IEP help & homeschoolers - PLEASE!

[Guest guest]

Hi, some of you may remember our story, I don't really want to repeat it because

it will make this long email even longer! But in a nutshell: son is almost 7, dx

with mild Aspergers - no real academic concerns but many many issues at school

with behavior. Rigidness, sensory, ADHD impulsivity, tantrums, sensitive... you

get the picture. Finally the IEP was finalized in late Jan. There were issues

with the aide, physical, aggressive - son didn't want to return to school -

school did not want to admit there was any wrong doing and refused to remove the

aide or change the aide. We pulled him out and began homeschooling. Whew!

We were nicely surprised to learn that the services would carry over thru the

district of where the public homeschool office is. The services are little

different as expected but we're not exactly thrilled with the new providers of

these services. The Resource Specialist works with him on some minor handwriting

issues. She likes to slurp her soup while she stands over my son while she has

him typing sentences on her computer. (There seems to be a big push for letting

Aspies use technology to motivate them) It's true, my son hates writing but come

on, he needs to learn it! He'd be agreeable to do it if the topic is made

interesting for him. But now he loves that she lets him use the computer - there

is no going back! LOL

The O.T. is actually great, very extensive experience but we only get her once a

month now since the homeschool environment doesnt require as much need in this

area. She is actually working with him on real handwriting techniques. This part

is good but only once a month.

The Speech and language therapist is a joke. OUr first appt. with her she was

really tough on my son, mean actually. She didn't seem to even understand his

needs. She had him in near tears and at the end she wouldn't even let him have a

sticker or pick from the tresure box. At the end of that visit she told me of

her plans to " sabotage " my son, to set him up during game play to provoke him

just before a tantrum and then work through the problem together..... WTH?? IT

was so awful my son was refusing to return. I finally got enough courage to

confront her and she apologized and back tracked and came up with her new

technique which I'm realizing is just simply to play a game with him at each

session. That's it. They just play a game and then we go home.

Now I learned that we have to meet for a 30 day IEP review because of the change

of placement. I am nervous and feel completly unprepared compared to the initial

IEP. I was caught off guard and I don't understand how the laws work through the

homeschool world. I imagine the laws are the same but the politics are

different. ??

Part of me is nervous that they are going to change my son's services and it

will be harder to fight for them back in the future. (I don't know how long I

plan to homeschool) and the other part of me is so fed up with these

professionals. Someone here suggested I demand for another SLP but HOw? Do I do

that in the meeting? In front of her face? I don't think I can.

The SLP part of the IEP is my biggest concern. I could do without the other

services but my son really needs this service! I'm prepared to just take my son

to a private provider for social skills, one that is experienced in Aspergers

but do I just let go of these services through the IEP then? Seems so unfair

that I would have to pay because of the incompetence of these professionals

provided thru the district. Again, what happens down the road? Even a different

homeschool district - will I have to fight for the IEP services again?

I'm so confused. Please share with me any of your 30 day review/homeschool

experiences or ADVICE! Thank you!