Jesse's county evaluations

[monicag]

We had one Tuesday and one Today. I hated it. He wasn't too happy either. Now we hurry up and wait while they do their PLAN and we get to go listen to them dictate what happens to my precious son as far as school goes.

ETHO...how do you deal? People have told us to get an advocate for the meeting where they tell us what school they place him in. I wish I knew what to do?

I hate feeling so out of control with all of this.

[wuvmyangel93]

Monica

I can be an advocate for you via phone if you would like. I am offering for my love of you and Jesse.

It is hard to cope, I take it one day at a time, this past week some issues with the language teacher.

Thankfully they know I mean business now and know that I wont back down when I know there is an issue with follow through on an IEP.

Know that you are control in that first IEP meeting, you can ask for breaks, you can table the meeting for later, you can request independent evaluations.

But please remember whatever you do DO NOT SIGN THE IEP AT THE MEETING.

I cannot say that enough, I didn't know I could refuse in CO and that create all the issues.

If you don't sign the initial IEP you keep control until they get it to the right diagnosis and the right services for Jesse.

If I can help with any books, goal writings, preparation etc. please let me know.

The testing is just the first step, they should hold an IEP meeting within 30 days now to determine if he is eligble or not.

prayers during this long wait.

[lindac]

(((((((((((MONICA))))))))))))

Just want to reiterate what Etho said. Do NOT sign the IEP at that meeting. There is a tendancy to play the "Cow the Parent" at some of these meetings. A lot of times your options as a parent never seem to get explained. I strongly reccomend taking someone with you that you feel comfortable with. It helps when they know that whatever they say you have someone to back you up, they can't later say they didn't say it.

I know you will fight for Jesse to get the education he deserves and not settle for just what they think he is capable of.

Wishing you the very best and many hugs,

[prettyfeet83]

Monica-
I have never been through this myself, however I just wanted to send you lots of hugs and prayers. I pray that you can find someone to guide you through this.

Hugs,
Carrie

[my4boys]

Monica,
I havent been through this either, but dont sign those papers until you are satisfied!!! I am praying for you daily!!!

Blessings`
Wendy

[wuvmyangel93]

Also Monica it is an IEP meeting, any meeting is allowed to be tape recorded

I would recommend taking dh, a friend anyone to type notes for you

I bring the laptop and tape recorder to every meeting.

Make them give you time to think. Take snacks and water, and don't be bullied into finishing in an hour. My meetings often take 3 or more.

I had one IEP meeting last 12 hours not the norm, but we were in the midst of mediation and I wasn't walking out, I made them walk out halting the meeting. Looks better to have a district storm out than a parent.

But it does not look bad to have people there on your side, notes with you, tell them you need a break or even sorry I need to stop the meeting today, digest what you are saying and meet again.

[monicag]

I thank you all for your support. I really need to understand the process. Comments made by the psychologist were to the effects of.."wow, looks like he needs the whole package"....meaning ALL the services. My problem is that I don't know what all the services are? How do I find that out? At the onset they said the Easter Seals Class is the last resort..... but now I think that is where he will wind up. Not that that is bad but is there somewhere that is better for him. It is at least 45 minutes from our house and the thought of putting him on a bus makes me crazy.

[LauraBeth]

Monica...

(((((((((HUGS)))))))))) and prayers for both you and Jesse...

In Him,
Laura

[wuvmyangel93]

Monica

Remind me how old is Jesse? Remember the placement, the place they chose for him has to be the least restrictive environment the same place his peers would go if they would go to preschool.

If your local school offers a preschool than that is legally the first place they have to look for him.

If he is 3 most children if they are not talking will get speech, ot, pt and learning activities.

If they are still thinking along the lines of autism or cp he should get applied behavioral therapy, relationship development intervention or at the bare minium behavioral and sensory therapy.

If they do not know what he has but is just generally behind like mine was at the time we did the first evaluation for preschool they will do the basic/bare minium.

If you want to post your state, what you see him needing I can research what he might get.

Mine did ride a school bus about 45 mins. to 1 hour away when she was preschool to first grade.

The services were better there than our local school.

I did not allow her in first however to travel on a school bus (big one) back to the other school for therapy (ot).

She rode a small school bus with seatbelts, if I had known than I could have made them put seatbelts on the big buses I would have allowed it.

She did awesome on the bus, ours provided an aide on the bus, there were 5 other children some even rode in their carseats.

I chose to put her in the learning disabled class versus our homeschool in 1st and they willingly agreed, stating mom's choice as the reason.

But WA state schools are sooooooooooooooo much easier to work with than CO.

The best class/placement for Jesse would be in the developmental preschool with typically developing children, children learn best by watching their peers.

He should get at least 1 hour per week speech and 2 30-45 min. sessions per week of ot and pt, these should be in a small group, the speech should be 1:1 and than small group.

If he needs behavioral therapy or anything else it should be small group as well. Teaching social skills to our kiddos as early as possible is best.

Small group means no more than 3-5 children.

[monicag]

You are so good at this and I'm blessed to know you!!! Many thanks
Jesse will be 3 on November 11th.
To date we have recieved from the doc's a DX of Autism, Sensory Disorder, PDD, CP and Global Developmental Delays... The three written official ones are AUtism, CP and Global Delays.
The county keeps telling me they "don't go by the medical model"
Right now Jesse gets (per week)
1 hour of speech...he is completely non-verbal...says Ma sometimes and a few other sounds
2 hours of PT
1 hour of special ed
1 hour of OT
and 5 hours (1 per day) of ABA where they are teaching him PECS.
When I have begged for additions like where speech is concerned...I'm told..."oh he is making progress...we only increase hours if they aren't making progress"
ABA is not working real well....He's been in phase 3 of PECS for 2 months now....the supervisor came out and evaluated...the were of course doing it wrong....so it feels like we went backward.
My biggest question is how in the heck are they going to get these services in for him if they don't provide them at home after age 3.... and they put him in school for 2 days a week 2 hours each time....gee ...the math just does not add up to me.
I'm in Pennsylvania.....
It is all of the unknown that has me nuts at this point.
I'm so glad you told me not to sign the IEP right away...they will hate me by the end. I asked for a copy of the consent I signed and they looked at me like I was nuts...but I keep everything and every conversation documented.... I love the tape recorder idea too.
I'm sorry you have to live this life tooo...but I'm sure glad you are there to help Jesse and Me.
The last doc we went to really things lots of Jesse's issues stem from Sensory problems...but the county won't hear of it.

[ericadg]

((Hugs))

The whole process sounds quite trying.