Re: IEP meeting coming up

February 28, 2010

Hi ,

I'll be thinking about you! I feel like I hear this so often from the schools... do they forget that IEP's have a social/emotional section for a reason? And that, with NCLB, we've moved away from waiting to fail to then give the child interventions? I'm sure you're advocate will be a huge help, but I'm a sib working as an educational consultant and studying to be a school psychologist and would love to help you in any way I can!

Best of luck! My fingers are crossed

From: jrkoehler@...Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 20:54:29 +0000Subject: ( ) IEP meeting coming up

Hello:I've been reading all the posts on here and I'm so grateful we found this group! Our IEP meeting is coming up on Tuesday and we are so nervous. We've already been told he doesn't qualify for special services at the first IEP (Nov.2009). We didn't sign the IEP and the school never contacted us about it. We had to contact them in February to ask if they planned on meeting with us, again, to finalize the report. At this time, we decided to hire an advocate and go back in there on Tuesday to try and convince them he does need the IEP. They continue to tell us he doesn't qualify because he's meeting the benchmarks BUT we're talked to on a daily basis, by the 1st grade teacher, about him not finishing his work, not paying attention, blah, blah, blah.So...I just wanted to send an email and ask everyone to send some good thoughts our way on Tuesday.Thank you ALL so much for your posts. They keep me going everyday!

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March 1, 2010

Good luck! Well he seems to need someone to keep him on task to finish work and

to pay attention. And maybe help with his work (instructions, understanding...)

if that is part of what is causing him to not finish. And maybe stress he needs

to learn to do better (improve) at this (and anything else) NOW so he won't have

the same difficulties next grade and after. Just some quick thoughts. Again,

good luck and let us know how it goes!

>

> Hello:

>

> I've been reading all the posts on here and I'm so grateful we found this

group!

>

> Our IEP meeting is coming up on Tuesday and we are so nervous. We've already

been told he doesn't qualify for special services at the first IEP (Nov.2009).

We didn't sign the IEP and the school never contacted us about it. We had to

contact them in February to ask if they planned on meeting with us, again, to

finalize the report. At

March 5, 2010

Regarding classifications...this is interesting to me. My son is classified as

OHI, and was before his Aspergers diagnosis, back when it was only ADHD. I

pursued an Autism classification and was told it was not necessary. I was just

told today by another school district that happens to have a FABULOUS autism

program, that when they told me OHI was " ok " because he would get the same

services, they were not being truthful. With an Austism classification we would

be eligible for more services, including respite care through the state. This

is in DE, so I'm not sure if it changes by state. Anyone else have this

experience?

Kelli

> >

> > Hello:

> >

> > I've been reading all the posts on here and I'm so grateful we found this

group!

> >

> > Our IEP meeting is coming up on Tuesday and we are so nervous. We've already

been told he doesn't qualify for special services at the first IEP (Nov.2009).

We didn't sign the IEP and the school never contacted us about it. We had to

contact them in February to ask if they planned on meeting with us, again, to

finalize the report. At

>

March 6, 2010

In my state, (IN), to be eligible for respite, ie, the Autism Waiver for

services, you need a dx by a dr. What the school says doesn't matter. But when I

looked into it last year, the waiting list was over 10 years long so I didn't

even bother. Now it's been cut out entirely for this year already; they said

they ran out of money. I am on another list and there were moms who

finally made it to the end of the list this year and were to finally start

receiving services only to have them cut! So check with your state, but they may

not even be offering respite now, or have a very long waiting list anyways.

TJ

> > >

> > > Hello:

> > >

> > > I've been reading all the posts on here and I'm so grateful we found this

group!

> > >

> > > Our IEP meeting is coming up on Tuesday and we are so nervous. We've

already been told he doesn't qualify for special services at the first IEP

(Nov.2009). We didn't sign the IEP and the school never contacted us about it.

We had to contact them in February to ask if they planned on meeting with us,

again, to finalize the report. At

> >

>

March 6, 2010

TJ - That is a shame the waiting list is so long. It's not the case here, the

teachers were telling me many of the parents use respite. They did say there is

a small free based on a sliding scale, but as an example they said for kids on

the free lunch program it would be like $9 for 24 hrs! $18 for kids not on the

program.

Rose - I agree, I am going to push to get him moved. But as you all know, if my

district can provide what they deem his needs are they won't refer him. My son

is very HF, so I really can't even say what he will get won't be what he needs

in our current district if that makes sense. What I will REALLY push for is the

Autism classification so no matter where he is he will qualify for more. My

goal is to get the classification changed then request every accomodation for a

6th grader under the sun (which I will ask for input from all you experts) and

then maybe the'll refer him to shut me up! Wishful thinking...

> > > >

> > > > Hello:

> > > >

> > > > I've been reading all the posts on here and I'm so grateful we found

this group!

> > > >

> > > > Our IEP meeting is coming up on Tuesday and we are so nervous. We've

already been told he doesn't qualify for special services at the first IEP

(Nov.2009). We didn't sign the IEP and the school never contacted us about it.

We had to contact them in February to ask if they planned on meeting with us,

again, to finalize the report. At

> > >

> >

>

March 16, 2010

This is pretty much our experience w/Matt (almost 20). I knew he was different

from DAY ONE, but he wasn't diagnosed until 13. People kept accusing me of being

overly attached, whatever -- because he did GREAT in school, but was melting

down at home 24/7 (because he had to hold it together at his very rigid private

school). :/ He did fairly well until 5th grade -- middle school there -- and we

had to leave the school in February of his 6th grade year....

We moved that summer to a new state. Thought we'd start fresh somewhere else,

try public school, etc. -- but we had great difficulty w/services. He was so HF

that no one believed his diagnosis! He was brilliant, creative, interesting,

funny, a LEADER. However, as his peers matured socially, he did NOT.

He is now nearly 20, has had to leave university, and we are desperately trying

to play catch up. It's a nightmare, I will share. Those of you who have younger

kids, stay w/the therapies as best you can! Even if they don't seem helpful,

just continuing with therapy is probably the best thing, if only to keep track

of what's going on, to have support, etc.

I am stuck w/having virtually no support. I have found a good group locally,

meets once a month. We are trying a new therapist this Friday. But other than

that, NADA. My friends don't " get it. " They just think he's lazy, arrogant, etc.

and don't realize it's a real issue! Very upsetting. I feel very lonely a

lot of the time.

JoAnn in CO

October 17, 2010

how did you hire an advocate? the school is having us in for an ard meating in

>2 wks they lied to us last yr (our son is 6 and was Dx over the summer) about

special ed said he had adhd and he needed to be medicated and " something is

wrong with him hes just not right " and things got so bad i pulled him

kindergarden this year we met b/f the year and had a talk with admin b/c i

couldent trans b/c of his record they said he did not qualify of 504 or spec ed

and that the pediatricians Dx was not enough i went home prepared to call a

lawyer then they called back and said they will test him but we have to pay for

a psych test to proove he has A we have the meeting on the 25th and i cant wait

to see the stops they will pull i think we need someone on our side 6 to 2 me

and hubbby is just not going to work b/c they have no regard for the law.

>

> Hello:

>

> I've been reading all the posts on here and I'm so grateful we found this

group!

>

> Our IEP meeting is coming up on Tuesday and we are so nervous. We've already

been told he doesn't qualify for special services at the first IEP (Nov.2009).

We didn't sign the IEP and the school never contacted us about it. We had to

contact them in February to ask if they planned on meeting with us, again, to

finalize the report. At this time, we decided to hire an advocate and go back in

there on Tuesday to try and convince them he does need the IEP. They continue to

tell us he doesn't qualify because he's meeting the benchmarks BUT we're talked

to on a daily basis, by the 1st grade teacher, about him not finishing his work,

not paying attention, blah, blah, blah.

> So...I just wanted to send an email and ask everyone to send some good

thoughts our way on Tuesday.

>

> Thank you ALL so much for your posts. They keep me going everyday!

>

October 17, 2010

If you have a state Spec Ed org then they should be able to provide you a list

of advocates in your area. Personally I didn't have great luck with advocates. I

used 2 different ones - one who barely knew more than I did (and I was new at

it) and another who talked a great game, charged me a huge amount of hours then

didn't say boo in the IEP meeting. After that I hired a spec ed lawyer. Although

the lawyer cost more per hour, he charged me far less hrs than the 2nd advocate

did so in the long wrong was less expensive and far more effective. The lawyer

asked me why I needed him since by that time I knew the sped laws so well. I

told him that the school district didn't care what I said and would just do what

they wanted. He was to be " my big stick " . The lawyer advised me on what to say

in my letters to the school - especially the ones rejecting the IEP and

requesting mediation. The lawyer also handled questioning the school's " expert "

(well known in her field but long history with the school district) when all she

had to say about my son was negative. She backed down on every single issue.

BTW, document everything in writing. If you have a conversation with the school

then send them a short note summarizing your conversation. This ensures that you

have documentation of what was said to you and that there is no

misunderstanding. If the school chooses to question it at a later date then you

have your note to refer back to. I did this after being lied to in my very first

IEP meeting. I was so trusting in that meeting and the school took full

advantage of it. It was a hellish 4 yrs in that district. Then I finally decided

I couldn't take it anymore and moved. It was the best decision that I ever made.

The new district was so much better that I was able to drop the services of the

spec ed lawyer.

>

> how did you hire an advocate? the school is having us in for an ard meating in