench marks or anything else on the paper. Then on….. 10/15 = Progressing 11/29 = Progressing 1/24 = Progressing-Mastered How can she have mastered anything at 4 yo? I don’t think this OT has a clue….I just got her IEP out and am starting the letter…any advice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 7, 2008 Report Share Posted February 7, 2008 No data….Nothing….This should be some meeting! From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of ppanda65@... Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2008 9:43 PM To: Subject: Re: ( ) Help...OT report What kind of data did she present to prove that progress toward that goal has been mastered? Pam Who's never won? Biggest Grammy Award surprises of all time on AOL Music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 8, 2008 Report Share Posted February 8, 2008 The goal sounds more like 3 goals mashed together. You have a right to request having these goals rewritten or anytime you are at an IEP and are handed goals that do not make sense or are not measurable, feel free to ask to have them rewritten or to suggest adding something to them to make them measurable/understandable. The first step in getting accountability is making sure the goals make sense and are measurable. Write and request to see all the data. In my experience, there is seldom any data to be had. Sometimes they rush off and make it up real fast. Sometimes they don't bother and act as if you are the one with the problem. <g> Request this information in writing and see what you get. You can challenge her marking these things as "mastered." Go through what you feel would be signs she has mastered these skills and see if she can do them for you at home. You might be surprised to see that she can do some things or you might confirm that she can't do them. Also remember if her report/eval is not believable, you have a right to request an Independent educational evalution at school expense. I know that usually helps when you feel your child cannot do these things and they think it's mastered. RoxannaAutism Happens ( ) Help...OT report Okay…we got my 4 yo a’s OT progress report from pre-school Monday…now I am writing a letter to ask the OT for a meeting. Her only goal that she is “grading” on is…. a will increase tolerance to tactile textures, increase hand strength/fine motor coordination, and increase independence with self help skills. Just a bit vague….Anyway…no bench marks or anything else on the paper. Then on….. 10/15 = Progressing 11/29 = Progressing 1/24 = Progressing-Mastered How can she have mastered anything at 4 yo? I don’t think this OT has a clue….I just got her IEP out and am starting the letter…any advice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 8, 2008 Report Share Posted February 8, 2008 Thanks for the insight. Needless to say she has come down with a stomach bug and the letter has not been written yet. I do know they have been “working on” things that are not a problem for her….. I will request the data and a meting. From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Roxanna Sent: Friday, February 08, 2008 9:10 AM Subject: Re: ( ) Help...OT report The goal sounds more like 3 goals mashed together. You have a right to request having these goals rewritten or anytime you are at an IEP and are handed goals that do not make sense or are not measurable, feel free to ask to have them rewritten or to suggest adding something to them to make them measurable/understandable. The first step in getting accountability is making sure the goals make sense and are measurable. Write and request to see all the data. In my experience, there is seldom any data to be had. Sometimes they rush off and make it up real fast. Sometimes they don't bother and act as if you are the one with the problem. <g> Request this information in writing and see what you get. You can challenge her marking these things as " mastered. " Go through what you feel would be signs she has mastered these skills and see if she can do them for you at home. You might be surprised to see that she can do some things or you might confirm that she can't do them. Also remember if her report/eval is not believable, you have a right to request an Independent educational evalution at school expense. I know that usually helps when you feel your child cannot do these things and they think it's mastered. Roxanna Autism Happens ( ) Help...OT report Okay…we got my 4 yo a’s OT progress report from pre-school Monday…now I am writing a letter to ask the OT for a meeting. Her only goal that she is “grading” on is…. a will increase tolerance to tactile textures, increase hand strength/fine motor coordination, and increase independence with self help skills. Just a bit vague….Anyway…no bench marks or anything else on the paper. Then on….. 10/15 = Progressing 11/29 = Progressing 1/24 = Progressing-Mastered How can she have mastered anything at 4 yo? I don’t think this OT has a clue….I just got her IEP out and am starting the letter…any advice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 8, 2008 Report Share Posted February 8, 2008 Okay…good points J Glad the weekend is here and I have some time to compile this letter! From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Roxanna Sent: Friday, February 08, 2008 9:13 AM Subject: Re: ( ) Help...OT report Remember to check with your state guidelines. Many states have not re-written their regulations and so benchmarks are still required until they do change the wording. Also, you might check with your school administrator and find out how this affects the IEP process at your school. At our school, they will not do away with objectives and will not do 3-year IEPs just because the director disagrees with these concepts. (thank goodness!) Regardless, you can still ask for a list of objectives that they will be working on and/or request to have the data sent home to you on a regular basis so you can see what they are working on and how she is doing. Roxanna Autism Happens [sPAM] ( ) Help...OT report Okay…we got my 4 yo a’s OT progress report from pre-school Monday…now I am writing a letter to ask the OT for a meeting. Her only goal that she is “grading” on is…. a will increase tolerance to tactile textures, increase hand strength/fine motor coordination, and increase independence with self help skills. Just a bit vague….Anyway…no bench marks or anything else on the paper. Then on….. 10/15 = Progressing 11/29 = Progressing 1/24 = Progressing-Mastered How can she have mastered anything at 4 yo? I don’t think this OT has a clue….I just got her IEP out and am starting the letter…any advice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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